Shantikunj honours 1965 war hero Subedar Ram Verma

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 29

Subedar Ram Prasad Verma (retd), who was recently honoured by President of India Pranab Mukherjee for his bravery during the 1965 war with Pakistan, was felicitated by Gayatri Shantikunj at a function here today.

Subedar Verma after returning from New Delhi said he could not describe in words his happiness on his felicitation by the President. “During the 1965 war, I was deputed in the Baramula sector in Jammu Kashmir. Our battalion war ordered to move towards the border in the Haji Pir sector. We negated the advances of the enemy troops and fought with bravery to ensure the Pakistan army didn’t penetrate into our territory. I cannot believe that 50 years have passed. I still remember my fellow Army personnel. No one wanted war but when it comes, we have to defend our country and we did it as the Pakistan army tried to capture our strategic locations in 1965,” he said.

Subedar Verma is at present associated with Gayatri Shantikunj in the Village Management Department of Dev Sanskriti University. He said his elder son Rajendra Prasad Verma had retired from the Indian Navy as Master Chief Petty Officer recently.

“For 28 years, I served in the Indian Army and now I am associated with Shantikunj. This has given me an opportunity to work for society. The Army life makes one disciplined and trained to work in all conditions and hence institutions employ ex-Army personnel in various capacities,” said Subedar Verma.

He expressed happiness at the recent announcement of the benefits of one rank one pension for ex-servicemen by the Central government. He said this was a genuine demand as the difference in pension was affecting the morale of the armed forces.

Spiritual ideologue of Gayatri Shantikunj Dr Pranav Pandya and Shail Jiji welcomed Subedar Verma on his return from New Delhi after being honoured by the President.