Brigadier Varinder Singh, Vir Chakra passed into the mist of time last Friday. He'd collapsed while playing basketball and died a few hours later, owing to a massive heart attack. He's survived by his wife, Anita, a daughter who's married and a son.
Veeru sir, as I used to call him, is from the 48th course of the NDA and we're together in the Hunter Squadron. Six months senior to me, he was considered to be a very decent and gentlemanly senior by all his juniors. The tall and handsome sardar excelled in all the outdoors, especially on the hockey fields and the basketball courts! And he used to groove to western music in the squadron's ante room. A few years later, he'd followed me into the directing staff of the Academy's wing at Ghorpuri as I was just finishing my tenure. We've had some memorable times together and I still can't believe that I would never see his smiling visage anymore.
In May '87, then Major Varinder Singh had led a group of his 8 JAK LI men in a daunting assault at a snow peak over 21,000 ft called the 'Quaid Post' in the Siachen glacier and wrested it from the Pakistanis after a brief yet bitter struggle. Then N/Sub Bana Singh with a handful of men had achieved the impossible during the final stages of the operations. Veeru was wounded during the exchange of fire. For their supreme courage and valour, N/Sub Bana Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra and Veeru, the Vir Chakra. And 'Quaid Post' has been known as 'Bana Top' from then on.
To quote Veeru's impressions on the aftermath of the operations, "We'd no strength to celebrate. At 21,000 ft nobody does the bhangra, yells war cries or hoists the tricolour. Ultimately, sheer doggedness wins and Pande(young 2/Lt Rajiv Pande and his nine men were killed by the Pakis in the run up) had to be avenged. If we'd ever hesitated, the post would still be with the Pakis."
Brave words from the gentleman senior, grooving to the strains of popular English music in the ante room of the Hunter Squadron of the NDA. The scene remains in my mind like a frozen snapshot from a favourite album.
RIP Veeru sir. My salute to a worthy and courageous senior! May god give strength to Anita and the children to tide over these difficult times.
Veeru sir, as I used to call him, is from the 48th course of the NDA and we're together in the Hunter Squadron. Six months senior to me, he was considered to be a very decent and gentlemanly senior by all his juniors. The tall and handsome sardar excelled in all the outdoors, especially on the hockey fields and the basketball courts! And he used to groove to western music in the squadron's ante room. A few years later, he'd followed me into the directing staff of the Academy's wing at Ghorpuri as I was just finishing my tenure. We've had some memorable times together and I still can't believe that I would never see his smiling visage anymore.
In May '87, then Major Varinder Singh had led a group of his 8 JAK LI men in a daunting assault at a snow peak over 21,000 ft called the 'Quaid Post' in the Siachen glacier and wrested it from the Pakistanis after a brief yet bitter struggle. Then N/Sub Bana Singh with a handful of men had achieved the impossible during the final stages of the operations. Veeru was wounded during the exchange of fire. For their supreme courage and valour, N/Sub Bana Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra and Veeru, the Vir Chakra. And 'Quaid Post' has been known as 'Bana Top' from then on.
To quote Veeru's impressions on the aftermath of the operations, "We'd no strength to celebrate. At 21,000 ft nobody does the bhangra, yells war cries or hoists the tricolour. Ultimately, sheer doggedness wins and Pande(young 2/Lt Rajiv Pande and his nine men were killed by the Pakis in the run up) had to be avenged. If we'd ever hesitated, the post would still be with the Pakis."
Brave words from the gentleman senior, grooving to the strains of popular English music in the ante room of the Hunter Squadron of the NDA. The scene remains in my mind like a frozen snapshot from a favourite album.
RIP Veeru sir. My salute to a worthy and courageous senior! May god give strength to Anita and the children to tide over these difficult times.
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