4351) Did You Know Series (128): 1) The Movie "Ikkees - Twenty-One" featuring the visit of Lt. Arun Khetrapal's (PVC - posthumous), Father to Pakistan; 2) Several years ago - A Recap of our visit to Ahmednagar, Maharashtra Cavalry Tank Museum; 3) A ride on a Training Battle Tank; 4) The Code of the Cavalier; 5) Bicentenary of the Poona Horse - Excerpts:
1) The Movie "Ikkees - Twenty-One" featuring the visit of Lt. Arun Khetrapal (PVC) - posthumous:
Yesterday we saw the movie "21" ("Ikkees" - "Twenty-one") in which, Lt. Arun Khetrapal's father visits Pakistan to see where his son had fought against Pakistani armour. who belonged to undivided India and had properties and had studied in present day Pakistan. Upon arrival at the Airport he was greeted by another veteran Officer who had fought against Lt. Khetrapal in the Battle of Basantar.
He was taken on a tour of the places of his childhood and the ground where the Battle of Basantar had taken place and where his son had been martyred. He also shared that he was leading the Pakistani tank squadron and that both Lt. Khetrapal's tank and his tank had fired at each other simultaneously and the rest was history.
Blog Editor's Note:
When we had gone to visit the Cavalry Tank Museum at Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, I had researched the story of Lt. Khetrapal's father's to Pakistan to see the places where his son had fought. Seeing the movie was a treat and it brought to life the actions of the 17 Poona Horse Armour.
2) Several years ago - A Recap of our visit to Ahmednagar, Maharashtra Tank Museum:
We went to see an Armoured Corps "Cavalry Tank Museum" at Ahmednagar, located about 125 kilometres out of Pune, thanks to Kanchanji (Kanchan Malhotra) who is an old resident of Ahmednagar.
She had organised a tour of the Meher Baba's Ashram/Samadhi (A spiritual tour) and the Cavalry Tank Museum (CTM), through an Armoured Corps Officer.
We not only got to see the history of the Tanks starting from Leonardo da Vinci's first attempt at creating a tank, but also saw Panzer Armoured Cars, Stuart Tanks, Churchill Tanks, Centurion Tanks, Mine sweeper tanks , some of these of World War II vintage and even a Rolls Royce Combat Transport Car.
It was quite an amazing treat for our small group of five, of which two of us were military history buffs. The placards/explanatory notes were like a walk down the evolution of Tank history lane. For me, it was an entirely different experience from my usual Numismatics and Philately.
3) Not only that, we were in for another treat - a ride on a Training Battle Tank. A bit difficult for me to climb on with my bad leg and all, but the soldiers assisting us were very helpful and we went through the training track on this huge tank. Of course, a bit of dust was raised and we looked like weather-beaten veterans ourselves.
I got a first hand experience of how tough it is for the young men and women who join our armed forces to keep our country safe.
4) The Code of the Cavalier:
All over Ahmednagar a visitor is greeted by the Emblem and the "Code of a Cavalier" - a reminder to the Armoured Corpsmen of what is expected of them (much like the "Code of Chivalry" of the "Knights of the Round Table" of Medieval time British Isles):
The Code of a Cavalier is positioned here under a Tank. Alongside it is a "Fist".
The legend everywhere says "Fist - No Fingers". (meaning that every enemy threat will be responded to by the Armoured Corps with great force).
The Code of a Cavalier reads:
" I am a Warrior. Defending my Nation is my "Dharma" ("Divine Task"). I will train my mind, body & spirit to fight to win; Excel in all devices especially in the ultimate weapon of war -"THE TANK".
Always protect the weak. Be Truthful & Forthright, be Human, Cultured & Compassionate. Fight & Embrace the consequences willingly. God give me strength that I ask nothing of you."
The description reads:
"The Tank entered service with the British Army in 1949 and was replaced in 1967 by the Chieftain MBT. 16 countries, apart from India, have used the 4000 produced Centurions.
This family of Tanks was a very effective fighting vehicle, was capable of being up-gunned and up-armoured. This Tank was powered by the Rolls-Royce Meteor MK IV B 12-Cylinder liquid cooled petrol engine and was capable of 21.5 MPH on roads.
The engine was a development of the Rolls-Royce Merlin Aircraft engine which was used to power the World War II Spitfire and Hurricane fighters. This Tank was armed with a 17 Pounder and later 20 Pounder Main Gun, a 0.3 inch co-axial Machine-Gun and a 0.3 inch Machine-Gun on the Commander's cupola and six smoke dischargers on each side of the Turret.
Israel fitted diesel engine and 105 mm Gun later. The Centurion has seen combat in Korea, India, South Arabia, Vietnam, the Middle-East and Suez.
Loved by Indian Regiments and known as "Patton Killer" in (the) 1965 Indo-Pak War."
Blog Editor's Note:
All over the Armoured Corps Centre, Ahmednagar, one comes across the legend of 2nd Lt. Arun Khetrapal and his 'Famagusta Jx 202' Centurion Tank, together with his famous last words.
5) I have the details on my post titled - Bicentenary of the Poona Horse. The following account is excerpted from this post:
"In the 1971 Indo-Pak War, in the historic Battle of Basantar, 2nd Lt. Arun Khetrapal of 17 Poona Horse, (which was assigned to the command of the 47th Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army) showed his grit and determination in destroying enemy armour against all odds.
He destroyed Pakistani Tank after Tank, till his own Centurion Tank was hit.
The retreating enemy regrouped and attacked him in great numbers trying to break through the Indian lines.
Seeing that he was hopelessly outnumbered and under attack from two squadrons of Pakistani armour, his superior officer ordered him to abandon his burning Tank, but he replied "No Sir, I will not abandon my Tank. My Main Gun is still working and I will get these b---------".
Along with the two remaining Tanks in his section, he fought off and gunned down 10 Pakistani tanks before being martyred in action, but his gallantry stopped the enemy from breaking through the Indian lines.
At the end of the battle, the Poona Horse was awarded the Battle Honour of Basantar and the enemy's desperate attempts to break through the India lines were foiled. A grateful nation bestowed the Param Vir Chakra upon him posthumously. Lt. Khetrapal was born in Pune and was a warrior in the gallant traditions of the Poona Horse.
More about Lt. Khetrapal:
Lt. Khetrapal is an iconic figure in the annals of the Indian Army. The Parade ground at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune is named "Khetrapal Ground" after him, while the auditorium and one of the main gates at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) bear his name.
His Centurion Tank was called "Famagusta Jx 202". It was restored after the War and is presently preserved in the Armoured Corps Centre and School at Ahmednagar, Maharashtra."
The Battle of Basantar (or the Battle of Barapind): fought between 04-16.12.1971 was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pak War of 1971 in the Western sector of India. The Indian troops won a hard-fought battle that secured this area in the Punjab/Jammu sector. The Battle of Basantar encompasses the entire gamut of battles fought in the Shakargarh sector.
At the end of the Battle Pakistan lost 46 Tanks to a handful of Indian Tanks. Indian forces attacking deep inside Pakistan gained control of more than 1000 square miles of Pakistan territory that included 500 villages and came close to capturing Sialkot.
The Pakistan army regards this as their most humiliating defeat, next only to the Battle of Longewala despite their numerical superiority over the India forces."
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for sharing this informative post."
Thank you so much Khanna sahab.
DeleteRsanker Sharma has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very nice and informative post."
Thank you so much, Sharma sahab.
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