Coursemates pay homage to ‘hero of Galwan’ Col Babu

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 24 

A group of Armed forces officers, who were batchmates of Col B. Santosh Babu at the Indian Military Academy, laid a wreath in his honour at the National War Memorial at India Gate on Wednesday morning.

Col B. Santosh Babu was fondly nicknamed ‘Rajni’ by his coursemates—a moniker for the famous movie star ‘Rajnikant’. The officer was known among his course-mates as ‘Rajni’ for his unique accent and manner in which he spoke.

It was an emotional moment for the nearly twenty officers who gathered to lay ‘a silent wreath’ for the ‘Hero of Galwan’.

Col Bikkumalla Santosh Babu was commanding the 16th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment, in the icy heights of Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh, when a clash ensued between Indian and Chinese troops on the night intervening June 15 and June 16.

Col Babu, who hailed from Telangana, had faced the Chinese at a ridge on Patrol Point 14 along the Galwan rivulet.

Col Babu remained at the frontline and was mortally wounded during attempts to ensure the withdrawal of Chinese troops from Indian soil.

Col Santosh Babu was an alumnus of Sainik School Korukonda, National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

A coursemate of Col Babu said: “He was a gentleman. His enthusiasm and smile were infectious and his camaraderie strong. He had the indomitable spirit of a soldier and sparkle of a genius.”