IDHAR UDHAR KI BAAT 57 (PALTAN KI IZZAT) Brig PS Gothra (Retd)
“My source tells me that there are four Tamil Tigers who establish a sort of check post at Kirimchi crossroad. I hope you know it is your company area of responsibility,” said the Commanding officer with a bit of anger.
“I know that sir, it is just four kilometers from my post,” I replied.
“I am told these Tamil Tigers collect tax from the locals there. This means that you are not dominating your area of responsibility. I give you one week… you should either kill these Tamil Tigers or force them to leave the area.”
“Wilco, sir.”
That day in the evening, I asked the company, “We are extensively patrolling our area of responsibility yet, the Tamil Tigers are collecting tax from the people at Kirimchi Crossroads.”
“Saab, we always move out on foot. This gives enough time to the civilians, who are on the lookout, to run ahead and warn the Tigers. We will have to change the way we move,” said Hari, the two-inch mortar detachment commander.
“We do not have vehicles as the Commanding Officer has banned the use of vehicles because of the threat of IEDs planted by Tamil Tigers on the roads,” I said.
“We should collect some bicycles from the locals and use these for patrolling.”
I liked the idea, but we could not collect bicycles on that day as it was already dark, and the villagers were not moving on the road because of the curfew. The next day, we stopped every civilian moving on a bicycle in front of our post and held their bicycles. The civilians were asked to rest in a tent pitched for them till the time we returned from the patrol.
Rather than going straight to the Kirimchi Crossroad, we took a circuitous mud track which hit the crossroads from the west.
Sepoy Balbir was leading the patrol followed by me. As we approached Kirimchi Crossroad, me and Balbir saw four Tamil Tigers. As the Tamil Tigers saw us, they started running and shouting, “Bidi mama bidi mama..(Tamil Tigers used to call the Indian Soldiers as Bidi Mama).”
They were running towards a mangrove three hundred meters away from the crossroad. Impulsively me and Balbir dropped our bicycles and started running after the Tamil Tigers and firing at them. The Tamil Tigers on the run, were firing backwards aimlessly with weapons on their shoulders.
I shouted to Balbir, “Be careful, keep low as you run.”
In no time we were in the mangrove where the visibility was low. It was then that I stumbled, and my glasses fell off. With a high degree of myopia, I was not able to see my spectacles on the ground. Due to my predicament, I sat down to search for my glasses. I looked back, to ask for help from other members of my patrol, but could not see anyone.
It was then that I shouted, “Balbir, stop and come back.”
In a minute Balbir was standing next to me and saying, “Saab maine nahi socha tha aap dar jaoge (I never thought you will be afraid).”
“Shut up, and please look for my glasses; it fell off as I stumbled.”
“Oh, sorry saab,” said Balbir, he kneeled to pick up the spectacles, cleaned it and handed them over to me.
Sepoy Ajay was the third soldier in the patrol. His bicycle was giving trouble; thus, there was a gap of a hundred meters between him and me. When the Tamil Tigers had started running from the crossroad, Ajay and the rest of the patrol could not see the activity. They were unaware that me and Balbir were chasing the Tamil Tigers. On arriving at the crossroad, they heard firing from the direction of the mangrove. In the absence of any information, the rest of the party decided to deploy and cautiously crawl towards the sound of fire.
We searched the mangrove for the next four hours but couldn’t get the Tamil Tigers.
When I reported about the encounter to the Commanding Officer, I got a mouthful from him. In fact I felt that the Commanding Officer was a little extra unreasonable.
While sulking in the evening I called a senior in the unit and told him about the incident and the extra piece of bullshit I got. Promptly he said, “Kake, you shouldn’t have reported it on the radio.”
“Oh yes sir, Tamil Tigers may be listening?”
“No, the radio monitoring people at our higher headquarters may be listening. You were broadcasting a failure. A failure has to be swept under the carpet.”
“Why sir?”
“Paltan ki izzat kharab hoti hai (it spoils the reputation of the unit).”
Note: - That day I certainly deserved a bullshit for the tactical mistakes. But do you think the reason cited by my senior regarding Paltan Ki Izzat was right? Your comments solicited on the blog
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I think CO was more bothered about his own izzat and career !
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it’s always true. We try to hide mistakes and lessons drawn up from any operation are corrupted in reporting. Your action was appropriate at your age and service.
ReplyDeleteWe miss out serious lessons at times in such situations.
ReplyDeleteThis is the norm therefore we never learn any good lessons from our own failures. Success and failures both should be reported correctly.
ReplyDeleteWe need to change our mindset and thought process!
ReplyDeleteLearning lessons from our failures enables us to find better solutions. Maintaining paltan ki izzat is important, however, sweeping the failures under the carpet is not the solution!
We always try to hide the truth sir that's why never learn lessons from our mistakes.
ReplyDeleteHonest Reorting is never detrimental to the Reputation of the Establishment and the Individual.It may result in a Knee jerk " Dressing Down" but with time, Wisdom Prevails and the Hierarchy in the System do " Auto Correct" their Internal observations.
ReplyDeleteAn experience which many of us have encountered in some form.The izzat of Paltan ia a critical aspect.. some wrongdoings to maintainit is not always bad..
ReplyDelete.The CO is not always wrong.. his shouting is also a way of guidance
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Realities of soldiering. The paltans izzat is the most important factor. Nothing else matters
ReplyDeleteCO had the experience and in all probability was doing all he could to ensure that the Unit was projected in the best light. Unfortunately, generally the higher HQs, are not attuned to the actual ground situation and hence are subjective in their perceptions.
ReplyDeleteYou can only commit a mistake when you attempt to do something . Truthful reporting must be done so that wrong lessons are not drawn from reports which are fabricated.The Paltan will automatically get the Izzat it deserves. Seniors have also tread the same path ....everybody should keep that in mind
ReplyDeleteWell articulated. The response differs from people to people . I agree somr do try to encourage sweepinv mistakes under the carpet but then that's not how it should be. I have suffered this attitude of some seniors.
ReplyDeleteNo comments on this story Pl. It's an anecdote, should be just be taken as it is.
ReplyDeleteSuperb, paltan izzat is utmost priority.
ReplyDeleteTruthful reporting was rightly done. Had you not reported , you would not had been able to look into eyes of your men. Paltan ki izzat does not come / hamper in this type of situation
ReplyDeleteThe only worthwhile comment I have is that I admire your transparency and love your honesty.
ReplyDeleteThere are lot of lessons to be learnt even in a small incident / action in military. Heare a small miss and you loose a life or extinguish a wrong one. There is a learning even while brushing it under the carpet. We know it you did lot of yeoman service by not brushing things under the carpet in your career.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading the anecdote.
ReplyDeleteHS Phagura
ReplyDeletePaltan’s Izzat is no doubt imp , but lessons from such incidents must never be ignored, so to say.
Beautifully portrayed, as ever, simplicity being ur hallmark
Excellent point to ponder!!!
ReplyDeleteWe all should be honest to each other within the Bn. How things are projected above the Bn level could be left to the Tiger.
My take.
Pankaj
We need to create a culture where honest mistakes are accepted. Unfortunately , in this business of " Paltan ki Izzat", we sweep aside cases of indiscipline, inefficiency, tactical mistakes which sets out wrong signals and deprive the system of honest introspection and corrective action.
ReplyDeleteSir, nice articulation. Gives us insight into the thought process of a commander in the field. Failures are stepping stone to success and must be embraced in same manner as victory.
ReplyDeleteSuccess stories- Let the world know
ReplyDeleteGal'tiyaan - ghar ki baat 🙂
This false sense of izzat has degraded the standards at macro level, not only Paltan and Army ,presently it is the izzat of a Party also which is being protected by false reporting. Curbing initiative at junior level is harming the institutions. Your decision in reporting the operations was correct and unbiased at that age and service. Very nice description of the incident.
ReplyDeleteNot many have the moral courage to report a failure and not many people and orgs have the b**** to accept it. Paltan ki izzat is a cover only.
ReplyDeleteIn Dharamsankat to Answer. I Think Here, the Senior Might be Right. There are Some in Higher HQs, Who do Flare Up such Mistakes. Thought Proving Write, Like Always.
ReplyDeleteZero error syndrome and fake proud show off will bring us down pathetically one day.. we care for defeats in battle more rather than winning a war ..
ReplyDelete😀😀 Correct sir.. There are few people who expect, call for and honour correct reporting... It helps in the long run. But who has the time for a long run??
ReplyDeletesir, it was an unplanned action. You were getting battle hardened. CO was at a higher platform and was expecting higher STDs. So he shouted. Along with that he should have told how things could have been made better. A Brian storming a plan could have been planned. for success next time. Paltan ki izzat se iska koi lena dena nahin hai
ReplyDeleteI feel the coy cdrs advice was justified. While I believe in acknowledging mistakes, their is a need to keep it in house and share with only those who will learn from it and not those who may take advantage of our mistakes or form a hasty decision about our capability. Why let the enemy know where you faltered? Let him speculate as to why the pursuit was not more vigorous
ReplyDelete