Col GKS Reddy Coins: MY BUCKET LIST - VISIT NORTH EAST INDIA - ASSAM & ARUNACHAL PRADESH

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY

C/O COL GKS REDDY
Secunderabad - 500 015

All of us have some dreams / small wishes in life, which when unfulfilled keep getting added to our Bucket List, from time to time. So do I have, my own Bucket List with a number of small unfulfilled wishes, to be fulfilled before finally kicking the Bucket. Three such wishes remained unfulfilled for a long time.

(a) To Visit Foreign Countries. As a child, I was fascinated with foreign countries and imagined them to be, some far away Fairy Lands and wished to visit as many countries as possible. But unfortunately my dream remained unfulfilled, as I chose Armed Forces as my profession and I was NOT one of those bright boys, who were sent on UN Assignments. However, I can say with certainty, that my dream was partially fulfilled, as I visited neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and China (Tibet) albeit border areas only, during my long career in the Armed Forces. And visited my children in UK, immediately after my retirement in 2007. I hope to further fulfill my dream in the near future, as preparations are in full swing to visit all the European countries in Jul / Aug 2013.

(b) To Own Ancient / Old Coins of India. This dream / wish largely remained unfulfilled till my retirement, since as a child, I did not have the requisite finances and as an adult, neither had the inclination nor time, due to demands of profession and family commitments. However, I went all out after retirement and today I own almost 450 to 500 Ancient / Old Indian coins, starting from Janapadas (Old Indian states, 400 to 200 BC), Kushan Dynasty to British Empire Coins. But there is a long way to realize my dream.

(c) To Visit Recruiting Areas of my Troops. This dream could not be realized till this year, in spite of my best efforts, due to various reasons. I was commissioned into Assam Regiment in Jun 1975 and could NOT serve even for a day in the North East, where my troops come from. In fact, I could go across River Brahmaputra, only twice during my long career in the Regiment. Once when I was attached to Assam Regiment Centre (ARC) at shillong for Pre - Young Officers Course Training, immediately after my commission in Jun 1975 and second time, when I was invited by Commandant ARC for Final Farewell Dinner, just a few days prior to my retirement in Mar 2007.

I could not visit my Regimental Centre in between, even after having commanded the unit for four years, during which time Two Biennial conferences and a Mini conference for COs were held. During the first Biennial, Corps Test Exercise was ON and my unit was Corps Reserve Bn. All arrangements, including Air Ticket booking for second Biennial were done, but unfortunately, my second in command met with an accident just a few days prior to my departure and the unit was deployed in a sensitive sub sector of J&K. And I missed the Mini Conference, as heavy Fire Fights, including Medium Arty and Rocket fire were in progress in the sub sector, and the enemy was targeting even the unit’s Adm Base, where No Bunkers were available.

Hence, I was elated, when my Parent Unit, moved to the Forbidden Lands of the North East, for the first time in Mar 2012; almost 27 years after raising. I planned to combine my long awaited visit to all the NE States, with unit’s 28^th Raising day celebrations, scheduled during Feb 2013. My plans got further fillip, on learning that, three of my company commanders, who subsequently commanded the unit and a fourth CO, who came from outside and commanded the unit, were all serving in various appointments in the NE and my then IO was presently commanding my parent unit. The raising day was 11 Feb 2013 and I booked my Air Ticket to Dibrugarh (Nearest Airport to unit) for 09 Feb 2013 and planned to tour the NE till 02 Mar 2013. Once again, I got a shock on 01 Feb 2013, when the unit got orders to move for Op Alert till 08 Mar 2013 and they were forced to celebrate raising day in the Op Area.

CO apologized profusely, though it was none of his fault and he requested me to visit the unit from 10 to 13 Mar 2013. Thus I re-scheduled my programme from 10 to 30 Mar and postponed my Air Ticket from 09 Feb to 10 Mar 2013.

Finally My Dream Fulfilled

Finally, I realized my dream of visiting the Recruiting Areas of my Troops, by touring NE from 10 Mar to 30 Mar 2013, thereby deleting the item from My Bucket List . I intend to present the details of my long cherished dream, on D – Day basis with Photographs.

Visit to Assam & Arunachal Pradesh Incl Unit Loc ( D– Day to D + 3)

Arunachal Pradesh /ˌ ɑr ə ˌ n ɑː tʃ ə l p r ə ˈ d ɛ ʃ / is a state of India. Located in northeast India, Arunachal Pradesh borders the states of Assam andNagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Bhutan in the west, Myanmar in the east and the People's Republic of China in the north. Itanagar is the capital of the state. China claims most of the state as part of Tibet and calls the disputed area South Tibet.

Arunachal Pradesh means "land of the dawn-lit mountains". Literally it means "land of the rising sun" (Sanskrit: Arun: Sun, Pradesh: state, province or region) in reference to its position as the easternmost state of India. It is also known as the "Orchid State of India" and the "Paradise of the Botanists". It is the biggest of the group of eastern states commonly known as the Seven Sister States. Like other parts of Northeast India, a majority of the people native to the state are of Tibeto-Burman origin. A large and increasing number of migrants have reached Arunachal Pradesh from many other parts of India, though no reliable population count of the migrant population exists, and percentage estimates of total population accordingly vary widely. Arunachal Pradesh has the largest number of regional languages among Indian states.

D – Day (10 Mar 2013)

(a) I packed my stuff on the previous evening and reported to the Airport almost an hour and a half before the scheduled departure of the Flight. Took off for Kolkata by Indigo Flt GE 351 from Hyderabad at 0940h and landed at Dibrugarh at 1420h, after catching connecting Flt GE 205 from Kolkata. As I came out of the Airport, I saw the Sub Maj waiting with his protection party. We straight away started for the unit located somewhere astride the famous LIDO Road, passing through Tinsukia and Mahadevpur in Assam and Namsai in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, reaching the unit by night fall.

(b) All officers were waiting to receive me at the Officers Mess, where a Flood Light Shuttle Badminton Match was scheduled between the CO and 2 I/C’s teams. In spite of my cataract problem in the Right Eye, we managed to win the first game, but the youngsters soon took control and won the remaining two games. The game was followed by drinks and dinner at CO’s Residence.

CO vs 2 I/Cs Team Shuttle Badminton under Flood lights in progress

Ex - Gaonbura Returning the shuttle

Youngster in 2 I/Cs Team in Action

Ex - Gaonbura in Action

Moving to COs Residence, for the Hard Earned Dinner After the Game

Dinner at COs Residence

Youngsters Enjoying their Dinner

D + 1 (11 Mar 2013)

(a) The day started with a Sainik Sammelan at 0730h, organized in honour of the visiting Ex – Gaonbura (Photographs 11 to 13), followed by briefing by CO on the achievements of the unit in CI Ops in the past one year or so (Photographs 14 to 17-3). Thereafter, individual meetings were arranged with the few JCO’s and NCO’s who served with the Ex – Gaonbura and still in service (Photographs 18 to 18-3).

Meeting the JCOs and NCOs who served with Ex - Gaonbura

(b) Unit Bara Khana was Organised at 1100h, to enable Ex – Gaonbura to meet and personally interact with the JCO’s and Jawans (Photographs 19 to 25-4). Ex – Gaonbura was taken around the company Cook houses and unit lines while food was being served to the troops (Photos 26 & 27). After Bara Khana, Ex – Gaonbura presented Battalion Farewell Mementoes to some of the Jawans proceeding on retirement, followed by singing of regimental song and finally presentation of Gift to the Jazz Band NCO (Photos 28 to 35).

Ex - Gaonbura with Officers & JCOs at Bara Khana

Ex - Gaonbura Singing the Battalion Song with Unit Jazz Band

Interacting with the Jawans

Sub Maj Presenting the Battalion Cap to Ex - Gaonbura

(c) In the AN, a drive along the LIDO Road, up to Parshuram Kund was Organised, wherein Ex – Gaonbura visited the Transit Camp, Parshuram Kund Mandir and Navayuga Constructions Dam site across Lohit River (Photos 35-2 to 35-8)

Talking to the Camp JCO at a Transit Camp somewhere Astride LIDO Road

PARASURAM KUND:

Parasuram Kund, a place of pilgrimage is situated on the bank of the river Lohit at about 24 Kms from Tezu. It is also known as 'Prabhu Kuthar', the origin of the 'Kunda' viz. Parasuram Kund is associated with Parasuram's matricide. The history goes in brief that one day Renuka, mother of Parasuram went to Ganga for having bath and bringing water. But delay in bringing water made the Rishi Jamadagni, the husband of Renuka very angry as it was already getting late for the mid day worship. He asked the sons to kill her. None of his six sons except Parasuram could oblige. Parasuram chopped off the head of his mother indeference to the wishes of his father, but as a result of crime handle with his axe got struck to his hand. Jamadagni was very pleased with him for carrying out his orders and told Parasuram to ask for a boon.

Parasuram prayed for bringing his mother back to life, then enquired as to how to get rid of the crime of matricide. Jamadagni granted it and his mother got her life back and told Parasuram to visit " Brahma Kund" to wash off the sin. Parasuram came to the Brahma Kund, in Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh for holy dip in the kund. Religious people, saints come to this kund on Makarsakranti which falls on the 14th January every year. The Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh extends all possible arrangements / help for the annual pilgrimage.