India’s Most Fearless Series-2: It’s True, Heroes
Walks Among Us
by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh
This book is the second installment of Braveheart’s stories. I was elated to read about stories of the heroes who are as common as us but their work as different as fire and water. It’s their story who walks among us but have done extraordinary things in their life. This book starts with a detailed explanation of the Balakot airstrike in response to the Pulwama attack on 14 February 2019. It’s the book that will tell you the tales of the valor of our Braveheart’s in a very conceptualize manner.
Chapters that I will write about?
Every chapter of this book will have something to teach you about their experience, to stand tall in your adversaries and have the strength to tall in your decisions. I have selected five chapters from my side to know how they were so different from others and were extraordinary.
Chapter one is dedicated to Major Mohit Sharma, awarded as SM, Ashok Chakra Posthumously. His words “Killed, Maybe, but Never Caught” still runs in Para 1 as blood runs through in veins. He is fondly known as “Iftikhar Bhatt” by people who have followed defense and know him. His story was aptly portrayed in the book which gives a glimpse of his life outside his job as well. It’s the journey of a Braveheart whose journey came to an end at Haphruda forest. He was a good singer and a person who died while protecting his soldiers in operation and his last words were, “No terrorist should leave alive”. The last line of the chapter, “Mohit nhi sir, Iftikhar” seemed like he left us to be Iftikhar Bhatt forever.
“He avenged them, Didn’t He” these words are said by the wife of Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala who is awarded as Ashok Chakra Posthumously. He was so brave to face terrorists that he didn’t shy to take a bullet on the head. He didn’t stop for a cover fire from his buddy to tackle terrorists. Even he was shot in the head he hadn’t stopped firing he was like a possessed man who wanted to avenge his teammate Milind and Nilesh. His wife had anticipated how much he was eager to avenge their sacrifice that he didn’t care about his life.
Third Chapter, “Fire, When You See Their Faces” is dedicated to Lt. Navdeep Singh who sacrificed himself in an operation at Gurez. He is most probably the youngest officer to be awarded as Ashok Chakra Posthumously. He let terrorists come near to cordon them and not to let them escape. He had said to his team let them come near don’t shoot until you see their faces. He had already killed 3 terrorists before getting shot. He was so mindful to keep his team behind the boulder and he was leading without any boulder. His father when visited Gurez, he took soil of that land with him stating, “Mere bete ka khoon iss mitti par gira tha. Main ek mutthi uss mitti ki Gurez se laya. Uss mutthi bhar mitti ki koi keemat nahi. Voh mitti mere liye Waheguruji se kam nhi”. What strong beliefs and prideful feelings that a father could express after losing his son. No one could ever justify it and could explain it.
“Climb over me, Get to the Submarine!” such a strong and brave act of Lieutenant Commander Firdaus Mogal who was awarded as Shaurya Chakra Posthumously who didn’t hesitate to jump in the ocean to save his men. Once a Naval Officer told his wife that his uniform didn’t tell him to that. He should not have jumped into the water to save them. She politely replied to him, “It was either black or white for him.” It looks like Chetwode's motto is the inbuilt nature of all the soldiers.
Another chapter that tells me the story of humanity and the relation between “Awaam and Forces” is the story of Major Rishi Rajalekshmy awarded as Sena Medal for his bravery. It was rightly named this chapter “Half of my Face was in My Hands” as he had taken the blow of the IED to capture the terrorist and not let them escape. He helped people of Tral who he seldom met and saved their life. Even there was a case that people were stone pelting but seeing him there. Elders of the village stopped and stopped their children to do so because they knew he would help them. It was an overwhelming feeling to know such words from the teenage of Tral and fills me with happiness. It was a sheer win of our forces when a teenager has said, “Khan Sahaab ko Vaapas Bhejo Hum Unko Theekh Karenge.” This is the vision every army man dreams to achieve.
What was added in your vocabulary?
1. Insurmountable- Too great to be overcome.
2. Frothy- Foam.
3. Tenor- A fairly high singing voice for a man.
4. Furtively- Secretly.
5. Trundled- To move or make something heavy, slowly and noisily.
6. Corroborate- To support, idea etc. by providing new evidence.
7. Fortification- A defensive wall or other reinforcement built to strengthen a place against attack.
8. XO- In many militaries an executive officer or XO is the second-in-command reporting to the commanding officer.
9. Sporadic- Not done or happening regularly.
10. Imperceptible- Too small to be seen or noticed.
11. Incendiary- That causes fire.
12. Sanguine- Cheerful, hopeful and confident about the future.
What you could learn?
From such a story we could only take strength to face our adversaries. If they could face such extreme situations and be victorious. Why can’t we? No struggle is less but their struggle and decision to take action is all we should learn from their experiences. It’s sad and melancholy to know most of them had already left us. But it fills us with pride that they left us doing what they love to do that is protecting us and their motherland.
