AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 89 of 237 7 This is How Legends are Made Ms Nishi Bahl Genre: esprit de corps o fifty years as a ‘fauji’ wife qualify me to write an ode to the.. Indian Army? I certainly think so! March 2010. It was the worst time of my life as I watched my husband Maj Gen D P Bahl surrender to cancer after a fierce battle. He fought bravely, just as he had when the Sabres raided the Indian skies; only this time the enemy was within him and proved more lethal. I was emotionally paralysed. Then something beautiful happened, something I salute, not with my hand, but with my heart. My husband had often said “when I go" inform the Air Defense (AD) Branch, (the Arm of the Indian Army that he had served in) After 20 years of retirement who in the AD Branch do I call? Which number do I dial? Would anyone care today when the chair, the uniform, the medals, and the stars had lost their lustre? My mind somersaulted to the time when today’s Maj.Generals were young Captains on the threshold of their careers. A name flashed into my mind; Rajeev Kalra. Who is the MG Arty Western Command? “Rajeev” I wailed “he’s gone, and I don’t know what to do.” A moment of silence, pregnant with shock and disbelief, was followed by, “Ma’am you don’t have to do anything. We will take care .” And care they did take! Suddenly a network was activated. Caring people from the ranks of Jawan, Captain, Colonel, Brigadier, Major General and the Director AD himself were there to console and help in ‘seeing off” their veteran friend who I thought was long forgotten. Forgotten is a word that should have never entered my vocabulary. A week beforemy husband ‘departed’ two young Jawans knocked on our front door. “We are from the 2nd Field Regiment”, they said. “2nd Field Regiment?” D