An evening with Army veterans
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 15
As patriotic music played in the background, and servers dressed up in fauji colours carrying trays of piping hot eatables, some seniors got to know each other over a cup of coffee.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, ex-Army officers with their spouses enjoyed an evening filled with music and fun outside their own set up. The occasion was Army Day, which was celebrated at a local hotel to honour the Army veterans.
“I retired in 1987 and its for the first time that I am invited and honoured at a civilian gathering,” said Col Gurpreet Inder Sidhu (retd). With his wife Manjit Sidhu, he enjoyed the attention showered on them as they merrily walked the ramp. Col Gursewak Singh (retd) made an impressive picture with some 14 stars and medals shining on his chest. Enthusiastically he pointed out that the stars were for having fought the wars and rendering a fine service.
He introduced his wife Bhupinder, who at one point of time during the Operation Prakram had six relatives on the border. “My husband, son, son-in-law, two brothers and a nephew were on the duty,” she said. Did it scare her? “No,” comes an emphatic reply.
“In the Army, we are a unit, a family. Senior most officer’s wife would take us all in her cover. We would eat, play cards and even watch news together,” she smiled.
In the company were AVSM Brig BJS Oberoi (retd) with his wife Rupinder, Brig Subhash Khullar (retd) with wife Kamal and Maj SS Parwana (retd) with his wife Simarjit. Remembering the wars with a sense of pride was the highlight of the evening and the couples enjoyed karaoke and danced on old numbers like “Awara Hoon”.
Kamal Khullar, a proud wife, said, “My husband was a para commando. He would go for the jump and trust me I was scared at the slightest sound when he was at practice but then there comes the honour of being in the Army family.”
“The idea behind the programme was to show gratitude towards the armymen who faced all kind of challenges so that we could enjoy a peaceful life,” said Deepak Gupta, organiser of the event.
