Capt. Shaji Kumar

What did Moti Lal Nehru do? What did Jawahar Lal Nehru do? What did Indira Gandhi do? What did Sanjay Gandhi do? What did Rajiv Gandhi do? I seriously wonder as to what did these illuminaries actually do for this Country? Other than being part of a family which has over the last few decades been successful in creating a dynasty – a filthy rich and powerful dynasty. MLN or whatever his credentials were, must be a rather peaceful soul. The seeds which were sown by him in collusion with the British has borne fruits. I write this not because I have anything personal against them, or for the fact that these names spring up on all major roads, prominent buildings, major airports, almost every where in every state. We should rather thank our stars that we have so far been spared a Soniapath instead of Janpath or a Rahul Gandhi Nagar or Priyanka Vihar. When I try to garner information about them, their achievements does not befit the adulation and position or pedestal on which they are placed. Only thing I can summarize is a lineage of dynastic rule. I have often wondered why was Nehru never seen on the streets at the head of a violent protest march and being injured like Lala Lajpat Rai or a Patel. He was almost always closeted with the British dressed in his impeccable tunic complete with the customary rose, holding closed room discussions, when not sitting in his comfortable cell in any of the better prisons of the Country. There are so many people in this great Country who have “actually” contributed so much, so very much since civilisation began, but unfortunately their names remain hidden beneath the rubble of time, or buried in text books. The “fighters” who actually fought, rather than raise feeble protest and spend their time in the safety of the various prisons in the Country. I even dare to question the judgement of the Father. However, if history is the witness all dynasties have at some point ended – always.

The real men who fought for the freedom did not go to prison and save their skin. They confronted and laid down their lives happily. Even if they did go to prison they did not find time to write books or long letters to progeny, but were sent to the gallows to be martyred. The British played a very shrewd game and they actually masqueraded and scripted a fine script which will see them returning to take hold of one of their darling colonies back into its fold. All the “actors” for this play were very carefully chosen and each played their part to perfection. Only they did not envisage the hiccups that changed the course of history and hence the well written script got disrupted.

Here we have some, albeit a small group beginning to take up cudgels on our behalf. Narendra Modi, AAP, and recently a small bunch of ex-IITians. Will the people who hold the strings in this puppet folk dance allow these crusaders to succeed? It is just under 5 years and it is making everyone who oppose any such change in script very very uncomfortable. Questions are being raised as to what they have been able to achieve…seriously in 5 years what change can be evident unless we are all living in the World of J.K.Rowling and have studied in Hogwarts. We have been so patient with the others, and we expect everything to be put right in a short span or else we are ready to brand them as incompetent. I grew up in Delhi, and have seen the condition of the Government Schools…if we go around Delhi now there is such a marked improvement in the primary education in Delhi. Not much but enough to understand that we are on the right track For the first time schools are being run like it should be – as Schools. Also the Primary Health Care is showing a marked improvement. Five years back wherever we on the World forum, In all photographs we could barely catch a glimpse of the blue turban (thank God for small mercies) lurking somewhere in the corner. Today when I look at the pictures we find a silver haired bearded gentleman in full bloom, impeccably and stylishly attired (and why not) at the epicentre of every gathering. All my life I have always been the onlooker and we always try to surround the most important person in the room and stand there gaping or the smarter audience, asking relevant or irrelevant questions. We have come a long way, even if it has been just 4-5 years. There is a perceptive change in the way the World looks at us now. What we say matters and our opinion id not shrugged aside. I just hope that we do not lose hope and trust in the power of the common man. (Also if possible confiscate the passport of one particular masquerader of a politician as he can undo all the good work that has been done) This is not political by any standard, as I personally do not endorse the politician…to be continued.

An interesting story from our Army, which maybe few would know about…….as forwarded by Brig. V.D.Nishandar (My first Commanding Officer)

The story of Birba. The man who was awarded twice on Republic day including the highest gallantry awardbut is still unknown.

Bir Bahadur Gurung was a young well built lad not yet into his teens. He lived with his family on the banks of the Brahmaputra in Upper Assam, in a thatched roof hut.

Bir Bahadur Gurung was fondly called Birba by his family and friends. Needless to say, Birba was a strong swimmer. He also climbed nearby hills with the agility and sure footedness of a mountain goat.

One day, Birba and his friends were lounging

on the banks of the river. Birba saw a passenger ferry sail down stream, &which in Birba’s own words seemed to be ” walking like a drunken man “.

Birba barked a few instructions to his friends to get ropes and jumped into the water. For the next hour or so Birba was in water, saving as many as he could from the ferry , that had now capsized.He came out of the water only after Army rescue teams arrived.

For his act of exceptional bravery, Birba recieved the President’s Bravery Award given to children on Republic Day..On R- Day, Birba rode the  back of an elephant down Rajpath, waving excitedly to cheering crowds.

Fourteen years later, Lance Naik Bir Bahadur Gurung and his team of crack Commandos scaled a vertical cliff all through the night to catch the enemy by surprise at dawn. During the firefight, Birba was mortally injured, but he contnued to fight on and breathed his last only after all the enemy had been eliminated and the Tricolour fluttered atop the peak. The detailed planning and flawless execution of the capture of “Peak Tololing” during the Kargil war is the stuff that legends are made of. Cadets in military academies around the world study this military operation in great detail. Many cadets have submitted dissertations on Birba as a part of their study program. “The Life And Times Of Birba” is a lesson that eighth grade children learn in schools across Canada –as a part of their English Language curriculum.

Once again Birba’s name was called on a Republic Day. His widowed wife walked up to the President to recieve the Param Vir Chakra.

Back home in Upper Assam, an approximately forty year old woman blows through a pipe  to revive the dying embers of the fire in the “chullah”. She lives in a thatched roof hut along with her aged in laws and an old aunt. The arresting feature of the hut is a framed colour photograph of Birba with two medals garlanding it. The woman keeps her body and soul together by working as a domestic help in a few houses in the nearby Oil town. All this whilst pot bellied men with oily smiles zoom around town in their latest SUVs.

Fortunately, Birba’s only son — now a teenager has been picked up by Birba’s old Regiment, the Assam Regiment–where he is now a recruit.

My friends , this is the story of a genuinely great Indian. Unfortunately, he will never be even a footnote in our history books though many other “”genuinely great Indians”” like numerous scam tainted will be talked of for years to come. There will never be a Birba Road anywhere or a Birba Statue in the middle of a “Chow rasta”. Such privileges are for people who sell their souls –and our motherland to the highest bidder.

Sharing the story is the least you can do for Birba.

Credits. Maj Gen Harsh Kakar .