Lt Indra (Indu) Kumar Gupta

IC-16203 Lt I K Gupta (40 Med Regt) Regiment of Artillery 1965- Indo Pak War 8-Sep-65

September 8th, 1974

I recollect the first time, I came to know about Lt Indu Gupta being a war casualty of Indo-Pak War 1965. I was posted to Amritsar from Deolali after completing my Long Gunnery Staff Course and marriage on Jan 6th 1974.Pitaji from Delhi had rung up to inform that Arjun uncle would be coming to us for going to Patti to offer memorial service for his elder son on 08 Sep 74.

I had gone to receive him at the Amritsar Railway Station as he was coming by Punjab Mail on the morning of 8th Sep 1974. I also met Maj Sukesh Jain of Signals who had come from Ferozpur to attend Pre-Staff course at Amritsar. We all - Uncle with Manjul Bhabhi, Ameeta and Maj & Mrs VK Bharadwaj, DAA & QMG, 15 Artillery Brigade then moved to Patti in two cars.

We were greeted at the memorial site by the local government officials and the important citizens/businessmen of Patti. We were happy to see that memorial had been maintained and looked after by them with certain amount of emotional attachment. A wreath-laying ceremony followed at the martyr memorial. It was a brief function where they recalled the brave acts of Lt Indu Gupta and paid tributes to him.

We returned to Amritsar. That evening Arjun uncle boarded the Punjab Mail and returned to Delhi. We were left with the memories of a young soldier who became a martyr at the young age of 24 years. He sacrificed his life for the nation withour caring for his personal safety and became an example for the younger generation. Certainly His ways are strange to manage this humanity.

Sarvatra Izzat-o-Iqbal (Prestige and Honour Everywhere)

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A Toast to the Guns

By them we live,

For them we would die.

Whatever the Mission,

We'll give it a try.

We'll serve them with Honor

For they are the ones;

That make us Artillerymen,

So here's to the Guns:

TO THE GUNS!!

                                    - Unknown

Let those who come after, see to it that his name be not forgotten. For he who at the call of duty, left all that was dear to him. Endured hardships, faced dangers and finally passed out of sight of men, in the path of duty and self-sacrifice. Giving his life that we might live in freedom - MAY GOD BLESS HIS SOUL.....

                                                                      Col Anil Singhal

BLANK CHEQUE

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He was getting old and paunchy

And his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion,

Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in

And the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies;

They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbours

His tales became a joke,

All his buddies listened quietly

For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,

For ol' Bob has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer

For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,

Just his children and his wife.

For he lived an ordinary,

Very quiet sort of life..

He held a job and raised a family,

Going quietly on his way;

And the world won't note his passing,

'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,

Their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing,

And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories

From the time that they were young

But the passing of a Soldier

Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution

To the welfare of our land,

Some jerk who breaks his promise

And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow

Who in times of war and strife,

Goes off to serve his country

And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend

And the style in which he lives,

Are often disproportionate,

To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,

Who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal

And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them,

For it is so many times

That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's,

Went to battle, but we know,

It is not the politicians

With their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom

That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,

With your enemies at hand,

Would you really want some cop-out,

With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--

His home, his country, his kin,

Just a common Soldier,

Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,

And his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us

We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,

We find the Soldier's part

Is to clean up all the troubles

That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor

While he's here to hear the praise,

Then at least let's give him homage

At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline

In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The President of India' for an amount "up to and including my life"

That is HONOUR, and there are too many people in this country who no longer understand it!!!

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INDO - PAK WAR OF 1965

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1st Sept 1965 – Pakistan launched an unprovoked attack against India. Under the able leadership of Lt Gen Harbaksha Singh (in those days we did not have the Northern Command. So entire West Pakistan border came under Western Command), the attackers were given a befitting reply. Khem Karan, where the biggest tank battle since WWII was fought, proved to be the graveyard of the enemy tanks.

In the process, casualties were enormous:

- 2,902 officers and other ranks killed

- 8,444 wounded

- 359 missing in action

As usual, shortly afterwards, the nation forgot all about them. The war ended on 23rd Sept 1965.

Below is poem by a soldier (from Mr Tarun Vijay’s recently published article in the Times of India)

How you play with us, did you ever see?

At Seven, I had decided what I wanted to be;

I would serve you to the end,

All these boundaries I would defend.

Now you make me look like a fool,

When at seventeen and just out of school;

Went to the place where they made "men out of boys"

Lived a tough life …sacrificed a few joys…

In those days, I would see my "civilian" friends,

Living a life with the fashion trends;

Enjoying their so called "college days"

While I sweated and bled in the sun and haze…

But I never thought twice about what where or why

All I knew was when the time came, I'd be ready to do or die.

At 21 and with my commission in hand,

Under the glory of the parade and the band,

I took the oath to protect you over land, air or sea,

And make the supreme sacrifice when the need came to be.

I stood there with a sense of recognition,

But on that day I never had the premonition,

that when the time came to give me my due,

You'd just say, "What is so great that you do?"

Long back you promised a well-to-do life;

And when I'm away, take care of my wife.

You came and saw the hardships I live through,

And I saw you make a note or two,

And I hoped you would realise the worth of me;

but now I know you'll never be able to see,

Because you only see the glorified life of mine,

Did you see the place where death looms all the time?

Did you meet the man standing guard in the snow?

The name of his newborn he does not know...

Did you meet the man whose father breathed his last?

While the sailor patrolled our seas so vast?

You still know I'll not be the one to raise my voice

I will stand tall and protect you in Punjab Himachal and Thois.

But that's just me you have in the sun and rain,

For now at twenty-four, you make me think again;

About the decision I made, seven years back;

Should I have chosen another life, some other track?

Will I tell my son to follow my lead?

Will I tell my son, you'll get all that you need?

This is the country you will serve

This country will give you all that you deserve?

I heard you tell the world "India is shining"

I told my men, that's a reason for us to be smiling

This is the India you and I will defend!

But tell me how long will you be able to pretend?

You go on promise all that you may,

But it's the souls of your own men you betray.

Did you read how some of our eminent citizens

Write about me and ridicule my very existence?

I ask you to please come and see what I do,

Come and have a look at what I go through

Live my life just for a day

Maybe you'll have something else to say?

I will still risk my life without a sigh

To keep your flag flying high

but today I ask myself a question or two…

Oh India…. Why do I still serve you?