Service before self, a soldier's call of duty.

He had fever but insisted on taking part in the cross-country competition. Being captain of his team, he didn't want to be away from his mates with whom he had toiled so hard for this day. Heconcealed his ailment; German measles as we learnt later and commenced the run albeit at a slow pace, walking intermittently.

After three quarters of the route, high body temperature, exhaustion and dehydration took their toll and he finally collapsed, slipping into coma never to wake up again. My course mate's funeral at the National Defence Academy the next day was the first funeral I had ever attended.

It was pouring outside as we sat next to a heat convector on that cold, wet evening. "I hope the weather clears up and we can fly tomorrow". He was bothered about the patrol stranded in the snow-clad mountains awaiting supplies. That next day was his first Diwali after marriage was of a lesser concern to him. The weather gods listened to him. The weather gods listened to him and he accomplished his mission. But fate wasn't that kind. On its return flight, his helicopter ran into cables, laid illegally across the valley unknown to him. A promising life was cut short, further darkening that night of amavas. It was the first fatal crash I witnessed in my flying career.

Ejection was the only recourse left when a snag developed in his jet. But there was a problem; he was over a densely and his flying horse could trample many on the ground if left to itself. By the time he took the decision to eject, it was a couple of seconds too late. Unconcerned about his own safety, he took a split second decision and steered clear of the inhabited  area. The crippled aircraft allowed him to earn a few Karmic points but demanded his life in return. Nothing remained of him when fire engulfed this responsible fighter pilot.

"Sir, evacuate him first, take me in the next sortie", he requested the pilots who had come to evacuate soldiers wounded in a gunfight with militants in a village nearby. Hit by a bullet in the thigh and bleeding profusely, he prevailed upon the captain to evacuate his radio operator before him. The helicopter returned within minutes but by then, loss of blood had made him unconscious. He was fortunate to reach the healing hands of army surgeons in time even though it took over a month for him to recover".

Mudgal's resolve to run, Gagandeep's rescue sortie, Chauhan's delay in ejection and Dagar's refusal for evacuation makes one wonder what drives such men to act the way they do. What motivates them to place their country and the men they command before their own ease, comfort and safety? Perhaps for this tribe, it is only Naam, Namak and Nishan that matter.

The nation can rest assured that their ilk will continue to perform its duties irrespective of whether their deeds are acknowledged, their perks and privileges are curtailed or their pensions slashed. It is not so easy to understand this clan.

- harrypal77@yahoo.co.in

Tailpiece.

Our day began at 4 as I lit the lamp in the puja room, recited my prayers, the chores but a sudden power interruption was a setback to our taking off at 6. We, finally, kicked off at 7, a halt at the Nagaraja temple at Randaloommoodu - Vamanan namboodiri was the pujari, topped up the Chevy at Kottarakkara, breakfast of idiyappams and kurma at the Adoor bypass, lunch at Kalamasserry and we reached Guruvayur by 4, in the evening. 

A quick visit to the bank, bought our fruit basket and grocery from the National Supermarket; sat with Jayan for a while as he'd undergone an angioplasty a few days back.

Reached The Quarterdeck by about a quarter to 5. Unpacking and opening of the house accomplished while Lekha gave food for Kittu and his family.

Hit the sack at our usual time of a half past 11.