A Diabolical Beginning
Diabolical, collusive, and clandestine — under the cover of non state elements (or, so called) the enemy devised a master plan, the year was 1965. Strengthened by foreign-aided armaments, the numbers sided with the adversary, be it tanks, guns, or jets.
What the enemy miscalculated is the human factor on that day, on the ground, with valor it will display on the battle field. Coming to the birds, I mean the jets, quantity was on our side but the quality was on the enemy’s. A ruthless battle was to be ensued — it was “the” August, 1965. A month which will shape the narratives, the future, and the times ahead.
Battles That Shaped History
Numerous battles were fought, some yielded results to be proud of, others not so to be. One of the battles to remember is the bloody and brutal one of RAJA and CHAND TEKRI (Sept 5 1965). The valor and vigor on that fateful day knew no bounds, that momentous day still reverberates around the bulge, undaunted is the proper word. Mere bullets could not daunt the objective a bit — tricolors had to fly high — nothing else mattered.
The battles of Khem Kharan and Asal Uttar (Sept 8–Sept 10) still resonates and pays adage to the bravery and indomitable spirit of the regiments. The revere PATTONs were humbled on the bloodied fields on the eventful month of September 1965. 11th of the same month witnessed mass withdrawals and give-ins from the challengers. In the annals of military history, this show of courage and nerve goes down as one of the highest merit of battle ever fought. The roaring outcomes of these hard fought encounters changed how India looked to the future.
The Book and Its Objectivity
This book definitely projects an unbiased viewpoint of the battle as it happened, this despatches is a testament of the supreme sacrifice made on those dreadful albeit eventful days.
The book eloquently enunciates the plan, the formation, the success stories, the failed ones, causalities, and everything — a complete objective assessment of the realities as endured on the ground.
Eighteen Days That Defined a Nation
18 hectic days, in a month of September, year was 1965 — taught lessons, wrote stories of valor and vigor, supreme sacrifices: the nation stood stronger than ever. Diffidence was a perishable thing, the joyous and magnanimous ride on the valley still rhymes with the crescendo of India, the India!
Unsung Civilian Bravery
Nevertheless, we must not forget the resiliency and patriotism displayed by the civilian inhabitants and their settlements which enemy tried to throttle and conquer — the trojan act these villagers accomplished are no less than any bravados displayed by the army. In one of the instances, villagers captured and made the enemy to give in were the paratroopers sent by the adversary, with mere lathis and swords, and for the night visibility villagers were carrying the lanterns!
For the Military Enthusiast
This book encapsulates every minute details with bullet points — Honestly, I felt exhausted sometimes with details starting from number of tanks to the number of stones on the ground. For military enthusiasts this is a gold dust enunciating strategies to causalities to the plan of action.
If you would like to know what happened on the fateful September of 1965 — you must not miss this book:
“WAR DESPATCHES – Indo-Pak Conflict 1965” by Lt Gen Harbakhsh Singh, who fought the war himself.
A Thought to Conclude
“The fate of a battle is the result of a moment, of a thought: the hostile forces advance with various combinations, they attack each other and fight for a certain time; the critical moment arrives, a mental flash decides, and the least reserve accomplishes the object” — Napoleon
It’s all about your indomitable will and spirit — Isn’t it true about life even?