Famagusta’s Fury - a narrative essay by Aakaash Chaudhary

 

My first stint with 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal, IC 25067 of 17 HORSE Regiment, also known as Poona Horse, was back in the year 2008, for anyone thinking that an officer who sacrificed his life on 16 December 1971, in battle of Basantar, how can Him and me cross paths, but than again such are ways of life, or better say Destiny. Whenever I’m in dire straits the words 

“ No Sir, I will not abandon my tank, my gun is still working, I will get them”. Come to me, and induce me with self faith and confidence.

I reach back to the year 16 December 1971, a cold , foggy morning, Basantar is a river which flows both in India and Pakistan. Such are the ways of partition, it can divide lands, people, but not the air, water, sun and the moon. As I was thinking that, and I realise a full blown battle was happening where my hero , my idol 2nd Lt Arun was standing in his tank JX 202 FamaGusta, judging the trajectory of his shot. His aim to stop the enemy tank column from reaching Jarpal. The 21 year old officer, with barely 6 months of service, and only the basic know how of the tank battles, is in complete resolve of , decimating the entire enemy, tank regiment. 

He is alone, yet his commitment and dedication to his regiment, to the nation, is as strong as steel grith. As the battle progresses, he is hitting tank after tank, and in process, his tank gets a hit, and the brave officer, gets injured. Blood ozzing in his eyes, and loosing consciousness, he is still very alert of the fact, that only he can stop the enemy, and he has to do it. Time is running out, enemy is advancing.

Refusing the orders to abandon his tank, and with renewed vigour, he orders his gunner Nathu Singh to shoot tanks. 

Blood was flowing, time was critical, and he was alone.

We in recent years

Often say

How’s the josh?

I say, josh is what , that 21 year old officer displayed. He could have abandoned the tank, and saved himself, yet he choose to fight. 

As the last enemy tank was infront of him, the distance was 100 metres, both fired on each other, both got hit, enemy abandoned the tank, and my hero, was breathing his last. 

Indian Army stood victorious, India won the war, and their my hero, who was the reason for that, was not able to witness it.

Every victory has a cost, and here, it was my hero’s life. Like any youngster, he had dreams, he had ambitions. But he kept the Nation, his Regiment over everything else.

The year is 2026, whenever I think about him, I reach back to the year 2008 and than particularly, to the date 16 December 1971.

Yes we never met, but we did met somehow.  

Such are the ways of life…