BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE! BEST OF THE BEST!!

   BEST OF THE BEST ! BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE !

        I love reading. I keep searching for new books. Few days ago I was just going through news and other stuff online. And one book caught my eyes. It was a book named 'GURKHA' and I immediately thought 'I want this book in my collection.'  I found it on online shopping site and luckily there was another interesting book I found with it, named 'PARAMVIR CHAKRA STORIES'. I couldn't be more happier. Immediately bought them both. These days my interest is more in Biographies or the books that tell tales of real people and not fictions. I have Biographies of Rafael Nadal, Malala Yusufzai, Sabriye Tenbarken,T. Lobsang Rampa, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and now these precious additions. After reading these two books, My respect for soldiers has doubled.

     Legendary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw famously quoted "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha". That is the legacy of the Gurkhas, and in all senses it's true.
    

This book 'Gurkha:Better to Die than Live a Coward:My Life with the Gurkhas' written by Colour Sergeant Kailash Khebang Limbu is the First ever Gurkha Autobiography. On the occasion of celebrating the 200th anniversary of Brigade of Gurkhas in the service of British Crown, Kailash Limbu has been selected to write the story of Gurkhas. In 1814-16, British forces faced Gurkha worriers for the first time when they invaded Nepal. Nepalese Gurkhas defended their land with great bravery. Impressed by their courage and fighting skills, Gurkhas were offered to be included in British army and the First Gurkha Regiment was raised. Post Indian Independence, out of 10 Gurkha Regiments, given Choice, 4 remained in service of Britain and 6 became part of Indian Army. In this book author writes about his unit's deployment in Afghanistan, the fierce battles with Taliban they faced there, the selection process of recruits for British Army, about his homeland.
    

Gurkhas are known as the most feared soldiers in the world. They are not just fierce but also they are well known for their Loyalty. At the same time they are sweet, caring, with great sense of humour as well. With their most dependable weapon 'Kukri', they are the deadliest. In Armed Forces, Every Regiment has its own Motto. I find the Motto of Gurkha Regiment most fitting and inspiring of all. "Kafar Hunnu Bhanda Marnu Ramro" means " Better to Die than Live A Coward". And all these Gurkha worriers live by this motto. There are many stories of their bravery in battlefield. British Gurkha Regiment has won 26 Victoria Crosses, Highest gallantry honour of England, out of which 13 were awarded to Gurkha soldiers. One of them was Lacchiman Gurung, Whose platoon was facing attack of over 200 Japanese. Even after his comrades getting severely injured, he fought alone. His one eye and one arm blown off in grenade explosion, still he kept firing his rifle with one hand and defended his position for hours. When the reinforcements found him in his trench, there were over 80 enemy dead bodies out of which almost 30 killed by himself.
     Another unbelievable story of Gurkha in 2010. In Afghanistan, Sergeant Dipprasad Pun of Royal Gurkha Rifles was on sentry  duty alone, when Taliban attacked his post. He single handedly fought over 20-30 Taliban fighters with machine gun and grenades and when one Talib reached on roof, rite in front of him and Dipprasad's gun misfired, he actually grabbed the heavy metal machine gun tripod and hit the enemy with it. He defended the post, saved his comrades, all by himself. Crazy that is. Dipprasad Pun has received bravery award from the Queen.
     And there is our own Gurkha Soldier from Indian Army, Bishnu Shreshtha. This retired soldier was on the train returning to his home when around 30-40 armed robbers attacked the train. Looting the valuables. But when they approached a teenage girl with bad intentions, Bishnu shreshtha couldn't just watch. He drew his trusted Kukri and attacked the robbers, leaving 3-4 dead bandits and others running to save themselves, so scared that they even left the loot behind. For his incredible act , he received Sena Medal for Bravery and Uttam Jeeva Raksha Medal. This is the Kind of Worriers the Gurkhas are. And that’s exactly why the Gurkha Soldiers are called,"THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE."

   

Indian Armed Forces are recognised as one of the best Armed Forces in the World. What makes our Army great is the Bravery, Courage and Determination of our Soldiers. The other book I am referring here is very Special. It is "The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories" written by Rachana Bisht Rawat. The book tells the battle stories of all the 21 Param Vir Chakra Recipients  of Indian Armed Forces. The author herself is wife of an Army Officer. For writing this book, she Travelled all over India to gather authentic information of these soldiers and the battles they fought. She interviewed those Paramvirs who are still alive. For others she met their families, Friends, fellow soldiers from their units. The book is very well written. PARAM VIR CHAKRA is the Highest Gallantry Award in India. Till date there are 21 Param Vir Chakras are awarded to brave soldiers for their incredible display of courage, leadership & sacrifice. Most of them were in their early 20s. While reading these stories of these real life heroes of our country, you actually get tears in eyes and your heart fills with more & more respect for each & every soldier serving to protect his country. We, civilians, live peacefully only because of these brave men, guarding our borders with their lives on line.

     21 PARAM VIRS OF INDIA 
     Immediatly after the partition, First war between Independent India and Pakistan took Place in 1947-48, which gave the Pakistanis the taste of capabilities and strength of Indian Army.                        
* Major Somnath Sharma- Indo Pak War 1947-48
* Lance Naik Karam Singh- Indo Pak War 1947-48
* Major Ram Raghoba Rane- Indo Pak War 1947-48
* Naik Judunath Singh- Indo Pak War 1947-48
* Company Havildar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat- Indo Pak War 1947-48

     Not just in Indian wars but our soldiers showed utmost bravery in the wars abroad in the UN Operations.
* Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria- Katanga, Congo 1961      

     In 1962, the war with China, though the war was lost by India, every Indian soldier showed great courage and fought with everything they had got till the end.
* Major Dhan Singh Thapa- Indo-Chinese War 1962
* Subedar Joginder Singh- Indo-Chinese War 1962
* Major Shaitan Singh- Indo-Chinese War 1962
                                                                                                                                                       
     Thinking that the Indian defence is weak, Pakistan attacked Kashmir in 1965, which proved grave mistake for Pakistan. Pakistan faced Humiliating defeat. In the battle of Asal Uttar, more than 90 Pakistani Patton Tanks were destroyed or captured by Indian Army.
* Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid- Kashmir War 1965 
* Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Tarapore- Kashmir War 1965

    India went to War with Pakistan in 1971 to help Bangladesh get Independence. In yet another humiliating defeat Pakistan surrendered to India. Over 90000 Prisoners of War were taken in by Indian Army. 
* Lance Naik Albert Ekka- Indo-Pak War 1971
* Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon- The Only Air Force Officer awarded Param Vir Chakra till date- Indo-Pak War 1971
* 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal- Indo-Pak War 1971
* Major Hoshiar Singh- Indo-Pak War 1971
 
    Siachin Glacier which is named after Sia flowers of that region, is the Highest and geographically most difficult battle field on  the Earth and is controlled by Indian Army. After Independence both India & Pakistan fought for the control over  Siachin Glacier. Ultimately India won.
* Subedar Major ( Honorary Captain) Bana Singh- The Quaid post which Bana singh and his two men captured is known as Bana Post- Saltoro Ridge-Siachin-1987       

    At the time of Militant crisis( LTTE) in Shri Lanka, Indian Troops were sent for helping Shri Lankan Army in Peace Keeping.
 * Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran- Operation Pawan 1987-90
               
     The Famous Kargil War. Pakistan sent the militants and soldiers to infiltrate Indian border in Kargil district. The war was won by Indian Army with Support of Indian Air Force. The day of Victory is Known as Vijaya Divas.
* Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey- The Kargil War 1999
* Grenadier Yogeneder Singh Yadav- With 15 bullets in his body, he survived- The Kargil War 1999
* Havildar Sanjay Kumar- The Kargil War 1999
* Captain Vikram Batra- also known as Shershah- The Kargil War 1999

    These are "THE BEST OF THE BEST" of Our Indian Armed Forces.

    Some of these Param Virs like Vikram Batra, Manoj Kumar Pandey are known to young generation because of the movie  LOC Kargil. Also in the celebration of bravery of Param Vir Chakra Heroes , An illustrated series in set of 5 books is Published recently named VEER GATHA. This series of books is in the format of Comic book which makes it suitable for children to understand. Young Indian Generation really needs to know about all these Heroes and their Courage. Not only these but all the Unsung Heroes of the Indian Armed Forces who put the Country before their own lives. 


             Each and Every Soldier is the Hero for us!!!