A star gems the sky, gleaming bright

THE antim ardas notice in The Tribune of April 3, 2018, was elegant and befitting. Above a sepia picture of the charismatic Brig NS Sandhu, MVC, in formal uniform was a line of moving verse: “And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.” It was from a bugle/trumpet call titled “Taps” that was first played in 1862 during the American Civil War — over the body of a braveheart soldier.

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Placed in context, the stanza reads:

“Fading light, dims the sight,

And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.

From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.”

The senior-most officer present on April 5 was Gen Ved Malik, the Kargil war Chief, with rows of veteran officers and men across ranks now greyed with age present to pay respect to one among them who shone so brightly. On my request, I was allotted two minutes to say a few words on behalf of my researchers and myself about a great soldier and mentor.

We listened in respectful silence as the hymns were sung, their words and English translations coming up on screens as we reflected upon the aptness of the sacred words as played out. The kirtan ended with the stirring words written by Guru Gobind Singh: “Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Ehe, Shubh Karman Te Kabhu Na Taron. Na Daron Arr Seo Jab Jaaye Laron, Nishchay Kar Apni Jeet Karon.” In translation, they emphasised the need for fearless and upright brave conduct against all odds and difficulties, and summed up what Brig Sandhu was all about. It was his anthem in word and in deeds, a true recall of the quality officer he was.

His son Sandeep, his grief carried with dignity and strength, read out his tribute to a great father who was such a wonderful man for all seasons. He said he and the family were awed by the vast multitude that had assembled to pay his father a tribute and realised yet again how many lives had been impacted by the hero, father, grandpa… hero for all of Narli, his ancestral village, and for his beloved Army.

I spoke about the intrepid Charlie squadron commander of 3 Cavalry at Khemkaran in 1965 that accounted for 14 Pattons; deserved an MVC but wore his “Mentioned-in-Despatches” award with quiet pride. I spoke of his MVC at Dera Baba Nanak in 1971 and how, despite battlefield friction and fog of war, the urbane CO of 10 Dogra did what he was tasked to, taking the strategic bridge across the Ravi despite being wounded and losing brave soldiers.

He was our mentor, I said, for I and my 10 young men/women researchers who often visited him at his elegant Chandigarh home after colic cancer had struck found him remarkably cheerful, impeccably dressed and full of class and infectious enthusiasm for life and living. Asked by a young lady researcher about his coping strategy when faced with failure, he replied with wise words we will never forget: “I cock a snook at it. I challenge it with energy, grit, fearlessness.”

He guided our Punjab State War Heroes Museum research for three years at the Directorate of Defence Services Welfare, Punjab. Death, in taking Brig NS Sandhu away, had actually lost… his star glowing in the sky, cheerfully cocking a snook at death.

You made us proud, sir, and we will always remember.