|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valour Unlimited: Haryana and the Indian Armed Forces THROUGH mythology and history, the land encompassing present-day Haryana has not only been the arena of some decisive battles that charted the course of history, but has produced indomitable bearers of arms.
Though comprising just about two per cent of the national population, troops from Haryana account for over 10 per cent of the armed forces strength. The infantry’s 18-battalion-strong Jat Regiment, which traces its origins to 1795, is composed of jawans exclusively from Haryana, besides a fair sprinkling of Jats in other arms and services. As in societies evolved from warrior clans, the profession of arms still attracts the youth in the state and southern Haryana has a huge population of ex-servicemen. There are a few villages in which virtually every household has at least one male member donning the uniform. The demographic and geographical structure of the state too factors in the high number of troops from the state. Unlike many other states, the Haryana has also been liberal towards the welfare of those who donned the mantle of safeguarding the nation. The state government provides reasonably good befits to war widows, battle casualties and other concessions to ex-servicemen. The book, in its nine chapters, lists the exploits of soldiers from Haryana from the First World War onwards, covering wars and operations till the 1999 Kargil War. A few maps showing movements during some important battles in the post-Independence era and portraits of those from the sate decorated with the Victoria Cross, Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra are also carried. The author, who holds a doctorate in history and teaches in a government college, also carried out a questionnaire-based survey to elicit the views of serving and retired soldiers on service conditions. Based on these, he opines that every time there is a confrontation with our neighbours, the forces have to pay a heavy price. This makes in imperative to identify and rectify the fault lines. The book is not just a
plain narrative of heroic deeds, but a fairly comprehensive compendium
of facts and figures on the military facet of Haryana, with the author
drawing his research material from select regimental centers, national
and state archives, think tanks, military institutions, senior
officers and historians.
|
||
|
|
||
The
story of soldiers from Haryana is a thrilling account, replete with
innumerable examples of bravery, self-sacrifice and patriotism. The
ordinary and the not-so-ordinary men from this small state have played
a huge role in military history.