AFVOA Newsletter 03 of 2020

Section 4 – War Diary CV 2 No. 03 / 2020 Page 52 of 167 We reached the railway station well on time and I was the lone lady in the special train which was given a grand send off to the cry of “BHARAT MATA KI JAI” with the locals putting vermillion on the foreheads of all the soldiers. I too got the tikka on my forehead, probably mistaking me to be a lady doctor proceeding to the war front!! I must compliment my in-laws who had a long stint at Delhi for over three decades for their prompt response by reaching Jaipur in time.The Jaipur airport was milling with soldiers in battle dress boarding all the available aircraft without knowing the destination. Krish was detailed to bring the rear party so that he could spend more time with his family. This was indeed a grand gesture by the Commanding Officer. Finally, Krish flew off in an Indian Airlines Dakota with his soldiers, the last ones to leave, bidding adieu to me as an expectant mother. This was my first farewell to Krish, proceeding to war with many more to follow. After reaching Delhi and spending over a fortnight with my in-laws, we came to know about the unilateral cease fire by China on 22 November 1962 from the Newspaper. The whereabouts of the Battalion was not known. The uncertainty continued. I took the initiative to call the Colonel of the Regiment, Major General KS Katoch MC who was the Adjutant General of the Army to enquire of the welfare of the Battalion. The General was very kind and courteous. Earlier, he had visited the Battalion at Mt Abu and Krish was his liaison officer. I too was introduced to him as a young bride, then. He conveyed the good news that all was well with the Battalion and invited me and my in-laws for a cup tea at his residence. Such was the magnanimity and understanding of the General and his gracious lady and they were a great source of strength to me. I started getting ‘Forces Mail’ from Krish that was heavily censored with black ink. I cautioned him that his letters are being censored. Somehow he managed to convey in a coded way to enquire whether I remembered the name of the unit barber. I assumed that Krish is perhaps at Tezpur as the barbers name was Tejuram. I was proved wrong when I came to know later from our family friend in the Air Force who had operated in those areas that Teju was an air strip in NEFA. The battalion was moving from place to place in the Eastern region to meet developing contingencies.