..Jaraa yad Karo Kurbani!! English

  Introduction by (Rtd.) Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale.

तुजसाठी मरण ते जनन,

तुजविण जनन ते  मरण

                                                                          .... स्वा. विनायक दामोदर सावरकर 

Dying for you is Life,

Living without you is Death

….. Swa.  Vinayak  Damodar  Savarkar

Every member of Indian armed forces faces any foreign invasion with guts without being bothered about his own life. After achieving Independence on 15^th August, 1947 within 10 weeks , Pakistan army intruded into Kashmir and the then king of Kashmir, Maharaja Harisingh signed instrument of joining Indian Republic on 26^th October, 1947. Same night, Indian armed forces launched a successful operation against Pakistani intruders and not only sowed Srinagar from the intruder, but also repulsed them to faraway location. This FIRST INDO-PAK WAR went on till the end of 1948. However, 1/3 portion of the State of   J&K is under control of Pakistan till today. Because of the  Pakistan occupied Kashmir the first (lesson of) History & Geography has gone against India. In this war, Major Somnath Sharma, Havaldar Pirusing and Nayak Yadunath Sing beat the Pakistan army left right and centre without bothering about their individual  lives. They sacrificed their own lives in the wars that took place in Badwal, Tithwal and Naushera areas. With them Major Rama Raghoba Rane and Nayak Karamsingh demonstrated unparalleled bravery. All these five were decorated with Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award given for unparalleled bravery in war.

Param Vir Chakra is the highest gallantry award bestowed for bravery in war. It is next to Bharat Ratna as an honour. The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for exhibition of  unparalleled bravery, selflessness and leadership in the face of the enemy during a war. It is awarded either in  life or posthumously . Since the first Republic  Day of 26^th January, 1950 till date , the Param Vir Chakra has been bestowed  only on 21 brave hearts out of which 3 individual awardees are alive today.

Param Vir Chakra is a circular / round Medal made out of Bronze. In this the National Emblem  is surrounded by the images of Vajras of Indra Dev. The ribbon of Param Vir Chakra is purple in colour, because if we combine the Red colour of Infantry, Blue colour of Navy and Skyblue color of Airforce , it results in Purple colour.  As per the Purple colour of this Ribbon, the three wings of Indian Armed Forces demonstrate their preparedness to face any challenges in a co-ordinated and co-operative manner. The Param Vir Chakra has been designed by Smt. Savitri Khanolkar , though originally  a Swiss-Hungerian, she was attracted to Indian culture from her childhood. By chance she has married to the then Major General Vikram Khanolkar and she was totally Indianised.

Following  the Param Vir Chakra, we have Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Air Force Medal, Gallantry and Mention in Dispatches are awarded.  Since the Srilankan and Kargil wars,(which were limited in nature) Best War Service Medal (Uttam Yoddha Seva Padak) , Yoddha Sena Padak are also awarded as bravery Medals. Similarly for bravery displayed during peace time, Ashok Chakra, Kitti Chakra and Shourya Chakra are awarded.

In the Indo-China War in 1962, India was defeated but the Indian armed forces without getting  disheartened due to lack of military equipment showed exemplary valor and three members of the armed forces were decorated with Param Vir Chakra. Because of this war the history and the geography of India changed adversely a Second Time. However, within 3 years i.e. in 1965 Pakistan once again intruded into Kashmir and the brave Kashmir is stood up against the intruders and almost 300 civilian Kashmiris died during this intrusion. Due to successful reversal of action by India when our army was close to the borders of Lahore and Sialkot there was a cease fire  between India and Pakistan. Unfortunately, after the Tashkent Treaty we not only lost our Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastriji but also returned all Pakistan land that we occupied in the war and also returned the Haji Peer Pass to Pakistan. In this manner an adverse change came about a THIRD TIME in the history and geography of India. In this war Colonel Tarapore from Pune and Hawaldar Abdul Hamid from the U.P. were decorated with Param Vir Chakra.

Thereafter, however in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Indian army was victorious like never before and Pakistan was divided into two and Bangladesh was born (in place of East Pakistan). Because of the Indian victory in this was not only of India but also of entire world, the history and geography were altered adversely. In this war, for the first time and till date ONLY ONCE the Flying Officer Nirmaljitsingh Sekhon of Indian Air Force was Similarly, three brave hearts of Infantry were also honourned with award of Param Vir Chakra. Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal who was newly commissioned  was one of the three and given to the Parade Ground of NDA at Khadakwasala.

After this war, six members of Indian Army, who exhibited unparalleled bravery in the wars in Srilanka, Siachen and Kargil were also awarded the highest gallantry Medal (namely Param Vir Chakra) . Out of these six was Subhedar Banasingh whose name has been given to an ice-clad peak in Siachen. It is today known as BANA TOP. Bana Singh who is now retired has settled in Jammu. After him, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar and Sepoy Yogindersingh Yadav have been decorated with Param Vir Chakra in the Kargil War. Both of them today are Instructors in the Indian Military Academy at Dehraun. Captain Gurubachansingh Salaria had gone in 1961 to African Continent as leader of Indian Military team as UN Peace Keeping Force and had demonstrated historically noted bravery and had made India proud outside India and was awarded Param Vir Chakra.

Indian Armed Forces is a live example of Unity in Diversity that our great country is. Our armed forces are Every Ready for the preservation of unity and going beyond Religion Caste, Greed and Language. For the Armed Forces BEING INDIAN IS THE ONLY RELIGION. Our country which is well endowed with water supply and fertile land and is spread from Ice clad North till Sea in the South and from thick forests in North-East to desert in the West .  The 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees will always remain a source of inspiration not only for the soldiers who are day and night making all out  efforts to make this country rich but also for all the citizens of India.

I wish to congratulate Shri Vilas Sutavane and his associates, for … Jaraa, Yaad Karo Kurbani !!!  which is a well researched writing and will be a guiding force for young generation. I also compliment Vivisu Dehra for encouraging Sutavane and his associates to bring out this book. While extending best wishes for future journey I quote a couple from G. D. Madgulkar and extend best wishes to all the readers.

Dear Soldiers, 

the morsel of food that we Indians eat is in your name held back in mouth.

भारतीय नागरिकांचा घास रोज अडतो ओठी... 

सैनिक हो तुमच्यासाठी ..  

जय हिंद !!

एअर मार्शल भूषण गोखले 

JAI HIND!

(Rtd.) Air Marshal – Bhushan Gokhale

... Jaraa Yaad Karo Kurbani !!! 

VIVISU DEHRA published the above book on the special occasion of 20th Kargil Victory day on 26th JULY 2019.

Those readers who world like to to buy the book for their reading and collection may kindly contact me of VIVISU DEHRA on 9819504020 / 9833410365 or you can visit www.vivisudehra.com

This book has been printed on ART Paper in color and it is valued at Rs. 270/- as a contribution to VIVISU DEHRA for its social activities.

KUNAL SUTAVANE

9819504020

"Courtesy Mr. Kishor Mushrif