IDHAR UDHAR KI BAAT 82 (SALUTE TO BOYS IN BLUE) Brig PS Gothra (Retd)
"How naïve of you to relate Maha Kumbh with the nation’s will. Don’t you remember the nation played cricket when our soldiers were dying in Kargil?" A friend’s voice crackled over the phone. He had just watched the podcast, where I spoke about the mass participation in Maha Kumbh as a demonstration of India's Utsah Shakti—the spirit of enthusiasm that defines us.
I had no immediate answer. So, I wriggled out of the conversation.
But last night, India lifted the Champions Trophy. The nation erupted. Fireworks lit up the sky. People danced in the streets. And somewhere, in a forward post near the Line of Control, a transistor radio crackled with commentary. Soldiers huddled together, listening to every ball, every run, celebrating each boundary like a battlefield victory. Even our neighbours must have heard the chants of India! India! India!
And at that moment, I told myself—cricket is another dimension of India’s power. Sometimes, it raises morale where nothing else can.
Back in 1995.
"Saab, four jawans killed in action and six in the hospital," my Company Havildar Major reported as I stepped off the aircraft at Srinagar Airfield on 5 December. I had just returned from a short leave, and reality hit hard. My C Company had engaged in a deadly encounter with terrorists of Al Faran on 4 December. We had eliminated five terrorists, including their leader, Hamid Turki, the man responsible for the abduction and killing of foreign tourists that year in Jammu and Kashmir.
The higher-ups were pleased. The mission was a success. But down here, on the ground, in the heart of it all, we were sending back the belongings and remains of our fallen brothers. The company’s morale was crumbling.
I thought, I knew what had to be done. We went back to a rigorous routine—patrols, ambushes, keeping the terrorists on edge. But something was missing. The men moved with a weight in their step, their eyes hollow from loss. The usual methods weren’t working.
Then, the Senior JCO came up with an idea—something simple, yet powerful. Chicken and Cricket.
Yes, you heard it right. For the next two days, we set aside our rifles and picked up knives, bats, and balls—not for combat, but for cooking and cricket.
Buddy-level cooking—straight from the basics. Cleaning, dressing, marinating, and cooking chicken over makeshift fires in the biting cold. And then, cricket matches—some of us making clumsy moves, some hitting spectacular sixes, all laughing like old times. It worked. The laughter returned. The camaraderie was back.
At the cost of some extra company funds spent to procure extra chicken, we had restored what was slipping away—the spirit of the men.
Now, some of you might raise eyebrows. "How can you eat chicken when your men have died?"
But those who have seen war know—you don’t let grief consume you. You fight, you live, and you honor the fallen by moving forward.
I always loved chicken. That day, I became a cricket lover.
For last night’s win, my salute to the boys in blue—for uniting us always, and uplifting the spirits of India.
When India wins the Cup, it’s not just a team lifting the trophy—it’s a billion dreams realized.
It is bigger than cricket. It is about identity, unity, and spirit. It is about a nation that refuses to bow down—whether on the battlefield or on the pitch. I’ve seen firsthand how a simple match score from a radio in the mountains can lift the spirits of men standing guard at our borders.
We don’t just play—we dominate. We don’t just compete—we conquer.
So, to those who think cricket and war don’t belong in the same sentence, I say this—both are battles. Both demand sacrifice. And both have the power to unite a nation.
INDIA! INDIA! INDIA!
Note:- Looking forward to your experiences of cricket & combat in the comments.
#CricketAndWar #IndiaWins #SpiritOfIndia #SoldiersAndSports #KargilToCricket #Patriotism #BoysInBlue #VictoryUnites #CricketLovers #IndianArmy #NationFirst #WarriorsOnAndOffField #PrideOfIndia #NeverBackDown
Refreshing as always Sir
ReplyDeleteAs usual Very well written, sometimes I wonder how you narrate such complex issues with such simplicity.
ReplyDeleteRaising morale of a company/ battery ( arty) when you loose a few of own is herculean task .
I was battery cdr with a gorkha paltan in Ganganagar, the gurkhas were finding it difficult to co-operate with heat and dryness of deserts , many had to be evacuated for heat stroke and dehydration, the paltan morale sank as we were in a test exercise.
Then we started playing pitthoo/ satolia/ seven stones , the results were amazing, the paltan became lively , every afternoon the SM / SA used to ask for timings of pithoo game.
All incl CO used to play and the paltan suddenly started performing well, they almost won ghatak pl competition.
Really touching narration from a ground soldier. Very effectively brought vack the verve of life in RR soldiers. We all fauji know what it meant to loose your comrades / buddies. RR service is super human definitely, even in staff at Force HQ level, one could realise it. Salute to all those who served in Bns and Coys.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. But cricket is still a game. We must rejoice our victories, but, in my view, we should never equate it with battles won. In battles there are no runners up, there are no also ran.
ReplyDeleteWhat if had we lost the game the other day? Should we not have said it's only a game? In battles winner takes it all, in cricket there is a runners up, in boxing it's always well fought but, red is the winner.
Nicely narrated PS. Well said that we should not let grief consume us and what better to lift the morale of soldiers in honour of their fallen comrades than Cricket.
ReplyDeleteGood one Param. Nice to read it in Hindi too... Yes cricket is a passion that unites us as no other game. At times it's amusing too... Like the cricket we played with top militants with guns and all, security being provided by both sides, and incl militants from POK, during the ceasefire in 2001. In a matter of 24 hrs post match, I had received Kudos to brickbats from hierarchy.
ReplyDeleteHats off to you for this wonderful narration about the tough life of RR soldiers,their sacrifices and how to boost up their moral once again, once they see the lose of lives of their own buddies.
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely awesome 👍
You reminded me of Kargil day's when at Awantipur base we used to find small break to catch up with cricket to let go our fatigue and tiredness. He was a big stress buster between challenging time. Great write up as always sir pleasure reading.
ReplyDeleteCricket has been a binding force for Cricket passionated nation.
ReplyDeleteThe fever was truly evident in the recent final match which coincided with the IFFA awards.
I had 2 gold class passes of the IFFA Awards Jaipur in hand and the option to watch the finals of ICC champions trophy at home.
As you know the results, the cricket fever was higher than the IFFA awards.
I thanked the person who offered me the passes of IFFA and decide to watch the finals sitting in the cozy bedroom with all requisites like snacks & drinks.
The end results were much rewarding from the experience of my colleagues who went to watch IFFA.
Yes cricket with goods snacks and drinks is ultimate binding force and the company of the people who live and die for each other is ultimate