5 months ago
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After much than 3 years of painstaking effort, the Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Telangana, has compiled a definitive grounds of the names and gallabr deeds of equipped forces unit from the State.
Titled ‘Bold and Brave: Honouring Telangana’s Heroes of Valour, Sacrifice and Pride’, the publication is an inaugural of Col. Ramesh Kumar, manager of Sainik Welfare and chronicles the courageousness of implicit 50 commissioned officers and different ranks crossed assorted wars fought by India.
In a fitting tribute, the compendium was officially launched by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy connected Friday, coinciding with Armed Forces Flag Day. Beyond celebrating heroism, the publication offers readers a deeper knowing of soldiering, highlighting the discipline, etiquette and unwavering work ethos indispensable for starring troops successful some bid and war.
Records from the Sainik Welfare Directorate amusement that astir 50 unit from the erstwhile unified Andhra Pradesh and those who aboriginal settled successful Telangana person been honoured with gallantry awards. These see the Ashok Chakra awarded to Lt. Col G. Krishna Iyengar, 3 Maha Vir Chakras to Major General C. Venugopal, Air Vice Marshal C.V. Parkar and Major Padmapani Acharya (posthumously). Additionally, 18 were awarded Vir Chakras, 5 Kirti Chakras and 18 Shaurya Chakras.
Inspiring the youth
Speaking to The Hindu, Col. Ramesh Kumar said: “Through this compilation, I purpose to commemorate the courageous deeds of these soldiers and wage tribute to their families, who proceed to embody resilience and pride. By tracing their journeys, from puerility to subject work and adjacent beingness aft retirement, I anticipation to animate today’s younker to see a beingness of work successful the Armed Forces and promote parents to enactment their children successful this noble pursuit.”
He added that implicit the past 3 years, helium meticulously identified gallantry grant winners by combing done authoritative records, contacting officers and unit from assorted regiments, exploring societal media and verifying accounts online. “I wrote to their units and headquarters, interviewed astir each of them and documented elaborate beingness stories, including household backgrounds, schooling, college, motivations for joining the Armed Forces, and the rigours of their training,” helium said.
Remarkable contributions
The publication besides highlights singular contributions of officers and soldiers, whether connected the battlefield oregon during earthy calamities/ disasters. Among them is Army Havildar A. Somaiah of the Artillery Centre, Hyderabad, who, connected the nighttime of September 27-28 successful 1954, saved dozens of passengers erstwhile an explicit bid en way to Kazipet was swept distant by the floodwaters of the swollen Yashwanthpur stream pursuing a span collapse.
Another inspiring communicative recounts the courageousness of Major Md. Ahmed Zaki of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment during the 1965 Indo-Pak War. The publication besides references the heroic roles of Lt. B.V.R. Rao of the Gorkha Rifles (Vir Chakra), Squadron Leader Farokh Jehangir Mehta (Vir Chakra), Major Padmapani Acharya and Air Marshal Parkar among dozens of different warfare heroes.
Reactions from gallantry awardees and their families person further motivated Col. Ramesh Kumar successful his work. Aparajita Acharya, girl of Major Padmapani Acharya, said, “Though physically nary more, helium lives successful maine and his tone successful each of us.” Vir Chakra awardee Lt. Gen. Zaki noted, “Soldiering is successful our blood. My brothers are Brigadier MM Zaki (Mechanised Infantry) and Group Captain MH Zaki (Fighter Pilot).” Half a twelve of his adjacent relatives inactive service successful the equipped forces.
Ashok Chakra awardee Hav Somaiah’s children, present settled successful the US and Australia, retrieve him arsenic a devoted begetter who valued acquisition and righteous living. Air Marshal Cecil Parker (Mahavir Chakra, Vayusena medal) recalled, “I utilized to respect British Air Force craft taking disconnected and landing connected the airstrip other our schoolhouse and developed a passionateness to articulation the Air Force. Though my begetter was initially reluctant, my parent secretly gave maine ₹28 from her savings to assistance maine apply.”
Lt. General K. Surendra Nath, erstwhile Army Commander of the Army Training Command, described Col. Ramesh Kumar’s Bold and Brave arsenic “a poignant tribute to Telangana’s valiant heroes, extolling their courage, valour and sacrifice successful the defence of our nation”.
