An ode to bravery

Maj Gen Raj Mehta (retd)

RAJ, can we have coffee in my office?” A hectic and eventful year with my Srinagar-based Corps Commander General Nirbhay Sharma (later Governor Arunachal Pradesh/Mizoram) had taught me that the taciturn, action-oriented paratrooper General had something besides coffee brewing in his fertile mind. I was electrified.

I was commanding Baramula-based 19 Infantry Division in north Kashmir and earlier “coffee sessions” with him had led to time-bound creation of the Aman Setu Bridge, de-mining of the Uri-Muzaffarabad road and its subsequent activation. Not just that, the iconic Baramulla Sikh War Memorial had been tastefully upgraded as had the Maqbool Sherwani Auditorium, which rose up from its ashes as a spanking new “happening” place for Baramulla’s populace. Suggested by the then J&K Governor, General SK Sinha, and pushed by General Nirbhay, these nation-building odes to the “Idea of India” were completed by the Dagger Division. 

The revival of India’s proud military heritage was co-terminus with intelligence-driven operations that were in a LC Division’s DNA. We faced formidable operational challenges not just in Uri, but equally in other sectors and hinterland where a proxy war had to be combated and safe road connectivity in the Division area ensured. 

It was coincidence or providence perhaps which got General Sinha, General Nirbhay and I on the same page for restoring monuments, memorials and creating museums without diverting from operations. On October 27-28, 1947, braveheart Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai, MVC (posthumous), CO 1 SIKH, had, after being diverted from IS duty in Gurgaon (now Gurugram), rushed to Baramulla, saving Kashmir for India by his bold act but getting martyred on October 28. Sherwani was a political worker who had misled the marauding Kabaili Raiders, thus buying precious time for the Indian forces to land at Srinagar. He was garroted to death for his “perfidy”. Honouring the deeds of these martyrs was a privilege we executed with humility and pride.

When I met General Sharma, he told me: “Raj, I want a museum at BB Cantt which I wish to call Ibadat-e-Shahadat (Homage to Martyrs). General Sinha is equally keen and on board. It will come up at the erstwhile J&K Maharaja’s 1924-vintage armoury/barracks spread over 41,000 sq ft. I have stopped their planned demolition. The museum must amplify my mission, ‘Jawan Aur Awaam; Aman Hai Muqaam’. You get three months. The President, APJ Kalam, will inaugurate it in early December. Your formation is under constant public scrutiny and enemy attention, so operations and security will not be compromised. Questions?”

This wasn’t coffee with loquacious Karan. Between mutually respectful soldiers, no words are needed when intent, mission and timelines are crystal clear. I had a mandate and clear instructions. I saluted the General with a wry smile. He gave me a trusting smile.  The Operation 'Ibadat-e-Shahadat' was on.

To say I was busy during those 90 days sounds blasé. Operations, visits by the Army Chief downward continued as did scheduled visits by National Defence College/Higher Command/IAS Probationers. Operations continued at full tilt on the Pir Panjal/Shamsha Bari Range; hinterland. Planning, construction, strategy sessions and work by my team, and site visits by Gen Sharma went on. Collection of artefacts, murals, mannequins, films, portraits, cultural assistance from awaam, universities, government agencies, and NGOs also went on. 

On December 8, 2004, erudite, smiling then President APJ Abdul Kalam arrived. Privileged to brief him, we interacted for over an hour. On departure, he wrote: “This museum should be the model for the proposed National War Museum.”

I finally had my espresso with General Nirbhay Sharma.