Birth Centenary Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif Birth: 09 Jun 1923 in Hyderabad, India
Indian Air Force pilot (1942: RIAF / IAF), he was a Veteran of the World War, and the Chief of Air Staff (1978 to 1981), credited for the induction of Jaguar, MiG-23 and MiG-25 aircraft. His wife, Bilkees was engaged in social welfare work.
Son of a civil engineer with the Hyderabad State, and an alumnus of Nizam College, he joined the RIAF, undertook operational missions during World War and was briefly deputed to the RAF. During the Burma Campaign, he served with Sqn Ldr Asghar Khan (No 9 Squadron), who later became the Chief of PAF.
Post-independence, he elected to remain in India, and worked to modernise the IAF, earning a PVSM in Jan 1971. When the War started, he was Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Plans at AHQ. He is also credited for the procurement of Jaguar, MiG-23 and MiG-25 aircraft.
After retiring in 1981, he was appointed Governor of Maharashtra, and also served as Indian ambassador to France.
His wife, Bilkees I Latif was a noted social worker and recipient of Padma Shri award. She wrote his biography, The Ladder of His Life (2013).
On 25 Aug 81, IAF’s mighty Mig-25 flew its first sortie. Wg Cdr AJ Singh, CO, 102 Sqn and CAS, ACM Idris Latif were the pilots in its maiden flight. Mig-25, ‘Garuda’, is one of the fastest fighters ever to have entered military service.
Indian Army’s 14 ‘Scinde’ Horse led by Lt Col Rajendra Singh, SM fields T-72 Main Battle Tank in Changla, Ladakh at an Altitude of 17,688 feet.
MOUNTAIN CAVALRY BY Lt Col RAJENDRA SINGH, SM (Retired)
Introduction
No, the center heading above is not a misprint but a fact. A part of Indian Armoured Corps history which can be literally looked up upon as an extraordinary feat both by men and machines. 91 Independent Reconnaissance Squadron was the first squadron to be inducted into high altitude area ( Leh ) from 21 January to 08 February 1988.
The Dawning of Truth
After Brass Tacks ‘IV’ as part of 1 Armoured Division we heard rumours that our squadron is earmarked to be inducted into high altitude area. We all took it as yet another ‘Langar gup’ as we could not imagine an armoured squadron equipped with medium tanks (new T72 M1’s) on the roof of the world. When the truth dawned on us in the form of executive orders from Army Headquarters- we started giving topmost priority to this move. The effects of high altitude on personnel and equipment were explained to all ranks. We found out what exactly extreme cold climate clothing comprised of. The effect of extreme cold climate (upto – 40 deg C) on tanks and ‘B’ vehicles and relevant chapters from the tank manual and EMERs were studied in detail. One thing was foremost in our minds ie; we shouldn’t goof up any thing as being part of the mighty ‘ Scinde Horse’ we had to live up to our name. Maj AK Singh, 7 Cav, Army Cdr, Southern Comd ( Later Lt Governor Andaman & Nicobar Islands & Pondicherry ) and me were detailed to liaise with 3 Inf Div at Leh, both of us cleared up all the doubts we had to ensure a flawless induction. This proved very useful to plan my squadron’s induction as we were the first to go. A trial tank of 68 Armd Regt was inducted in two parts and was not functioning too well. The EME workshop while joining the hull and the turret, on starting the tank, the driver’s panel short circuited. This was an important lesson for me and I decided I will try to bring up my tanks in one piece.
Sequence of Events
Col PPS Dhillon, Commandant, the Scinde Horse and me, were summoned to the powers that be at Army Headquarters. After detailed briefing the move requirements were crystallized. Our old mounts the grand old T-55 (Up gunned) tanks were to be shed off to various Armoured Regiments. The new ‘iron horses’ the T-72 M1’s were to be collected from Bombay. After a capsule conversion course in the Scinde Horse the squadron personnel proceeded to Ahmednagar for collection of tanks and another quick conversion training. Lt SB Thota did a commendable job here.
The tanks after collection were brought on a special train to Agra for the air lift on the mighty jet – IL-76 (Gajraj).
At Agra the EME team from the Armoured Division was waiting to break up each new tank in two parts ie: the hull and the turret. After witnessing what had happened to the trial tank earlier I did not want to go up with crippled tanks. I spoke to an experienced Warrant Officer (AF) who told me that the all-up weight of an IL-76 is 190 tons, to increase the payload, we can reduce the fuel and refuel at LEH. I spoke with Wing Co Bewoor (Gen Bewoor’s son) who was commanding this AF Squadron. He was very positive as he would have saved 15 sorties and I could take my new tanks up in one piece. He told me to reduce my tank weight to 40 tons. Since the combat weight of a T-72 M1 is 43.300 tons so I removed the outer fitments like ‘balli’, tarpaulin, camouflage net, outer fuel barrels, deep fording equipment etc. I also reduced the fuel and kept only 400 litres to ensure we do not have an airlock. Our proposal was accepted by AHQs and this is how my squadron was the first to take up a full medium tank in one sortie.
The first tank to be loaded took three hours as the track adjustment of one side was more. Once this was corrected we cut down the timings ranging between 40 minutes to 1 hr. Once inside the IL- 76 the gap between the outer side of tank tracks and the inner wall of the aircraft was approximately 5 to 6 cms per side. The precision driving required for such a task, can well be imagined.
Meanwhile under supervision of 1 Armoured Division the advance party was dispatched from Chandigarh on an AN-12 aircraft a new experience for Armoured Corps personnel. The main body was flown in next under Capt Arun Pandey, this involved a bit of planning as only 25 tonnes of load were authorised. Since it was winters, the changes in temperatures of Chandigarh and Leh was 10 deg C to (minus) 30 deg C. The new ECC clothing issued to us was a saving grace; slowly but surely we got used to Bukharis and peculiar sounding names of villages rhyming with ‘ Ping Pong ’. In the day time with the intense ultra violet rays of the sun the weather was super but nights were bone chilling.
Trials
The squadron was involved in a lot of trials/ recce in the Div Sector to evaluate its effective employment. Two tanks of this squadron managed to get across a pass as high as 17,688 feet ASL. This is the highest pass ever to be negotiated by a medium tank. After this feat we looked upon this invincible tank with fortified pride. During this move the tanks had to roll across a kutcha track which barely catered for the width of the tank. The bends were so sudden and steep that the drivers had to be alert every second. Across the pass, on the downgrade, due to ice on the track, the tank skidded but the driver cut stick and banged into the mountain side to avoid rolling down, I was on this tank. Here onwards we moved across this slippery patch at a snail’s pace. This feat could well be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Standard Operating Procedure and Op Recce Summer & Winters
An SOP for operation of tanks in high altitude has also been formulated. CO 1 Mech ( Lt Gen Panag ) and me carried out a summer and winter recce of our OP area and submitted a 70 page recce report which will benefit those who follow us. I was lucky to carry out recce of the Partapur Sector and upto base camp.
Fire Power Demonstration / Combat Team in Quick Attack:-
Both 91 Independent Reconnaissance Squadron and 1 Independent Armoured Squadron (the second squadron to be inducted a month later) alongwith 1 Mechanised Infantry gave an impressive fire power demonstration. While zeroing our tanks, due to rarified air the tank projectiles where hitting 4 feet up, we corrected it accordingly. This culminated by giving a demonstration of a Combat team in quick attack.
Conclusion
It was in 1948 that the light tanks of 7th Light Cavalry were first employed in the mountains in Zojila Pass by Capt now Col SDS Jamwal ( Retd ) my Uncle, ( I am the 2nd Jamwal to cross a higher pass ie; 17,688 ft). The very presence of armour at such an altitude (11.500 ft) Zojila Pass, demoralized the enemy and raised the morale of own troops resulting in a decisive victory.
With the best armour the country has to offer and operating between 14,000 to 17,688’, I’m sure, should the need arise, any potential enemy will be given a befitting reply. The morale of the Scinde Horse men is so high after this feat that both in defensive and offensive operations the Regimental motto ‘MAN DIES BUT THE REGIMENT LIVES’ will fire our spirits even more.
Thanks to our trial, we became the first Squadron to land our medium tanks in Leh and cross the highest pass. Today there is an Armoured Brigade there, based on our report.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Birth: 23 Jan 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa, India Death: 18 Aug 1945 in Taipei, Taiwan
Birthday Celebrated as Parakram Divas – birth Commander of the Indian National Army – death
Birthday Celebrated as Parakram Divas Indian freedom fighter, nationalist leader and Congress President (1938), he fled to Germany in 1941, and then to Japan, where he proclaimed independence and led the Indian National Army against the British during World War II. Son of advocate Janakinath Bose, he graduated in 1918 with a BA from Scottish Church College in Kolkata, travelled to England for a Cambridge BA, declined to join the ICS and returned home. In India, he came under the influence of Chittaranjan Das (1870-1925), who became the first Mayor of Kolkata and co-founded the Swaraj party, both in 1923. Active as President of the Youth Congress, he was arrested and sent to prison in Mandalay in 1925. Back, he became the Mayor of Kolkata in 1930. In 1938 he was elected President of Congress, and re-elected in 1939 but resigned, and founded the All India Forward Bloc. When WWII began, he opposed the Viceroy and began a mass movement against. That saw him in prison for a few days. On 17 Jan 1941, Bose escaped with the help of his nephew, Sisir Kumar Bose. Reaching Germany, he met Hitler, founded the Free India Center in Berlin, and created an army, “Indian Legion” with Indian POWs. But after Hitler attacked Russia, travelled to Japan. There, he took charge of the Indian National Army created by Capt Mohan Singh. Then, with his famous quote “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!” launched an offensive to conquer India. On 30th Dec 1943, he unfurled the Tricolour in Andaman Island. The INA hoisted the flag in Moirang, Manipur on 14 Apr 1944. But by that time Japan was being pushed back in the pacific, and the INA was forced to retreat. Eventually, Bose moved to Formosa (now Taiwan) and is believed to have died in an aircraft accident.
But, Did you know – the Pakistan Connection? Event: 13 Jan 1948 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (India) Mahindra & Mahindra was born. Originally incorporated as Mahindra & Mohammed in 1945, it started with assembly of Jeeps, progressed to tractors, commercial vehicles, elctric vehiles, and is today a major contributer for defence production.
On 02 Oct 1945, it was orignally founded as Mahindra & Mohammed in Ludhiana, Punjab.
by Jagdish Mahindra (1891-1951) and his brother Kailash Chandra (1894-1963), along with Ghulam Muhammad (1895-1956), who moved to Pakistan as the first Finance Minister and 3rd Governor-General, when he came to India as the chief guest for Republic Day in 1955.
Thus, on 13 Jan 1948 Mahindra & Mahindra was born, and incorporated on 20th August 1952 in Bombay (now Mumbai).
Having started in 1945, with assembly of jeeps, from SKD kits imported from Willys, USA, the company expanded: 1953 : Otis Elevator Co. (India) established
Tractor 1965 : Tractors rolled out after a JV with International Harvester USA. 1999 : Majority share in Gujarat Tractors.
Finance 1992 : Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services (MMFSL) incorporated. Originally Incorporated as Maxi Motors Financial Services Limited in 1991.
Motors 1994 : Mahindra Motors founded 1995 : M&M took over Allwyn Nissan 1996 : JV with Ford Motors – produces Fort Escort. 2001 : M&M ties up with Renault for petrol engines. 2002 : M&M launches Scorpio – the new generation Sports Utility Vehicle. 2005 : JV with Renault to manufacture the mid-sized sedan, Logan, in India.
Defence 2001 : a separate division to provide Defence Solutions Mahindra Marksman – India’s first MADE IN INDIA bulletproof vehicle.
protects its occupants against a range of bullets
the undercarriage is built to withstand a hand-grenade blast
features a machine gun mount and seven firing crew ports
crew of 6 – driver, co–driver and 4 soldiers In use with Maharashtra’s Force One, and Kolkata Police.
Two Wheeler: 2008: Acquired Kinetic Motors and entered two-wheeler space.
Electric: Acquired a majority stakew in REVA Electric Car Company, now known as Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd
2011: Mahindra Racing and Pininfarina – Concept Formula-E Design
Keshub Mahindra (1923) – son of the Kailash Indian businessman and philanthropist, he is the son of the Kailash Chandra (founder), and was the Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra for half a century (1963 – 2012). He was also involved with various government councils and committees. Former Chairman of Union Carbide India. Convicted (07-06-2010) for 2 years. Handed over (May 2012) to his nephew, Anand Mahindra.
Harish Mahindra 1923 – 1999 – son of Jagdish Indian industrialist, he was the Chairman of Mahindra Ugine Steel and Kotak Mahindra Finance; and President of FICCI (1975). He is the son of Jagdish Chandra (founder), and his son Anand is the present Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra.
Anand Mahindra (1-5-1955) S/O Harish Succeeded his uncle, Keshub Mahindra as MD (1997) and Chairman (May 2012)
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Good Governance Day
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari on his 50th Death Anniversary
Indian lawyer, freedom fighter, politician and scholar, popularly known as Rajaji and referred to him as ‘keeper of my conscience’ by Gandhiji, he was the last Governor-General (1948-50), and was honoured with the Bharat Ratna (1954) for his lifelong service.
He was also an accomplished writer, earning the Sahitya Academy Award (1958) for ‘Chakravarthi Thirumagan’. His book, Hinduism: Doctrine and Way of Life (1959) is an examination of his concepts of Vedanta and a warning to avoid self-destruction.
His daughter, Lakshmi married Gandhi’s son, Devdas. Gopalkrishna Gandhi (IAS), former Governor is a grandson.
Lachit Borphukan Birth: 24 Nov 1622 in Charaideo, Assam, India Death: 25 Apr 1672 in Jorhat, Assam, India Indian military leader, he was Commander-in-Chief and Borphukan (Governor) in the Ahom kingdom, and is remembered for the Battle of Saraighat (1671), when he defeated the Mughals. Legacy: (a) 24 November is celebrated as Lachit Divas (Lachit Day) in Assam. (d) Statue at National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, and the Gold Medal awarded to the Best Passing Out Cadet is named after him.
Note: In Assamese, the name is spelt as Borphukon with an “on” as on the board.
Battle of Saragarhi Event: 12 Sep 1897 in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (India) Havildar Ishar Singh, and 20 soldiers in a stone-bunker, stood fast and stopped an Army of 10,000 Afghans – in an Act of Gallantry that is remembered even to this day. All 21 were awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest at that time.
A dispute over the regular payment, saw the Afridi Tribesmen join up with the Orakzais and Chamkanis to launch an attack on 03 Sep 1897. This was followed by the Main Assault on 13 September.
The 30 miles long Samana Ridge was defended by two forts constructed during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) some 5 miles apart – Fort Lockhart and Fort Cavagnari (aka Gulistan). Saragarhi was located midway between the two Forts, and the Post was a brick house commanded by Havildar Ishar Singh, a Jat Sikh from Punjab, and many of his team of 20 youngsters, came from Ferozepur (Firozpur) in Punjab.
Around 09:00 AM, some 10,000 Afghans entered the Kurram Valley, and attacked Saragarhi, in an attempt to cut-off the communication link between the two Forts.
Havildar Ishar Singh decided to stay, and the 20 brave hearts decide to fight to the last man, while bullets from a thousand muskets struck the masonry walls of the Post. The Sikhs kept their cool, used their rifles accurately and dropped many an attacker. They repulsed multiple assaults on the post, refused promises of amnesty from the Afghans, and the battle continued for six long hours, before the outer wall was breached, and hand-to-hand fighting ensued with fixed bayonets.
Then Ishar Singh, the leader, took position at the breached entrance, and ordered his men to move back to the inner area. But sheer numbers overwhelmed the Sikh, and the attackers entered the inner wall, where again a fierce hand-to-hand fight ensued.
Sepoy Gurmukh Singh, the signalman, then send his last message, “The enemy are inside now, request permission to stop signalling so I can join the fight”. He was the last to fall, but he is believed to have killed 20.
Finally the Afghans set fire to the building, just to be sure – disregarding their own wounded who may have been inside.
All 21 soldiers were awarded the Indian Order of Merit. Many historians compare this battle to the Battle of Thermopylae (08-10 Sep 400 BC), on which the 2006 film “300” is based.
AFTERMATH: After a joyous celebration, the Afghans turned their attention to Fort Cavagnari (aka Gulistan), but the Fort had been reinforced during the night of 13-14 September. The British launched the Tirah Expedition (1897-98), and things were back to normal again, after a peace treaty with the tribal leaders.
LEGACY: Two memorials were erected in their honour – Gurudwara in Amritsar (1902) and Ferozepur (1904). By a Special Army Order, Saragarhi Day is celebrated by all Sikh Regiments.
TWR: The Golden Boy of Indian Athletics, on the day he won the Olympic Gold medal.
Subedar Neeraj Chopra PVSM Event: 07 Aug 2021 at Japan National Stadium
2020 Olympics in August 2021: Chopra qualified with a throw of 86.65 metres. In the final on 07 Aug, he threw 87.03 followed by 87.58 to win the gold medal. He thus became the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal after Abhinav Bindra – air rifle in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Back home, he was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2021), India’s highest sports award.
Today We Remember 