Hony Capt Rathee — the destroyer of Pak tanks

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

“Rathee Sahab, you knocked out so many enemy tanks during the 1971 war with Pakistan. Were you not injured during the encounters?” The septuagenarian veteran, with glow on his face, says, “Sahab, mein war main ghayal hone nahin gaya tha. Dushman ko ghayal karne gaya tha, maarne gaya tha” (I went into the war not to get wounded but to wound or kill the enemy). “But you got the gallantry award”. And the veteran aptly sums up with a question: “Award jeetne ke liye ghayal hona ya marna zaroori hai ke” (is it necessary to get wounded or get killed to win a gallantry award)? The veteran is Honorary Captain Jai Singh Rathee, who, as a young Sowar in Deccan Horse, was awarded the Vir Chakra (Vr C) during the 1971 war with Pakistan.

Jai Singh is a third generation cavalryman; his grandfather, during World War 1, served in 14th Murray’s Jat Lancers (the present day Deccan Horse) and his four uncles fought the Japanese in the Burma campaign during World War II and were also part of combat arms during the 1962 and 1965 wars. Jai Singh, son of Sri Kali Ram, grew up listening to the stories of valour of Indian Army soldiers from his ‘fauji’ uncles and knew he was destined to be one. He was born at Asanda village in Rohtak district on April 2, 1946. Asanda is now in Jhajjar district. After matriculation from High School at Bhaprodha, Jai Singh’s dream materialised when on October 20, 1965, he was enrolled in 9 Horse (Deccan Horse), his grandfather’s regiment. Sowar Jai Singh Rathee was awarded the Vir Chakra for his dauntless courage and conspicuous act of bravery in the line of fire during the 1971 war with Pakistan. The battle account of the action in which he singlehandedly destroyed nine enemy tanks and four recoilless guns is recorded in the War Diary of Deccan Horse. 

Sowar Jai Singh Rathee retired from active service on November 30, 1993, as Honorary Captain. His son has carried forward his legacy. Risaldar Virender Singh, son of Captain Jai Singh Rathee, is a serving Junior Commissioned Officer in Deccan Horse (his father’s regiment) and the grandson is gearing up to follow in the footsteps of this proud Jat clan and Rathee family.

Voluntarily, Captain Rathee works in close coordination with the Zila Sainik Board and the district administration to ensure that ex-servicemen, especially war widows, are treated with dignity. He periodically organises pension adalats to address pension-related matters of the military retirees and their widows. From time to time, he organises blood donation camps and also motivates the youth to join the defence services. 

For almost a decade, Honorary Captain Jai Singh Rathee has also been in the forefront of various ex-servicemen movements. Asked if he is satisfied with what the government is doing for the ex-servicemen, the Honorary Captain speaks his heart with anguish: “Satisfy kahan, government to ex-servicemen ki poorn roop se andekhi kar rahi hai. Paanch saal pahle one rank one pension (OROP) ka vaida karke hamari vote le li lekin aaj tak vaida poora nahin kiya. Pichhle sadhe teen saal se OROP ke liye Jantar Mantar par ex-servicemen lagatar sangharsh kar rahe hain”.

Captain Rathee is right. Ex-servicemen are indeed at Jantar Mantar seeking the implementation of the promised OROP.  

The summary of the battle in War Diary of Deccan Horse reads...

During the 1971 war with Pakistan in western theatre, Sowar Jai Singh Rathee was a gunner in Regimental Headquarters tank attached with the Bravo (Jat) Squadron deployed in the Chhamb sector. On December 4, 1971, during an enemy armour assault, despite being heavily shelled by the enemy artillery and mortars, Sowar Jai Singh Rathee continued to fire his gun with utmost accuracy and destroyed seven T 59 tanks and one recoilless gun of the enemy, making the battleground a graveyard of enemy tanks. Not risking any more losses, the enemy retreated.

After regrouping, and in vengeance, after two days, the enemy launched another tank assault with an entire troop of three tanks directed at the tank of Sowar Jai Singh, as if they had marked his deadly tank during the first encounter. And then began the dog fight with one tank pitted against three superior in number and technology. Unmindful of his safety, Sowar Jai Singh Rathee got his tank manoeuvred into an advantageous position and destroyed two more enemy tanks and three recoilless guns. By inflicting so much damage to the enemy's armour, Sowar Jai Singh Rathee was instrumental in thwarting the enemy tank thrust in the Chhamb sector. Throughout the battles, Sowar Jai Singh Rathee displayed gallantry and professional skill of a high order.

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)