Of Captain Raghvendra and Prabha that must be told.
Having married only in Jul '71, Raghu was launched into the war withh 22 Rajput in the December Indo-Pak War.
Five months into wedlock, the couple had formed an eternal bond of togetherness. Before leaving for war, Raghu had lovingly pepped up Prabha. "Everything will be just fine and I shall return when this is over. Do not believe any rumours. Authentic news, if at all any, shall be be conveyed to you, by Ishtoo Bhai saab (Capt BB Deo, the Adjutant of the paltan whom Raghu deeply respected.
Oddly though, till now she had not even met Ishtoo Bhai saab but hung on to his name and association.
War is a cruel business. One fateful day, Raghu suffered splinters of a shell burst on his arm, lost a lot of blood and fell unconscious, while several comrades were martyred.
His paltan lost track of him and hence he was declared KILLED in ACTION. This devastating news was thereafter conveyed to his parents and to Prabha through the official channels.
Crestfallen and confused, Prabha felt the world crumbling around her. Raghu's parting words were, "I shall return when all this is over. So, I must await his return' were her thoughts.
Official pronouncements can be insensitive. Condolence messages were quick to follow notably from Ms Indira Gandhi, Raksha Mantri and others. So, also a compensatory draft of Rs.5,000/- from the officials.
Society is also cruel to the young brides who lose their husbands. Prabha was subjected to many a taunt, branding her inauspicious. Not just that, she was to be subjected to the disdainful and heart-rending custom of 'smashing her bangles and washing the vermillion off her forehead'. All this in a ritualistic manner.
Prabha decided that she would bear none of this and relent no more to the forbidding society's customs. Her faith, her belief in everlasting bond with Raghu and his parting advice remained strong.
Shouting "Woh zinda hain. Unless I see his body or I hear from Ishtoo bhai saab, I shall not believe otherwise". She ran away from where the ritual was to be performed on to the roofof the house.
Seeing the young girl hysterical and unrelenting, the wise old father-in-law decided to postpone the ritual. He, too, wished for a miracle and promised an offering of five mounds of laddoos to his deity, if ever his son returned. of course he himself nor anyone else really believed that to be a possibility.
Prabha, however, was steadfast in her beliefs. The revolting ritual thus could not be performed.
On the battlefront, Raghu on regaining consciousness, found himself a prisoner of the Pak Army, ill treated when he asked for water. The junior ranks who were his custodians eventually decided to bump off this wounded liability. Having blindfolded him they were about to take Raghu for execution, when someone in an authoritative voice ordered that no harm should come to Capt Singh who should be sent to the field hospital for treatment.
Being blind folded, Raghu could not see his saviour but only heard his booming voice. After a couple of days, Raghu did find himself in a makeshift hospital where he was treated and his arm cast in plaster. There were some good and some bad momentsfor him but his mind was forever in turmoil as he was constantly thinking of his wife and what destiny had ordained for both of them.
Soon, one day, an officer by the name of Imam announced that Pak Army is about to surrender and the war is over, giving a sense of relief and new hope to Raghu. That came to be true eventually. This officer was also kind to Raghu at times in his moments of distress. It so happened that this Pak unit's personnel began preparations for the surrender leaving Raghu, who by now had recovered some measure, to himself.
And then came the opportunity Raghu was waiting for. Most Pak soldiers left for another destination leaving their equipment and some transport behind. Taking his chance, Raghu commandeered a jeep and drove off in search of an Indian army unit. He was wearing a Pathan suit given by his captors and travelling in Pakistani vehicle praying that he should not be mistaken for an opponent and face hostile action by Indian troops. But fortune favours the brave and he found himself with an indian unit where he was able to prove his identity by speaking on phone to the Adjutant, who turned out to be his course mate. "Saale tu to mar gaya tha phir zinda kaise ho gaya?" said he. "Shaayad main Pakistaniyon ke liye khota sikka nikla. Kisi kaam ka nahin tha. So, they sent me back"., countered Raghu. Such discourses can only take place between course mates!
Thus ended Raghu's ordeal of 8-10 days or so. His saga during this period, too, is fraught with valour, self belief and above all, his love for his soulmate.
The ordeal also ended for Prabha. Try and imagine her tribulation of those 10 fateful days when she had to put up with the news of her husband's demise, taunts and ghastly rituals with only her faith, eternal longing for her husband and sometimes words of comfort from some understanding relatives to support. She never relented, never lost belief in her destiny and in her husband's parting advice.
Now she even began to be revered as Savitri, the virtuous lady, who had forced Lord Yama to abandon her husband and so brought him back to life. The trials and tribulations of Raghu during captivity and how the couple reunited is yet another story for another day.
Tailpiece.
Got up half an hour later than usual being a Sunday, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Finished my work on the laptop before lunch.
Helped Lekha in watering the plants in the evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment