I am interested in writing this story for two important reasons, first the hero of this story belonged to my neighbourhood that is Purshyar Habba Kadal Srinagar and the second that he resurrected the faith of a person who was also from Kashmir, a place for which I still have a soft corner.
Maj. Gen. S.K.Razdan of elite parachute troopers para commando actually belonged to Purshyar, but his father had left Kashmir much earlier and was posted near Mathura. Therefore, Razdan sahab was brought up and educated in Mathura. But he used to visit his ancestral home at Purshyar occasionally ,where his grandparents lived till late. He was almost of my age but he appeared much thinner and timid in his teens as per the boys of his age. Later on I came to know that Razdan sahab joined Indian Army. It was all a matter of chance that he saw his friend filling the form of Indian Defence services in the college library ,while he had started post-graduation course in Mathematics. After passing the examination Razdan sahab was selected in Army. After various postings in Army Razdan sahab was sent to Kashmir in year 1995, when the militancy was at its peak there . He was then Lt Colonel in the army . He used to move in the quazigund market quite oftenly with out uniform . He looked like an ordinary Kashmiri Muslim to most of people there because of his Kashmiri features . Once sipping tea on a tea shop, two unknown persons sat near his table and started conversation with him .
"Sir we know that you originally belong to Kashmir and you are presently serving in army" , said one of them. Razdan sahab had no other alternative but to listen them patiently .
" We have come with a request to you and hope you will listen to us and take some action in this regard and help us out of this problem ", said another. Razdan sahab nodded his head in affirmation and advised them to narrate their story .
Sir, terrorists have taken ten girls from the most respected families of the area to their hideout for the last several months . They are not releasing them despite of requests from various quarters in this connection . We want that army should launch an operation against those terrorists so that girls are rescued with out disclosing their identity and their families honour is saved .
Razdan sahab after taking some clues about the location of hideout , assured them of his full cooperation in the matter and took their leave .
It was only after some time Razdan sahab managed to attack the hideout in question alongwith his team. The hide out of terrorists was a two story building which was cordoned off by the army . Razdan sahab himself entered the building with another army personnel after overpowering the guards on the gate .They could locate the girls on the first story of the building ,who were preparing meals . The girls were taken in to confidence and advised that they have come for their rescue and are going to release them . The girls confided them that all the militants are having meeting in the upper story of house and they were preparing food for them.
In the mean time militants came down and attacked Razdan sahab and his accomplice . Attack was of great intensity and Razdan sahab fell down and lost his conscience .
Razdan sahab regained his conscience at the base military hospital Badami Bagh, where he came to know about the success of operation . The Girls were rescued and sent to their respective places secretly, with out disclosing their identity as per the prior instructions of Razdan sahab. Various militants were killed in the operation and a few escaped . Two army personals were also martyared in the operation including the accomplice of Razdan sahab , who first entered the hideout.
Razdan sahab was seriously injured in this operation , his lower limbs got paralysed . He was sent to various army hospitals for specialised treatment but he could not recover the strength of his lower limbs . He was confined to wheel chair through out his life . Razdan sahab was awarded Kirti chakra by the Govt. for his valour in this operation . He finally retired as Major General in army and is now living his retired life at Gurugoan.
While undergoing treatment at Pune Army Hospital, some parents of the girls whom he had rescued once came to meet him and expressed their gratitude . They were much obliged to Razdan sahab for not disclosing the identification of their families .They even offered financial help to him for treatment . But Razdan sahab politely declined their help , as army hospitals were looking after his treatment in a better way .
Tuesday, 26 June 2018
My Wanderings - 65 Short Story No.- 45. A Tale of Valour and Honour
Friday, 15 June 2018
My Wanderings - 64. Short Story No - 44. The Scapegoat
The ethos and pathos reflected in the present story may appear distinct to the new generation in terms of change in values due to inception of much permissiveness in society but not distant from the psychology of human behaviour , which may not have changed much .
It was in late seventies in Srinagar Sudhir, a meek and humble youngman after completing graduation got a job in central Govt Deptt with much struggle in terms of interviews and written tests and undertaking many casual and temporary occupations earlier . It was really a herculean task to find a job those days, because of limited resources and job opportunities prevalent in the valley.
Sudhir could not adjust himself in the new environment of his office mostly represented by his middle aged colleagues, with their weird mentality and biased outlook. They could make fun out of any thing and even at the cost of some ones honour and pride. They were always looking for a chance to let down any one amongst themselves even and create something substantial out of insignificant incidents , which could be overlooked otherwise by a normal person. Sudhir heard many tales of deceit and treachery employed by them with each other. If somebody submitted a fraud medical bill , other would surely complain about it to the head office . One of the colleagues of Sudhir was helping his father , who was having a cloth shop , after office hours . But another colleague got jealous of this and managed to conceal himself in a building opposite to the shop for several hours with a camera to take the photograph of his colleague selling cloth with a yard stick in his hand and with the intention of catching him red handed. Then the photograph was sent to Head office with an anonymous complaint .But Head office took little cognisance of such complaint due to the good luck of former.
A colleague of Sudhir once confided to him that one of their colleagues named Mr Pran Nath was suffering from stomach cancer and was in hospital for the last two months . There were very rare chances of his survival and his wife has passed away already few years back. Moreover , he had two grownup children a son and a daughter to look after . Sudhir had never seen Pran Nath but could spare some time to express sympathy with him and the family . Sudhir could perceive that office people were having only lip sympathies about the condition and circumstances of Pran Nath but most of them were discussing about his weirdness and treacheries which he exhibited , when he was Hale and hearty . Sudhir had never seen Pran Nath and therefore, he had no other alternative but to believe on hearsay only.
Once Sudhir overheard the discussion going on, between his senior colleagues, in the office and he got intrested when somebody was talking about him.
" Yes Sudhir is the best choice for the purpose . He is most gentle and loyal." , Said one.
"Oh let us help our friend and colleague in the hour of distress ". replied other, " Sudhir is the best choice for his daughter. "
" Let us take Sudhir with us to hospital and fix the marriage in presence of Pran Nath ." " He will also have a good look at sudhir."retorted back another."
"Pran Nath will get relieved from the tension of his daughter and he will die quite peacefully. Moreover, it will be the most rightous and kind service rendered to our friend and colleague on our part.
No body made any objection. Everything was considered as settled . The pleasures of so benevolent a scheme were enjoyed by everyone .
While listening to the decision of his fate being decided by his colleagues, Sudhir got worried . Sudhir had never thought about his marriage as yet. He could not venture to say no to his senior colleagues that too in this noble cause , which they were going to thrust upon him. How he will be able to convince his parents, he thought. Moreover, he had never seen the girl.
Only one person came to the rescue of Sudhir. It was the same colleague , who had first confided him about the condition of Pran Nath.
"So they are trying to become philanthropists by making you a scapegoat. ", He said to Sudhir, " i wont let them do that at your cost and against your will.
He reprimanded them one by one. He convinced them that marriage is not a child's play. Parents consent is foremost in such matters . You are no body to decide his fate . The proposal of marriage was stopped then and there . Sudhir heaved a sigh of relief and thanked him.
Then after the death of Pran Nath, his son Vinay was appointed in the same office on compassionate grounds. He became fast friend of Sudhir as they were almost of the same age. As both friends lived in the same area they started visiting each others dwellings . Sudhir got acquainted with the sister of Vinay also. She appeared well mannered , intelligent and very beautiful to Sudhir. They started liking each other . Vinay was also intrested in their marriage. He gave time and space to them to know each other better. But never mentioned about it to Sudhir .Sudhir wanted to marry her now and therefore, sought permission of his mother for getting married to the girl of his choice . But his mother declined the proposal at the beginning as she did not want to marry her only son to an orphan girl . Sudhir was left with no other alternative but to forget the girl. The friendship continued between the two i.e . Vinay and Sudhir but relationship never matured . No body mentioned about the proposal of marriage from either side and thus honour was redeemed at the expense of the sentiments of two.