AFVOA Newsletter 03 of 2020

Section 4 – War Diary CV 2 No. 03 / 2020 Page 53 of 167 In June 1963 Krish was posted to the Indian Military Academy as an instructor to train Gentleman Cadets. Our first son was born in July 1963 and we spent two happy years at the IMA Dehradun. I could interact with officers from various arms and services during “Idli Dosa Vada Sambhar” weekend brunch at our home. I had honed my culinary talents by then. In 1965 Krish was posted to join a newly raised Battalion of the Regiment in the Eastern Sector. I moved again to Delhi to be with my in-laws and little son. Fewmonths later when Krish came to Delhi on short leave, we had gone to see a movie at the Rivoli theatre. During the interval, a message was flashed on the screen to state” LEAVE OF ALL SERVICE PERSONNEL CANCELLED. ALL RANKS TO REPORT BACK TO UNITS FORTHWITH” We rushed back home and Krish departed by Assam Mail to his unit the same night. This was my second farewell to him as he was proceeding to take part in the 1965 operations. The newly raised battalion earned its pride of place in the NATHULA- CHOLA operations. My son had started schooling in Delhi in the Air Force Bal Bharati School at Lodhi Road. I often looked forward to join Krish while being detailed on Professional Army courses at Mhow / Calcutta. It was a roller coaster ride since I moved with suitcases and carried bare essentials for a mobile kitchen. Sometimes I improvised the window sill as the kitchen top to balance the kerosene bottled stove and we sat on crates serving as seats. We still managed to entertain friends and visitors to share our meals. I was happy that Krish could share the joy of watching our son growing up. Our CHOLA WARRIORS battalion moved to a hard peace station Domana near Jammu after a three-year field tenure. The Jawans were happy to be closer home that enabled them to meet their families often. Krish had become senior enough to be elevated as the Second-in-Command of the Battalion. Due to operational commitments of the Battalion, I could join Krish only for short spells and enjoy the rural settings. My son had the linguistic flair of his Dad and would converse in Dogri with the jawans, with ease. In October 1968, after the raising day celebrations of the Battalion, which we had to host, I had to fly from Jammu to Trivandrum changing flights at Delhi, Bombay and Cochin for the delivery of our second child at my mother’s place. My younger son was born on 14 Nov, barely six weeks after I landed.