Read an exclusive excerpt from Shoorveer below.
In 1999, Pakistan began sending infiltrators to occupy the heights of Kargil and in turn, India began a major operation, known as Operation Vijay, to push them back. The Kargil War, as the operation is now known, was a turning point in the career of Raj.
The Indian Army pushed through the heights and beat back the Pakistani soldiers, and the valour and courage of its soldiers was a shining beacon for all of India. Raj was not far behind. Raj’s battalion had completed its tenure as a peace station in Hyderabad. By December 1999, they learnt that their next posting was in Kargil. At that time, the war hadn’t yet begun, so
it was intended to be a regular posting at first and Kargil, with its beautiful landscape and tall mountains, was considered to be an easier posting than the Kashmir valley. Major Ajit was detailed as the OC advance party for the move to Kargil, which was to transport all the military stores to Kargil, with Major G.S. Walia and Captain Hamir Rathore detailed with him. As the advance party’s movement was being prepared, Major Ajit appreciated Raj’s assistance on several occasions, boosting his morale. Before proceeding, Major Ajit handed over the company to Raj, giving him instructions to ensure a smooth mobilization and induction of the main body to Kargil. Major Ajit would also write regularly to Raj telling him about the welfare of the troops and details like the packing of materials and the type of clothing that would be required at Kargil.
At Hyderabad, a brigade-level handball competition was announced. Raj received instructions from the 47 Brigade that 22 Grenadiers had been detailed as a conducting unit for the competition. The advance party had already moved out and this would perhaps be the last sporting contest before the main body left for the war, so there were few objections from their side to conduct the event. The CO simply told them to get it done so that they could focus on their own move to the front. The Brigade staff wanted to milk them to the max before they left. So, Raj and Lt Sajjan were detailed as part of the team as officers were required to participate in the competition.
Raj was called in by Major S.P. Yadav to go and meet the Brigade Major to be briefed about the finals and the prize distribution ceremony. Raj went to the office of BM Major D.A.S. Lohamaror from the Bihar Regiment, where Deputy Quarter Master General Major Day from Mahar Regiment was also sitting. Both briefed him about what needed to be done for the evening. Major Lohamaror then told Raj that for the prizes, he could buy anything from the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) priced between Rs 80–100, but the prizes should look big. Raj searched two or three canteens but there was nothing in that price range. At his own CSD, Raj found a set of six Borosil glasses worth Rs 60 and a few sets of ladies’ underwear costing about Rs 30. Raj told the canteen NCO to count if they had fourteen pairs of glasses as well as the underwear. The NCO told him, ‘Sahib, we have enough and this will be in your price range too.’ Poor Raj couldn’t think and just to fulfil the condition set by the staff officer, he purchased both sets and directed an INT Section Havildar to make fourteen gift sets by pairing both together.
That evening, everything went well. Although the 17 Bihar team was very good and Raj’s team missed a few players who had already left with the advance party, Raj’s team won the final with a huge margin. When the time came for the prize distribution ceremony, the teams came up to receive the prizes for the winners and runners-up; but when the time came to give away the two referee prizes, the referee from Bihar was nowhere to be found. No one knew where he was, perhaps he was being taught the rules of the game by his team-mates! When he didn’t appear even after some time, the commander asked what the prizes were. He suddenly tore open one of them—and in his hands appeared a packet of ladies’ undergarments. He hurriedly pushed it back into the pack as there were women there too, but the expression on his face was enough to tell Raj that he had made a serious mistake and he quietly backed away from the scene. Besides, Colonel Mehr had also noticed it and the same expression appeared on his face, too. Soon after, Raj saw the CO and the BM discussing something in hushed tones.
When the group photographs had been clicked, Colonel Mehra called Raj to a corner with, ‘Kya karoon tera? What should I do with you?’ Raj very innocently told him that nothing else was available in that price range. ‘You should have just got men’s underwear. Why did you need to pack women’s underwear?’ the colonel told him angrily. When the other officers heard the story, they laughed and told Raj he was responsible for making his own life hell.
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