1071) Old Martinians Association (OMA - Pune Chapter) Reunion: i) Meeting old friends & making new ones, Games, Music and Luncheon at Sylhet, Bombay Sappers (Bombay Engineering Group) ii) Sylhet Battle Honours for Bombay Sappers - "Remembering the Heroes" - A POW train out of Bangladesh in 1971 on its way to the POW Camp at Agra, stops at Lucknow:
It was wonderful to attend the Old Martinians Association (Pune) Reunion (La Martiniere Alumni) on the pristine grounds of Sylhet, the beautiful Club of Bombay Sappers. The immaculate arrangements of the organisers - Col. Ashun Bahl (who booked the venue), Kanika Chopra (who oversaw the invitations and made meticulous arrangements), Akhilesh Singh (who was first responder to my SOS that I did not have a Paytm account and told me I could pay at the venue itself), all made me feel that the old "Mart spirit" was very much alive and kicking.
Guy Goves at whose initiative, I was introduced to the OMA Pune Chapter, gave Sudev and me a lift to the venue. We were very much in time, as all late-comers were supposed to do push-ups as "punishment". Guy said he had been a House Prefect who most certainly cannot do any pushups, I was medical category with a bad leg, so even though Sudev being the youngest (he is the son of my classmate - we are of 1974 batch) offered to do push-ups for all of us together if we got late, we took no chances whatsoever and got to the venue very much in time.
Got to meet Maj. General Baidwan (1961 Batch) and discuss some of my favourite hobbies - particularly, Tarot Card reading with him, and also met several others both from Calcutta Mart (CalMart) and Lucknow Mart (LkoMart) and got to learn a lot about Calmart. Interestingly, when I was working in the State Bank of India and was living in the Mahim Guest House in Mumbai awaiting flat allotments, my room-mate was Atanu Sen who was from CalMart. We talked a lot about our respective colleges and always felt a bonding, a kind of kinsmanship - a spirit that has endured in all Martinians over the centuries. After all the Martiniere institutions in India are not known as "Eton of the East" for nothing.
I volunteered to be a part of the Lyons House-Macaulay House team (yellow is our House colour) in the Games section organised by Col. Rajendra Singh, not realising that I am a senior citizen now and not a 100/200 metres sprinter as I was in my LMC days - Lyons House took runners-up position, while Martin House got the Cock-House hamper.
We were treated to some fantastic foot-tapping tunes/music of "our times" by Firoz Mistry.
We all gathered together to remember the College Founder - Claude Martin - a speech, singing of the College Song (I seemed to remember all of it, despite over four decades having passed since I last sang it) a cake-cutting ceremony (the oldest Martinian - Maj Gen Baidwan - 1961 batch and Sudev Singh - 2015 batch) who offered the first slices of the cake to each other (again the "Mart Spirit" was there in action).
The sumptuous Luncheon was followed by a group photograph session.
The Group Photograph
We all had loads of fun and felt like "College kids" all over again, after so many years. I wondered as to why I had not attended OMA get-togethers/Reunions for so many years.
We came back with copies of "The Martiniere Gazette", (which I have already read from end-to-end and learnt so much about several present day activities - new generations of Martinians have taken over now, the sons and daughters of my classmates, friends and teachers - who are holding the Martiniere torch high), a tee-shirt, a writing pad and a fridge magnet all bearing the Martiniere Crest.
ii) Sylhet Battle honours for Bombay Sappers - "Remembering the Heroes" - A POW train out of Bangladesh in 1971 on its way to the POW Camp at Agra, stops at Lucknow:
At the Sylhet Club venue, I came across these two plaques:
The first plaque outlines the history of the club
Sylhet Battle Honour - Bombay Sappers
The description reads:
"Awarded to 108 Engineering Regiment Sylhet (East Pakistan) in December 1971 during Indo Pak conflict 1971.
During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, 108 Engineer Regiment formed part of 8 Mountain Division and provided engineer support in offensive operations in the Sylhet district of East Pahistan.
Prior to the Battle of Sylhet the Regiment was employed with the 8 Mountain Division to capture Shamsher Nagar whose airfield was important for conduct of subsequent operations. The engineer support was provided in terms of construction of a timber pile bridge, mine-field clearance and bunker bursting.
The Battle of Sylhet commenced with an advance on three axes with dedicated engineer support. The E Sector Force move was speeded up by construction of bridge and ferries and culminated in capture of Kharaimnagar in which 380 Field Company provided engineer support on the other two axes.
A heliborne force comprising of an infantry battalion, Artillery and two sections of 108 Engineer Regiment landed in the vicinity of the town to exploit information of enemy withdrawal from Sylhet. This information was however incorrect resulting in a fierce & intense battle. Subsequent reinforcement combined with Artillery and air bombardment saw the surrender of Sylhet during the early hours of 16 Dec 1971, which we now commemorate as Vijay Diwas".
When I read that the Reunion programme was being held at Sylhet, I remembered that this was also the action in which 9 Guards, Brigade of the Guards (HQ at Kamptee, Maharashtra) in which my uncle served as a Major, had also won Battle Honours for their outstanding gallantry and single-mindedness in achieving their given objectives, along with the Sappers on the Juri Axis, both units working in close coordination for clearing the way to Dhaka, some 220 kilometres away, for wave after wave of Indian troops to spearhead the thrust towards Dhaka.
At the end of the 1971 War, when around 1,00,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered to the Indian Army, he was given the command of the first Prisoner of War (POW) train with over 4,000 Pakistani POWs on their way to the POW camp at Agra.
We went to Lucknow Railway Station to meet my uncle and his officers when the train halted there. No civilians were allowed on Platform No. 1 and we were screened and permitted to go to the POW train. A couple of Indian soldiers escorted me up and down the train, because I had told my uncle that I wanted to see the POWs. I saw very sad and defeated faces of the prisoners, who had families like us across the border.
One bearded soldier/POW smiled and waved out to me, alerting the Indian soldiers who were escorting me. Perhaps, my presence/college uniform reminded him of his family back home.
My grandparents had arranged for Lucknow's famous "kachauris/pooris" from "Netram Lalji's" in Aminabad market, the famous restaurant of a relative. My uncle insisted that the POWs get fed first, after which the Indian escort troops were served their meals.
Talk about the glorious traditions of the Indian Army - magnanimous in victory and treating enemy soldiers with respect and kindness.
There would be so many army veterans in Pakistan, who would still remember the delicious Netram Lalji's "pooris & kachauris" as a delicacy.
Links to posts on Army Post Office (APO) issues:
11) 29 Air Defence Regiment (SAMBA): 60 years of Glorious Service : A Special Cover issued by 99 APO on 24.12.2016
12) 102 (VC) Engineer Regiment: Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its raising in 1965: A Special Cover issued by 99 APO on 28.12.2016
13) 130 Air Defence Regiment: Golden Jubilee Celebrations: A Special Cover issued by 56 APO commemorating the occasion on 28.01.2017
14) 3rd Battalion The Sikh Regiment: Centennial of the Battle of Hai fought on 01.02.1917 during WW I : A Special Cover issued by 56 APO on 01.02.2017
15) 27 Air Defence Missile Regiment (Amritsar Airfield): Platinum Jubilee Celebrations (75 Years) A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO on 04.02.2017
16) 237 Engineer Regiment : Golden Jubilee Celebrations ( 50 Years of Glorious Service). A Special Cover brought out by 99 APO on 11.02.2017
17) 26th Battalion The Madras Regiment: Golden Jubilee (1967-2017): A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO on 16.02.2017
18) Tri Services Veterans: Inaugural Armed Forces Veterans day: 14.01.2017: A Special Cover issued by 56 APO on 14.01.2017:
19) 79 Medium Regiment: Golden Jubilee Celebrations (1967-2017): A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO on 01.03.2017:
28) Army Medical Corps: 12th Reunion & 54th Biennial (22-24.03.2017): A Special Cover issued by the 56 APO on 23.03.2017
29) No. 29, Squadron, Indian Air Force (IAF): (SCORPIOS): 60 Glorious years (1958-2018): A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 18.10.2018
30) No. 35 Squadron Indian Air Force (IAF): (RAPIERS): 60 Years of Rapiers (1958-2018)- "Armed to strike fast": A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 16.10.2018
31) The Deccan Horse: Centenary Celebrations of the Jordan Valley Day (1918-2018): A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 03.11.2018
32) College of Military Engineering, Pune: Platinum Jubilee Celebrations (28.09.2018):A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post , 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 29.08.2018
33) 3rd Battalion The Rajputana Rifles: Bicentenary Celebrations (1818-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post, 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 03.11.2018
34) 61 Cavalry: "Centenary of the Battle of Haifa (1918-2018)": A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post (56 APO-Army Post Office) on 22.09.2018
35) 40 Field Regiment (Asal Uttar): Platinum Jubilee Celebration (1943-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post (56 APO) on 07.09.2018
36) 131 Air Defence Regiment: Golden Jubilee Celebration (1968-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post (56 APO) on 26.09.2018
37) 125 SATA (Surveillance And Target Acquisition) Regiment: Diamond Jubilee Celebration (1958-2018): A Special Cover brought out by India Post - 56 (APO) on 03.11.2018
38) 22nd Battalion: The Rajput Regiment: Golden Jubilee Celebration (1966-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post (56 APO) on 01.10.2018
2) Commemorative Stamps on "Project Rukmini"
3) The Scinde Horse: A Commemorative Stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- issued by India Post on 16.11.2012
4) Aero India 2015: Asia's Premier Air Show: A set of 10 Post cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post in 2015.
5) International Fleet Review - 2016 (IFR - 16) held at Vishakhapatnam from 04.02.16 to 08.02.16: Commemorative Postage stamps issued by India Post
6) Bicentenary of the Raising of the Poona Horse Regiment (July 1817 - July 2017): A Commemorative 500 Paise or Rs.5/- stamp issued by India Post on 11.02.2017
7) India's First International Fleet review held on 18.02.2001 at Mumbai
8) Commemorating the Bicentenary of the Raising Day of the First and Third Gorkha Rifles: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post.
Guy Goves at whose initiative, I was introduced to the OMA Pune Chapter, gave Sudev and me a lift to the venue. We were very much in time, as all late-comers were supposed to do push-ups as "punishment". Guy said he had been a House Prefect who most certainly cannot do any pushups, I was medical category with a bad leg, so even though Sudev being the youngest (he is the son of my classmate - we are of 1974 batch) offered to do push-ups for all of us together if we got late, we took no chances whatsoever and got to the venue very much in time.
Got to meet Maj. General Baidwan (1961 Batch) and discuss some of my favourite hobbies - particularly, Tarot Card reading with him, and also met several others both from Calcutta Mart (CalMart) and Lucknow Mart (LkoMart) and got to learn a lot about Calmart. Interestingly, when I was working in the State Bank of India and was living in the Mahim Guest House in Mumbai awaiting flat allotments, my room-mate was Atanu Sen who was from CalMart. We talked a lot about our respective colleges and always felt a bonding, a kind of kinsmanship - a spirit that has endured in all Martinians over the centuries. After all the Martiniere institutions in India are not known as "Eton of the East" for nothing.
I volunteered to be a part of the Lyons House-Macaulay House team (yellow is our House colour) in the Games section organised by Col. Rajendra Singh, not realising that I am a senior citizen now and not a 100/200 metres sprinter as I was in my LMC days - Lyons House took runners-up position, while Martin House got the Cock-House hamper.
We were treated to some fantastic foot-tapping tunes/music of "our times" by Firoz Mistry.
We all gathered together to remember the College Founder - Claude Martin - a speech, singing of the College Song (I seemed to remember all of it, despite over four decades having passed since I last sang it) a cake-cutting ceremony (the oldest Martinian - Maj Gen Baidwan - 1961 batch and Sudev Singh - 2015 batch) who offered the first slices of the cake to each other (again the "Mart Spirit" was there in action).
The sumptuous Luncheon was followed by a group photograph session.
We all had loads of fun and felt like "College kids" all over again, after so many years. I wondered as to why I had not attended OMA get-togethers/Reunions for so many years.
We came back with copies of "The Martiniere Gazette", (which I have already read from end-to-end and learnt so much about several present day activities - new generations of Martinians have taken over now, the sons and daughters of my classmates, friends and teachers - who are holding the Martiniere torch high), a tee-shirt, a writing pad and a fridge magnet all bearing the Martiniere Crest.
ii) Sylhet Battle honours for Bombay Sappers - "Remembering the Heroes" - A POW train out of Bangladesh in 1971 on its way to the POW Camp at Agra, stops at Lucknow:
At the Sylhet Club venue, I came across these two plaques:
The description reads:
"Awarded to 108 Engineering Regiment Sylhet (East Pakistan) in December 1971 during Indo Pak conflict 1971.
During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, 108 Engineer Regiment formed part of 8 Mountain Division and provided engineer support in offensive operations in the Sylhet district of East Pahistan.
Prior to the Battle of Sylhet the Regiment was employed with the 8 Mountain Division to capture Shamsher Nagar whose airfield was important for conduct of subsequent operations. The engineer support was provided in terms of construction of a timber pile bridge, mine-field clearance and bunker bursting.
The Battle of Sylhet commenced with an advance on three axes with dedicated engineer support. The E Sector Force move was speeded up by construction of bridge and ferries and culminated in capture of Kharaimnagar in which 380 Field Company provided engineer support on the other two axes.
A heliborne force comprising of an infantry battalion, Artillery and two sections of 108 Engineer Regiment landed in the vicinity of the town to exploit information of enemy withdrawal from Sylhet. This information was however incorrect resulting in a fierce & intense battle. Subsequent reinforcement combined with Artillery and air bombardment saw the surrender of Sylhet during the early hours of 16 Dec 1971, which we now commemorate as Vijay Diwas".
When I read that the Reunion programme was being held at Sylhet, I remembered that this was also the action in which 9 Guards, Brigade of the Guards (HQ at Kamptee, Maharashtra) in which my uncle served as a Major, had also won Battle Honours for their outstanding gallantry and single-mindedness in achieving their given objectives, along with the Sappers on the Juri Axis, both units working in close coordination for clearing the way to Dhaka, some 220 kilometres away, for wave after wave of Indian troops to spearhead the thrust towards Dhaka.
At the end of the 1971 War, when around 1,00,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered to the Indian Army, he was given the command of the first Prisoner of War (POW) train with over 4,000 Pakistani POWs on their way to the POW camp at Agra.
We went to Lucknow Railway Station to meet my uncle and his officers when the train halted there. No civilians were allowed on Platform No. 1 and we were screened and permitted to go to the POW train. A couple of Indian soldiers escorted me up and down the train, because I had told my uncle that I wanted to see the POWs. I saw very sad and defeated faces of the prisoners, who had families like us across the border.
One bearded soldier/POW smiled and waved out to me, alerting the Indian soldiers who were escorting me. Perhaps, my presence/college uniform reminded him of his family back home.
My grandparents had arranged for Lucknow's famous "kachauris/pooris" from "Netram Lalji's" in Aminabad market, the famous restaurant of a relative. My uncle insisted that the POWs get fed first, after which the Indian escort troops were served their meals.
Talk about the glorious traditions of the Indian Army - magnanimous in victory and treating enemy soldiers with respect and kindness.
There would be so many army veterans in Pakistan, who would still remember the delicious Netram Lalji's "pooris & kachauris" as a delicacy.
Links:
Links to posts on my Alma Mater - La Martiniere College, Lucknow:
11) 29 Air Defence Regiment (SAMBA): 60 years of Glorious Service : A Special Cover issued by 99 APO on 24.12.2016
12) 102 (VC) Engineer Regiment: Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its raising in 1965: A Special Cover issued by 99 APO on 28.12.2016
13) 130 Air Defence Regiment: Golden Jubilee Celebrations: A Special Cover issued by 56 APO commemorating the occasion on 28.01.2017
14) 3rd Battalion The Sikh Regiment: Centennial of the Battle of Hai fought on 01.02.1917 during WW I : A Special Cover issued by 56 APO on 01.02.2017
15) 27 Air Defence Missile Regiment (Amritsar Airfield): Platinum Jubilee Celebrations (75 Years) A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO on 04.02.2017
16) 237 Engineer Regiment : Golden Jubilee Celebrations ( 50 Years of Glorious Service). A Special Cover brought out by 99 APO on 11.02.2017
17) 26th Battalion The Madras Regiment: Golden Jubilee (1967-2017): A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO on 16.02.2017
18) Tri Services Veterans: Inaugural Armed Forces Veterans day: 14.01.2017: A Special Cover issued by 56 APO on 14.01.2017:
19) 79 Medium Regiment: Golden Jubilee Celebrations (1967-2017): A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO on 01.03.2017:
28) Army Medical Corps: 12th Reunion & 54th Biennial (22-24.03.2017): A Special Cover issued by the 56 APO on 23.03.2017
29) No. 29, Squadron, Indian Air Force (IAF): (SCORPIOS): 60 Glorious years (1958-2018): A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 18.10.2018
30) No. 35 Squadron Indian Air Force (IAF): (RAPIERS): 60 Years of Rapiers (1958-2018)- "Armed to strike fast": A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 16.10.2018
31) The Deccan Horse: Centenary Celebrations of the Jordan Valley Day (1918-2018): A Special Cover brought out by 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 03.11.2018
32) College of Military Engineering, Pune: Platinum Jubilee Celebrations (28.09.2018):A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post , 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 29.08.2018
33) 3rd Battalion The Rajputana Rifles: Bicentenary Celebrations (1818-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post, 56 APO (Army Post Office) on 03.11.2018
34) 61 Cavalry: "Centenary of the Battle of Haifa (1918-2018)": A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post (56 APO-Army Post Office) on 22.09.2018
35) 40 Field Regiment (Asal Uttar): Platinum Jubilee Celebration (1943-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post (56 APO) on 07.09.2018
36) 131 Air Defence Regiment: Golden Jubilee Celebration (1968-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post (56 APO) on 26.09.2018
37) 125 SATA (Surveillance And Target Acquisition) Regiment: Diamond Jubilee Celebration (1958-2018): A Special Cover brought out by India Post - 56 (APO) on 03.11.2018
38) 22nd Battalion: The Rajput Regiment: Golden Jubilee Celebration (1966-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by India Post (56 APO) on 01.10.2018
Other posts on the Indian Armed Forces on this Blog:
2) Commemorative Stamps on "Project Rukmini"
3) The Scinde Horse: A Commemorative Stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- issued by India Post on 16.11.2012
4) Aero India 2015: Asia's Premier Air Show: A set of 10 Post cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post in 2015.
5) International Fleet Review - 2016 (IFR - 16) held at Vishakhapatnam from 04.02.16 to 08.02.16: Commemorative Postage stamps issued by India Post
6) Bicentenary of the Raising of the Poona Horse Regiment (July 1817 - July 2017): A Commemorative 500 Paise or Rs.5/- stamp issued by India Post on 11.02.2017
7) India's First International Fleet review held on 18.02.2001 at Mumbai
8) Commemorating the Bicentenary of the Raising Day of the First and Third Gorkha Rifles: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post.
11) Induction of C-130: A commemorative stamp of 500 Paise issued by India Post on 06.10.2016
16) Did You Know Series (45): (Part V): The Bhima-Koregaon Mamorial Pillar (Obelisk) commemorating a Battle fought on 01.01.1818 between the Peshwa Army and the British Army as a part of the Third Anglo-Maratha War
17) Western Naval Command (WNC) Golden Jubilee Celebrations (1968-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by the Maharashtra Postal Circle of India Post on 12.12.2018
18) National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune: 70 Glorious Years: A Special Cover brought out by Maharashtra Postal Circle of India Post commemorating the milestone: Special Cover issue date: 16.01.2019
17) Western Naval Command (WNC) Golden Jubilee Celebrations (1968-2018): A Special Postal Cover brought out by the Maharashtra Postal Circle of India Post on 12.12.2018
18) National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune: 70 Glorious Years: A Special Cover brought out by Maharashtra Postal Circle of India Post commemorating the milestone: Special Cover issue date: 16.01.2019
I can see you enjoyed yourself: )
ReplyDeleteWell I did. Felt like I had become 40 years younger. The old memories of College days came to the fore. Next time both of us should go together.
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