A soldier’s creed is a class apart

When World War II broke out in 1939, Subedar Richhpal Ram of 4 Rajputana Rifles was on two months’ leave at his village Barda in Gurgaon district. Barda was known in the region as ‘Faujion ka gaon’ since almost every household had at least one member who was serving or had served in the defence services.

Soon after the war started, most faujis on leave in the village received recall telegrams one after another. They cut short their leave and returned to their paltans (battalions). Upset due to the non-receipt of a telegram for many days, Subedar Richhpal unilaterally decided to rejoin his paltan. Janaki, his wife, told him to wait, but he argued that the telegram meant for him had perhaps been wrongly addressed or got misplaced in transit. He insisted that his soldier’s creed demanded his service and it was time for him to prove his wafadari (loyalty) towards his paltan and his country.

During his send-off at the tonga stand, Richhpal said to his wife, “Main ulto aaungo, morcho jeet ke aaungo. Aur jai ulto na aa payo to iso kuchh karjango ke mhari poori biradari tere pe garv karegi” (I will return victorious. But if I don’t come back, I would have done something for which our entire clan will be extremely proud of you).

Sadly, he did not return from the war, but he kept his promise. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Fast-forward to the middle of 1999, when the war clouds were gathering over Kargil. Some officers and jawans of the 17 Jat battalion were on leave. Realising the operational urgency, the battalion adjutant, Major HS Madan, started sending recall telegrams. Major Deepak Rampal, ‘Delta Company’ Commander, 17 Jat, was on long leave, preparing for the staff college exam scheduled for September 1999. Unwilling to disturb Major Rampal during his preparations, the Commanding Officer, Col US Bawa, thought of sending a recall notice to him later, when the war became imminent.

Col Bawa was pleasantly surprised when he saw Major Rampal, carrying a rucksack, walk into the battalion’s operational room. When asked what made him rejoin without receiving the recall telegram, he replied: “Sir, I heard on the radio news about Pak infiltration in the Kargil sector. I also read in the newspaper about the missing patrol of 4 Jat led by Lt Saurabh Kalia and the torture inflicted upon him and his men. I also saw coffins of our soldiers being brought to their villages. Did I need to know more and see more to take a decision?”

Within a fortnight of his rejoining the battalion, Major Rampal led his ‘Delta Company’ during an assault on the formidable Whale Back feature strongly held by Pakistani troops. After a night-long fierce fight, including hand-to-hand combat, the Whale Back was back in Indian hands. Major Rampal received a well-deserved Vir Chakra.

Not just Richhpal and Rampal, all Indian soldiers have always been like that — a class apart. For them, their country and their paltan are supreme. Leave is too small a privilege for them.