Monthly Archives: June 2008

INDIAN INDEPENDENCE-A MEASURE OF MY LIFE

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Eagle

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25th INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY MEDAL – 1972 

INDIAN INDEPENDENCE – A MEASURE OF MY LIFE 

I record major events of my life in relation to India’s independence on August 15, 1947. The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi was assasinated on January 30, 1948 and my life’s journey became associated with the story of this young nation. 

25th INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY MEDAL 

This medal was awarded to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Indian independence in 1972. The medal was awarded to all members of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and police forces who were serving on 15 August 1972. This medal gives me an opportunity to remember the twenty-fifth year of my life. I was then serving in Indian Army in the rank of a Captain and was posted at a unit located in the North-East Frontier Agency which is now known as the State of Arunachal Pradesh. We all had a very good reason to rejoice on that day. India had scored a major victory in the Indo-Pak War of 1971 and we took pride in the fact that we had a role in shaping that epic event in India’s military history.

OPERATION EAGLE 1971 – CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS – LIBERATION WAR OF BANGLADESH :

OPERATION EAGLE 1971-1972. THE MILITARY VICTORY IN CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS-THE CELEBRATION OF 25th INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

  

Operation Eagle 1971,the Indo-Pak War of 1971 and the Birth of Bangladesh are very significant achievements of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. As I was then serving in an Establishment under the Cabinet Secretariat, I had direct and personal understanding of her Foreign Policy Initiatives. She had personally approved our military Operation in Chittagong Hill Tracts. In the conduct of this War, we had faced a very critical moment and it needed her personal intervention and a decision that she alone could make. I rendered my services and had overcome the challenge posed by that critical situation. The importance of this situation could be understood as it needed an intervention from the Prime Minister. I am now asking the Government of India to recognize my GALLANT response in enemy's territory without any concern for my personal safety.

 

Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands(December 1985 to December 1989) - Lieutenant General(Retd) TS Oberoi, PVSM, VrC., former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Headquarters Southern Command, Pune, former Inspector General, Special Frontier Force, former Commandant, Headquarters Establishment No. 22. He is the tall person in this photo wearing dark brown turban. I knew him since 1971. Under his able leadership, the Liberation of Bangladesh had commenced in the year 1971 during the Indo-Pak War.Apart from his military wisdom, he took a good care of all men under his Command. While I was proceeding to Chittagong Hill Tracts, he had individually greeted all the members of my team and had delayed the departure of aircraft to make sure that a hot breakfast was served to all the men boarding the aircraft. He paid personal attention to all the aspects of the military mission to secure the well-being of men apart from achieving success in accomplishing the military task. The sense of warmth he radiated is easily felt when we meet him in person. His grandson provided me the link to this photo. Photo Credit - Trishna-Ajay-Picasa Web Album.

The remarks made by Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan of Special Frontier Force on May 13, 1972 in my Annual Confidential Report for 1971-72 are as follows:"A very conscientious and Tough MO who worked hard during the Bangladesh OPs. He did very well and showed Maturity which was beyond the call of duty. I have recommended this Officer for a gallantry award for which he deserves eminently. He is physically Tough and cheerful. Is a fresh entrant with less than 2 years of Service and yet he displayed capability and confidence.

OPERATION EAGLE 1971-72-Remarks of Former Inspector General of Special Frontier Force, Lieutenant General T S Oberoi, PVSM, VrC, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief,Headquarters Southern Command Pune 411001.He had remarked about my participation in the Indo-Pak War of 1971.

Dr. R. R. Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Ex Number – MR-03277K Major AMC/DPC

MS-8466 Captain AMC/SSC

Medical Officer South Column Operation Eagle

Headquarters Establishment No. 22  C/O  56  APO

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DEPENDENCE UPON FOREIGN OIL IS A MUST FOR THE UNITED STATES

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UNITED STATES IMPORTS 45 PERCENT OF ITS OIL FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

As the gas prices across the United States hit record high levels, I am not concerned about the United States’ dependence upon oil from the Middle East. If the United States is not willing to buy its oil from the Middle East, China is in a position to gobble it up. The position of the United States as a global superpower is dependent upon its level of oil consumption. If and when China steps in to dominate the oil market, it would proportionately increase its military supremacy and we would witness the Chinese war ships patrolling the Persian Gulf.

United States may forego its need for Middle East oil, but could it step back from its role to provide peace and stability in that region ???

Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Ex – Number XSCO - 324 CAPTAIN/NAQEEB FORCE MEDICAL SERVICES

Headquarters Sultanate of Oman’s Land Forces,

Muaskar Al Murtafaa, MAM, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

A BARRIER TO CONQUER THE CULTURAL BARRIER

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GENERAL SIR ARTHUR THOMAS COTTON(b. MAY 15, 1803, WOOD COTE, OXFORD SHIRE, ENGLAND. _ d. JULY 14, 1899, DORKING, SURREY, ENGLAND.)

“OH, EAST IS EAST, AND WEST IS WEST,

AND NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET.”

A BARRIER THAT CONQUERED THE EAST-WEST BARRIER

There could be social and cultural barriers between humans but those man-made barriers could be conquered by people who are dedicated to serving the humanity. Sometimes, a man-made barrier can bridge that cultural divide and could bring people together. A barrage is described as a man-made barrier in a stream or a river. By constructing barrages, Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton had shown that public service could help people to love one another.

Sir Arthur Cotton is popularly known as “Irrigation Cotton” or “Cotton Dora”(Cotton the Noble). In 1821, at the very young age of 18, he had arrived in India and was appointed to service with the Madras Engineers. He had served in the First Burmese War(1824-26). The military Corps of Engineers also undertake civilian construction projects. Cotton became responsible for greatest civil engineering projects of his time. He had worked in the face of stiff opposition, discouragement and criticism from the Madras government. In 1828, by constructing barrages across river Cauvery, he had transformed the drought-stricken Tanjore district into the richest part of the State of Madras.In 1838, he had designed and built sea defenses for Visakhapatnam.In 1847-52, he had masterminded the Godavari delta project. He had constructed Asia’s largest barrage across river Godavari a few miles south of Rajahmundry, my native place. This masonry dam is 2.25 mile (3,500 metres)long and is 12 feet high. It helped to irrigate 720,000 acres of land and created 500 mile long navigable channels connecting Godavari delta with the port of Kakinada. He was responsible for bringing prosperity to the farmers of the Godavari delta region. He was elevated to the post of Chief Engineer of the Madras Presidency. He had retired from government service in 1862 and in 1876 he was knighted. His name is much honored to this day and the spirit of public service he had displayed is still remembered with love and admiration.

Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India,

M.B.B.S.  Class  of  April,  1970.

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