An infantry battalion is the smallest fighting combat unit in the army. It is self sufficient for the majority of the tactical battles like Galwan Valley skirmish but will need other fire support for being part of a larger scale operation.
The Commanding Officer is the father of the unit like in a household and is the master of the house. Everybody looks up to him for anything and everything in a battalion. He is an institution in himself. He's the one who calls the shots and he's the one who will be hanged if anything goes wrong in the unit.
So if a father figure of a battalion is harmed or injured or in a worst case scenario, is killed in action, the unit is like without a head and will be shamed for life if they don't avenge that killing.
And that's exactly what happened in Galwan. Seeing their Commanding Officer critically injured and later succumbing to injuries, the Bihar battalion knew there were no boundaries to be observed with the Chinese, who were responsible for this tragic event. There were two other men also probably, CO's personal squad, who were killed initially.
So the only course of action was to restore the pride of the unit. Every person in the unit dies for NAMAK and NISHAN.
It was time to retaliate for the namak and restore the dignity of the unit. How could a unit answer the elders and the young in the coming years about this incident?
So, the battalion under the company commander went back with whatever he had and thrashed the Chinese. The blood was boiling in the Biharis' veins and they avenged the dastardly act of the Chinese against their Commanding Officer. In the fight, a few more of our brave soldiers slipped the slopes and fell into the ice cold waters of the Shyok river and died of Hypothermia. Medical aid at such outposts, at the borders, is elementary.
The Chinese didn't expect this backlash and asked for truce.
The Bihar battalion restored the lost dignity and told the Chinese not to meddle with them in future or they will face graver consequences.
The 'izzat-o-iqbal' of the unit remains intact and nobody in the army will ever question this battalion as to how they allowed the Chinese to construct a bunker on our land.
For maintaining territorial integrity of the nation, Col Santosh Babu gave up his life - the supreme sacrifice - unparalleled in any other army of the world.
Look at the onerous task this Colonel of maybe just 43 years of age, has been entrusted with by the President of India, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and look at the unflinching dedication and devotion with which he did it by laying down his life for a piece of land belonging to India, which will have far reaching consequences in the international scenario.
The battalion is now led by another Colonel as its Commanding Officer and I am sure it will bounce back and prove its mettle in the days to come, having given the Chinese a bloody nose. Pray for the departed souls and also pray for the victory of these men who are fighting it out on the icy heights at 17,000 ft for all of us, without any incentive or awards, because they know it's their duty towards the nation.
Tailpiece.
Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Monitoring the activities conducted on the second day of the 'Vaayana Maasam' was the main task.
The Commanding Officer is the father of the unit like in a household and is the master of the house. Everybody looks up to him for anything and everything in a battalion. He is an institution in himself. He's the one who calls the shots and he's the one who will be hanged if anything goes wrong in the unit.
So if a father figure of a battalion is harmed or injured or in a worst case scenario, is killed in action, the unit is like without a head and will be shamed for life if they don't avenge that killing.
And that's exactly what happened in Galwan. Seeing their Commanding Officer critically injured and later succumbing to injuries, the Bihar battalion knew there were no boundaries to be observed with the Chinese, who were responsible for this tragic event. There were two other men also probably, CO's personal squad, who were killed initially.
So the only course of action was to restore the pride of the unit. Every person in the unit dies for NAMAK and NISHAN.
It was time to retaliate for the namak and restore the dignity of the unit. How could a unit answer the elders and the young in the coming years about this incident?
So, the battalion under the company commander went back with whatever he had and thrashed the Chinese. The blood was boiling in the Biharis' veins and they avenged the dastardly act of the Chinese against their Commanding Officer. In the fight, a few more of our brave soldiers slipped the slopes and fell into the ice cold waters of the Shyok river and died of Hypothermia. Medical aid at such outposts, at the borders, is elementary.
The Chinese didn't expect this backlash and asked for truce.
The Bihar battalion restored the lost dignity and told the Chinese not to meddle with them in future or they will face graver consequences.
The 'izzat-o-iqbal' of the unit remains intact and nobody in the army will ever question this battalion as to how they allowed the Chinese to construct a bunker on our land.
For maintaining territorial integrity of the nation, Col Santosh Babu gave up his life - the supreme sacrifice - unparalleled in any other army of the world.
Look at the onerous task this Colonel of maybe just 43 years of age, has been entrusted with by the President of India, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and look at the unflinching dedication and devotion with which he did it by laying down his life for a piece of land belonging to India, which will have far reaching consequences in the international scenario.
The battalion is now led by another Colonel as its Commanding Officer and I am sure it will bounce back and prove its mettle in the days to come, having given the Chinese a bloody nose. Pray for the departed souls and also pray for the victory of these men who are fighting it out on the icy heights at 17,000 ft for all of us, without any incentive or awards, because they know it's their duty towards the nation.
Tailpiece.
Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Monitoring the activities conducted on the second day of the 'Vaayana Maasam' was the main task.
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