From desertion to courage under fire

AS India commemorates the diamond jubilee of the 1965 war against Pakistan, a remarkable tale of transformation comes to mind. Sepoy Bhagirath made the supreme sacrifice — just six months after he had deserted the Army.

In April 1965, as tensions escalated in the Rann of Kutch, India mobilised its forces under Operation Ablaze. 7 Punjab, commanded by Lt Col (later Lt Gen) Jaswant Singh, was moved to the Amritsar sector. On the eve of the move, Sepoy Bhagirath deserted, perhaps overcome by the fear of war.

However, a ceasefire was soon brokered by then UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson, leading to the Kutch Agreement. With tensions de-escalating, 7 Punjab was redirected to Yol Cantonment. Routine training soon resumed in the unit.

Weeks later, Bhagirath returned with his father, a former soldier. Court-martialled for cowardice, he pleaded for forgiveness: “Sahib, mujhe maaf kar dijiye. Main darr gaya tha. Mujhe ek mauka aur dijiye.” (“Sir, forgive me. I was scared. Please give me one more chance.”) Moved by his sincerity, Lt Col Jaswant Singh awarded him 28 days of rigorous imprisonment and 14 days of confinement to the lines, sparing him dismissal.

But destiny had another test for the young soldier. On September 1, 1965, Pakistan launched Operation Grand Slam in the Chhamb sector, prompting India to initiate full mobilisation under Operation Riddle. 7 Punjab returned to Amritsar and was soon thrust into frontline action. After being held in reserve for 10 days, the battalion was tasked with capturing the eastern bank of the heavily fortified Ichhogil Canal, a mission in which two battalions had failed previously.

Between September 12 and 14, the battalion captured the Pakistani villages of Ichhogil Hithar and Ichhogil Uttar. On the night of September 16, it launched a final assault on the canal.

Now a member of the Signal Platoon, Bhagirath was part of the cable-laying detachment advancing behind assault troops under intense machine gun and artillery fire. As he laid the cables, exploding shrapnel injured him and his buddy, the latter seriously, in the stomach. The easier option for Bhagirath was to withdraw with his injured partner to the rear. Instead, he dragged his comrade behind cover, applied first aid, radioed for help and pressed forward to complete his task.

Unmindful of the enemy fire, he kept moving behind the attacking companies. Soon, the battle cries of “Bol Jwala Mata Ki Jai” and “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal” rang out. A red flare signalled the canal bund had been captured. When he was only about 100 yards short of the objective, Bhagirath was killed by a direct artillery hit, the cable drum still in his hands.

From a frightened deserter to a brave martyr, Bhagirath’s metamorphosis was extraordinary. Though recommended for the Maha Vir Chakra, he did not receive the award. Still, his actions remain a lasting testament to courage reborn.