At Army Training and Polo Ground(RCTC)
The event was a huge success as was proved by the multitudes of people pouring in throughout the day. Stalls were set up by various regiments for the display of army equipment, garments, guns and ammunition. Soldiers were appointed at each stall for the purpose of explaining the use of the equipment to the civilians. An artificial underground bunker was also created, entering which one got the impression of entering a secret base. The other side of the field was lined with tanks, military vehicles and anti-aircraft guns. As they were open to the public, the children and teenagers happily clambered up the tanks and posed for photographs. Every year, this display is help for the purpose of enthusing the young generation and making people aware of the Indian Army.
Human beings have tried to imitate birds since time immemorial. Here too, eight para-troopers dived from a height of 10,000 feet above the ground. Guided by a smoke candle, they made smooth landings in their allotted place. Next the spectators were greeted by a dust storm created by the rotating blades of three helicopters as the soldiers slithered down a rope from a height of 10-15m and conducted a mock rescue mission from terrorists. The actual rescue missions are done in crowded places like high rise buildings, etc. where terrorists have truly laid siege.
Doves were released to signify peace and victory. The compatibility between man and animal was put to rigorous tests in the Mule Trick Riding. Although the mule is much more difficult to train than a horse, these mules obeyed every command of their masters. The riders as well as the mules jumped through a ring of fire with perfect ease.
Some of the most daredevil acts of the show were the ones performed by the Shwet Ashwa team of bikers. They smashed a wall of tube lights and another one of bricks. From sunbathing to swimming to gymnastics to climbing a ladder to reading a newspaper to doing sirsahan, these bikers are capable of doing absolutely anything on a speeding bike. Two of them dressed up as jokers and entertained the audience throughout the programme. They also created the record of carrying 151 riders on 11motorccycles.
Another thrilling performance was given by the soldiers of the Assam Regiment who boldly displayed their martial art skills. When darkness descended, the spectators were spellbound by the mesmerizing LED Band Display while beautiful patriotic music was being churned out by the band. The ambience of the entire programme was so inspiring that many children were heard commanding their parents to bring them to the Military Tattoo next year too.
Interview of Lt General Ashok Kumar Chaudhary
Lt Gen A K Chaudhary took charge as Director General Military Operations.The General is an alumnus from NDA and IMA and was commissioned on 22 Dec 1974. The General Officer has had a distinguished career, in both Command and staff assignments.He was commissioned into the MAHAR Regt (5 MAHAR Regt).Gen Chaudhary has held various command, Staff and Instructional appointments in his long and illustrious career, with a vast operational experience.He has the distinction of Commanding 12 MAHAR in J&K, 8 Assam Rifles in Manipur, 10 Sector Rashtriya Rifles in J&K and IGAR (South) in Manipur and GOC of Corps in Western Theatre.Besides his Grade 3, Grade 2 and Grade 1 Staff at Fmn level, he has held the prestigious appointment of Col GS of 20 Mtn Div, BGS 16 Corps, DDG MO (A) and ADGMI (A) at Army HQ prior to taking over the reins of the Rising Star Corps.He has also been an instructor at the Senior Command Wing at Army War College, Mhow.
[Source: http://www.aeromag.in/news/defence/lt-gen-ak-choudhary-takes-charge-as-dgmo]
Lt Gen Ashok Kumar Chaudhary has been awarded Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Vishist Seva Medal and the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation for gallantry and distinguished service to the Nation.
We all regard army men as disciplined, dedicated and hardworking people who risk their lives so that you and I can lead a life of freedom and peace. Here, the amiable Lt General, who is a remarkable inspiration to each one of us, shares what had driven him to put on nerves of steel.
Lt Gen Ashok Kumar Chaudhary
Q. What made you join the Indian Army?As a child, I had joined Sainik School in the year 1965. I had already decided at a very young age that I had to do something different. I belonged to a very rural background and did not have any knowledge about games which the children from affluent families used to play. So I used to do running which was the easiest to do. I started learning and competing with others and slowly I saw to it that I was better than the most of them. While we were carrying out the classes, somebody who was from a good background and an English medium school commented, “How can he join the army?” I said,” Let’s see”. I made it a point to join the army and to reach the highest level which I did after four years. And do you know that the person who made the comment could not join the NDA on the day that I joined. He joined much later. I learnt games like basketball, squash and gymnastics during my school so that I could overcome the difficulty of having come from a rural background. And this spirit of overcoming all odds was deeply embedded in me as a child which made me join the Sainik School, then the National Defence Academy and then the Army as a second lieutenant in the year 1974 and today I’m a Lieutenant General.
Q. An army man has to stay away from his family for long periods of time and the training is also very difficult. Has it ever occurred to you that other jobs are much easier and more profitable?
Initially, as a young officer I did not have this feeling at all. And I enjoyed my job and had and still have that josh for fighting for the country. Slowly as time passes and things improve, one starts to look at things from the economic point of view. But lately I found that there are some things available in the army which is not available outside. First of all, I can tell you that every day I have a good sleep. People spend thousands of rupees or lakhs of rupees to get peace in life. And here every evening, one is comfortable. You work hard professionally without having to bother about what other people are thinking about you. You have an élan and people respect you for what you are and what you do. You get a lot of respect. And lately, after the sixth pay commission, the emoluments are also reasonable. See, one can be happy even in the Siachen (glacier) or the toughest of area and you can be unhappy even in a five star or a seven star hotel with everything available. If the happiness is measured thinking where you want to get it, you can get it anywhere. I’m telling you and I also used to tell my men that if you are happy, your environment is happy, your parents are happy, your friends are happy. You can achieve it anywhere. And I have also seen unhappy billionaires. And those like us who have got their reasonable requirements fulfilled and have got happiness in the mind, are well off. This is what I feel.
Q. Any memorable experience in the army which you would like to share.. There are many. In my school days, I used to speak very good Hindi and used to come first in debates in the vernacular but I was very weak in English. In those days, we stayed in the dormitory where fifty cadets used to sleep together and the bathroom was used by all. I used to get up at 4 o’clock every morning so that nobody could see me. In front of the bathroom mirror, I used to take a book of English and read it out aloud in order to see my pronunciation and diction and I improved my English like that. So one of the issues I would like to highlight is that anything can be achieved. You need not come from a very good background to do well in life. Memorable moments in the army are many either in the counter interagency operations or in the high altitude areas. Once when we were carrying out an operation in Jammu and Kashmir in 1980, there were militants firing at us and we had gone round. We could not see the militants. There was a hay stack and I went on top of it in order to fire directly so that none of our troops are hurt. I had a buddy who was standing next to it with a radio set while I sat on top. Some militant fired at be because I was clearly outlined. Meanwhile, my buddy realized that a bullet had been fired. He pulled my leg and brought me down and in that split of a second, the bullet whizzed past my head. I would have been shot dead straightaway and the boy who was my buddy just brought me down and saved my life. I can’t forget such occurrences. There are many other incidents in terms of happiness, or in terms of operations or in terms of helping people. I remember that when there was an earthquake in Latur in Maharashtra.I recall vivid pictures of how we rescued and helped so many people. Once in J & K, it had snowed very heavily. A hut had collapsed and we went to take out an old lady. We took her out but a gold ornament of hers had been left behind and she was keen to get it back. As a young officer I told her not to go in as she won’t be able to come out again. I wondered if I could get in again. The soldiers told me, “Saab mat jaiye!” but I told them, “Let me see how I can make the old lady happy.” She was extremely worried as she had to give the ornament to her daughter in her marriage. So I went inside and fetched the little box. And her face absolutely lit up with joy. I remember that on many occasions. These are little things that no one talks about but they give you so much happiness.
Q. There is no “Bengal Regiment” in the army and very few Bengalis tend to join the army nowadays. What do you think is the probable reason for that?
You see in earlier times, certain regiments were made in the name of states or castes. But now the parliament and the government has decided that regiments should constitute of soldiers from all part of the country. Therefore, we should not have any regiments based on caste, creed etc. the names of the regiments that were formed during the British era are being carried on but whatever new regiments that arebeing made now, constitute of troops from all parts of the country. As far as Bengal is concerned, it’s not bad. People from Bengal are doing extremely well in the army. My wife is closely related to Bengal. There are enough young men in Bengal who want to join the army as officers but we could increase the number in the technical duties where the number is comparatively less.Q. What is the scope of girls in the army? There are girls in the army. They can join now after a particular service and they are doing really well.Q. Finally, your message to readers…
My message would be that nothing is impossible to achieve. You have to strive. Dedication and discipline are required and you can achieve anything in life.Got any message for these brave hearts who endanger their lives so that you and I have a good night's sleep? Please leave your comments below....