The Kargil Chronicles: Colonel Saumitra Mohan Recalls the 101 Regular and Pakistan’s Treachery
In this episode of Kargil Chronicles, Retired Colonel Saumitra Mohan shares his journey into the Indian Army and reflects on his strong bond with the 101 Regulars. He also recounts the harrowing stories of the Kargil conflict, detailing moments when Pakistan betrayed India. Don’t miss this gripping account of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. Watch now!
#KargilChronicles #101Regular #Pakistan #India #KargilWar #Oneindia #Oneindianews
~PR.320~PR.100~HT.96~GR.344~
#KargilChronicles #101Regular #Pakistan #India #KargilWar #Oneindia #Oneindianews
~PR.320~PR.100~HT.96~GR.344~
Transcript
00:00I was always, you know, fascinated by the uniform, the color of the uniform, the greens.
00:26At that time, I felt that the only way to serve the country was to join the army.
00:33101 was a very, you know, cohesive group of brothers.
00:40I say brothers because, you know, we say that, you know, brother from another mother, right?
00:46So, when there is an army training, it is a very beautiful training.
00:51When you are giving your sweat, your blood, when I say blood, you know, not the one that you give with the powders and all.
00:58There are many such ways there that the blood comes out on its own.
01:01So, when you are doing all such activities together, the bond that is formed, that cohesiveness is very strong.
01:07It is not that, I mean, after so many years, I left it.
01:10Generally, classmates, you know, college mates, those memories just fade away.
01:16The relationship also fades away.
01:17But the bond of 101, the strong bond, the bond of Fevicol is a very strong Fevicol.
01:26My first posting was in the valley, on the line of patrol.
01:31I was from the support services, otherwise from the electronics and mechanical engineers.
01:36But we do our attachment with the infantry.
01:38Kargil is not just a place to be, to visit.
01:42It is a place where lots of people have given their lives.
01:44Once a thing like Kargil happens, you realize that life is temporary.
01:50Today you are there, tomorrow you are not there.
01:54The first reaction was anger.
01:56The sense of betrayal.
01:58Because peace talks were going on.
02:00In 1998, if you remember, there were peace talks.
02:04Those who were not in Kargil, they were also ready to go.
02:08I remember, we had a cook.
02:11You know, he used to make food for us.
02:12When he came to know about this, he said, sir, I will not cook, give me a gun, I want to go there.
02:18I had a mechanic, because I said we were in the support services.
02:21We used to repair guns, equipment.
02:24So, one of the mechanics said, sir, I cannot do this work.
02:27Give me a gun, I want to go there.
02:29So, everybody wanted to go there.
02:31Everybody wanted to, irrespective of his trade, irrespective of what he was doing, irrespective of his age.
02:36People who were 50 years of age, 54 years of age.
02:39Everyone wanted to go there.
02:41Everyone wanted to go there.
02:43Everybody wanted to be there.
02:48Our army training is such, you know, nothing can impact our morale as such.
02:52With every such let down by the enemy, we bounce back very badly.
03:01You have seen it everywhere, whether it is Galwan or Kargil was a very big example.
03:07It did not, you know, lower our morale, but it brought a sense of, you know, determination within us.
03:17That, no, we will not give up now.
03:23We are not going there just for our coastmen, for our brothers.
03:27We are going there for everybody who was there and who could have been there now, but is not there.
03:32But is not there, because they chose to give their life for the nation, for the countrymen, for whatever, you know, we call it Naam, Namak, Nishan.
03:46Naam, the name of the country, the name of our country.
03:51The salt that you have eaten, the salt of your unit, the salt of your country, you have to repay its debt.
03:57Nishan is the symbol of Britain, you know, the symbol of our country's flag.
04:05For that, people have given their lives.
04:09A part of our heart is there already.
04:13We are just going to, you know, unite with that part of the heart, which we are going to leave again and when we go back.
04:18So, it's a tribute that we want to pay, not only to our coastmen, but everybody.
04:27For more UN videos visit www.un.org