AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 136 of 170 1947 and after Independence, and in its wake, the partition of the sub continent resulted in the mass scale exodus of Hindus from Pakistan, and Muslims from India. Serious communal disturbances broke out in Delhi, with law and order breaking down completely, leading to murders, arson, looting and rapes. The 4 th WLI was moved post haste from Poona to Delhi to take control of the Capital. Aban Naidu had charge of the areas of Pahar Ganj, Subzi Mandi, Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, as also parts of New Delhi. The Madrasi troops, comprised of mixed religious composition, and possessed of a very high sense of discipline, impartiality, integrity, and objectivity, quickly restored law and order, for which they were highly acclaimed by Lord Mountbatten, Pandit Nehru and by Gen Cariappa. Partition also resulted in the division of the Armed Forces between the two countries. The Gorkha Units had the choice of either opting for HM’s Government, in which case they were moved to Hong Kong and the UK, or opting for the Indian Army. A large number of units opted, as a whole, for the Indian Army. Even among those that opted to serve His Majesty’s Government, large numbers of soldiers opted for the Indian Army. Many VCOs, NCOs and men of the 2 nd Battalion of the 6 th Gorkha Rifles opted thus, and it was Aban Naidu who was detailed to go to the Viceroy’s House (the present Rashtrapati Bhawan), to meet the British CO, and take over the troops opting for the Indian Army. The VCOs, NCOs and men, numbering about 300, were taken under his command and lodged in the Anand Parbat Lines. The young officer commanded these Gorkha troops for some time till they were amalgamated, based on similarity of class composition, with the 5 th GR (F.F.), being named the 6 th Battalion of the 5 th GR. Aban refused the Military Secretary’s offer of a transfer to this new regiment. The WLI moved to J & K to take part in the operations, during which period Major Aban Naidu served as Officiating CO, the 2 i/c of 4 Madras, and as the BM of 5 Infantry Brigade. Then came a posting to the Madras Regimental Centre as the Training Major. With the Gorkhas Strangely enough, in 1954, Major Aban Naidu was moved out from the Madras Regiment, against his wishes, and posted to 6 th Battalion of the 5 th Gorkha Rifles (F.F.), with which he had been associated in Delhi. The Regiment was commanded by Lt Col HK Sibal (now Lt Gen (Retd), MVC), and Major Naidu got the D Company. Given that Indian officers had not previously commanded Gorkha troops, and the fact that Maj Aban Naidu was as poor with Hindi and Nepali as were the Gorkhas with English, his was not an easy task. With the troops at all times, be it on parade, on training, at games, breakfast, lunch or dinner, Maj Aban Naidu was able, slowly and steadily, to gain the confidence of the troops. The other officers of the regiment, who were old timers with the Gorkhas, were soon to shed their diffidence about the transplanted officer, as his Company won all the competitions organised by the CO. Major Aban Naidu’s combat experience came in handy when the Company was called upon to lay on a variety of demonstrations for 11 Infantry Brigade and the famous 4 Infantry Division. The Company was always in the vanguard in all Brigade and Divisional exercises. Came the privileges of laying on a Guard of Honour for Lt Gen SM Srinagesh, who was then GOC in C Western Command, and of leading the Company at the Republic Day parade. With these and more, Maj Naidu was well entrenched in the Battalion, and looked up to with love, confidence and loyalty by the Gorkhas. In 1960, came the joy of a promotion to Lt Col and the disappointment of having to leave 6/5 GR. The sadness was leavened by the fact that Aban Naidu was to command a Gorkha Battalion, the 3/11 GR. The Battalion was deployed on collective training in the area