AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 137 of 170 of Kathgodam near the Kumaon Regimental Centre. This proved fortuitous, as the Lt Col was able to quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses of his officers and men, and work with despatch to bring them to fine fettle for their intended operational tasks in hilly and mountainous terrain. The Battalion, hitherto rather very poor in football, practised hard under Major Mamick, and was able, in later years, to rise steadily in proficiency, ending up as Command champions. The Battalion accomplished every task allotted to it with élan and credit, so much so that, the very difficult to please and mercurial Defence Minister, Mr VK Krishna Menon, spent more time than scheduled during a visit to the Battalion, being happy with the Gorkhas. In 1961, 3/11 GR moved to J and K, under 168 Infantry Brigade of 26 Infantry Division. Tasked primarily with security of the border, with an offensive role to follow in case of need, the Battalion had to change training to adapt to the changed role. Once again, 3/11 GR proved itself to be one of the best Battalions in the Brigade, Division and Corps encompassing operations, training and administration. The Battalion also excelled in games. A memorable incident occurred during this period, which highlights the salutary effect the Gorkhas have on the enemy. Pak troops had over-run a CRPF border post in the Samba area. Overnight, 3/11 GR was deployed along with armour and field guns to evict the Pakistanis. Major Dina Nath’s Company achieved this the very next day, without a shot being fired, merely by the act of the Gorkhas sharpening their KHUKRIS in the sun, in full sight of the Pakistanis. The glint of the khukris and the certainty of their being wielded by the Gorkhas so unnerved the Pakistani troops that they vacated the positions that they had captured. 1962-1969 Posted as Assistant Military Secretary at Army HQ from mid 1962, Lt Col Aban Naidu, along with others, was kept very busy indeed with strengthening the officer cadre after the ’62 debacle. In 1965, “Come September”, as they say, and the Lt Col was promoted directly to Brigadier and posted to command 19 Infantry Brigade. The Brigade saw action in the Sialkot sector, and after the ceasefire, was involved in restoring law and order in a Jammu that saw communal riots. After completing the NDC in 1968, Brig Aban Naidu commanded 191 Infantry Brigade (then in a field location), enabling Mrs Naidu and the children to continue in Delhi, to the advantage of the children’s education. The tenure with 191 Infantry Brigade was a successful one. In the US and Canada In 1969, Brig Aban Naidu was posted as the Defence Advisor to the US with concurrent accreditation to Canada. While there, he authored six volumes on the “Higher Command Structure of the US Army” and a classified document on “Intelligence Agencies and decision making at the highest levels”. The splendid Gorkha Regimental winter mess kit adding to his standing out apart, Brig Aban Naidu did India proud, being given the honour of acting the dean of the corps of military attaché’s representing 160 countries in the US-this despite the fact that he was by no means the senior most among them. He was made an honorary citizen of Houston and Dallas, and an honorary colonel of a battalion of the US Army located at Washington, the Pershings Own. He was largely instrumental in arranging the mutual visits of the Chiefs of the Indian and US Armies, FM (then Gen) SHFJ Maneckshaw, MC to the US, and that of Gen William C Westmoreland to India. He was also instrumental in increasing the number of Indian officers deputed to US courses three fold, with almost all winning gold medals for achieving the first positions. Asked by Mr Melvyn Laird, the then US Defence Secretary, to lecture in US Universities about India’s volunteer army, Brig Aban Naidu availed of the opportunity to explain the Bangla Desh issue in the