I was the youngest of the 4 siblings and the only son ,but that never made me precious and pampered by the family. My father was in the army. We all grew up in cantonment environment, hopping almost every 2 years from one Cantonment to the other Like from Allahabad’s Draupadi Ghat we came to Calcutta’s Fort William and then to Bangalore Cantonment Bangalore was the only city where we remained stationed for almost 5 years before getting shifted to Delhi Cantonment in 1961, 4th of July to be precis
It was the year 1959-60 and I was about 10 years old studying in the 6th form in the Army’s Regimental school . Around this time my father decided to put me into “King George Military School” .This was a ‘day’ Boarding School exclusively for Defence personnels . It is now called “Rashtriya Military School”. There was an aptitude test which I cleared but failed the written test. I was happy, as I will not be sent to boarding school and be away from family. My Father was hugely disappointed.
Had I got into the King George Military School, I would have defently got into NDA after the schooling and then even graduated from IMA .Probably would have been the part of the IMA’s “Passing out Parade” and eventually got commissioned into the Indian Army around 1971-72 Chronologically speaking , I would have been holding the rank of a colonel and commanding a regiment when “Kargil War” broke out in year 1999. In all probability I would have retired from the Army around 2007-2008 after a 32 years of exemplary service as a “war veteran” holding the rank of Brigadier
Had all that been the facts of my life, I would have written a book on “Kargil War” and living today a king size life with my copyright revenues. I remember reading the book “Untold Story” written by retired Lt Gen B M Koul It was about 1962 Indo China war I remember how our politicians in the parliament then had protested its publication However Sardar Swaran Singh who was then the Defence Minister made a statement in the house of Parliament which said that an Army officer was free to write and publish a book post retirement The book “Untold Story” though controversial , was very well received at the book stand This incidentally reminds me why the Book “Four Star Destiny” written by retired army Chief Gen MM Narvane has been put on hold .It's now year and more since this book is awaiting clearance from PMO This speaks a lot about the Democracy that we are today
Much water has flown down the bridge since the advent of “Amrit Kal" , surprisingly today chanting of "Jai Shri Ram” has become more a "War Cry” than a symbol of “Hindu Devotion” !!
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