VISIT TO HUSSAINIWALA BORDER CROSSING AND BHAGAT SINGH MEMORIAL - II

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,g
C/O COL GKS REDDY,

Secunderabad - 500 015.

VISIT TO HUSSAINIWALA BORDER CROSSING AND BHAGAT SINGH MEMORIAL

Introduction

          Visited Hussainiwala Border post and Bhagat Singh Memorial on 10 Feb 2016 along with all the Veterans of my parent Unit, who were in the Area for a Veterans Re-Union from 09 Feb 2016 to 11 Feb 2016.

Hussainiwala

          The village is named after the Muslim Peer Baba Hussainiwala ji (Saint Hussaini wala or Saint "who is of Husain"), whose tomb is in the Border Security Force headquarters at Hussainiwala

Hussainiwala Border Post

          The Hussainiwala border crossing is now closed for travelers, although a flag retreat ceremony is still held daily. Until 1970, it was the principal road crossing between India and Pakistan, and was a trade route for truckers, mostly for the import of Kandahari Angoor (dehydrated grapes) and other fruits and food products from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The border crossing was replaced by the border crossing at Wagah, a little further north. In 2005 there were proposals to reopen the border, but it has not yet frutified and the Border Post remains closed.

Visit to Bhagat Singh Memorial

          After witnessing the Flag Downing Ceremony at the Hussainiwala Border Post, we moved to Bhagat Singh Memorial, located close by.

  The famous National Martyrs Memorial marks the location where Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were cremated on March 23, 1931 on the banks of the Sutlej river. It is also the cremation place of B.K. Dutta (Batukeshwar Dutt) (died 1965) who was also involved in bombing the Central Legislative Assembly with Bhagat Singh. His last wish was to be cremated at the place where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev where cremated. The mother of Bhagat Singh, Vidyawati, was also cremated there in accordance with her last wish, and later she was awarded the title of Punjab Mata (Mother of Punjab). | image_skyline = File:National Martyrs Memorial Hussainiwala closeup.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = The National Martyrs Memorial, built at Hussainiwala in memory of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru

        The National Martyrs Memorial Hussainiwala, built in 1968, depicts an irrepressible revolutionary spirit of the three National Martyrs, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The memorial is located just one km from the India-Pakistan border on the Indian side and has memorials of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. After Partition, the cremation spot went to Pakistan but on January 17, 1961, this martyr's land was received when India gave 12 villages near the Sulemanki Headworks (Fazilka) to Pakistan. B.K. Dutt was also cremated here on 19 July 1965 and in accordance with his last wishes. Bhagat Singh's mother, Punjab Mata Vidyawati, was also cremated here in accordance with her last wish.

          This memorial was damaged by the withdrawing Pakistani troops in 1972. The memorial was restored in 1973 by the efforts of the then Punjab Chief Minister, Zail Singh.

         Every year, on the 23rd of March, the Shaheedi Mela is observed at this National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala, in which thousands of people pay their homage. The day is also observed across the state of Punjab.

The Entry Gate to the Bhagat Singh Memorial at Hussainiwala

A Tower of Hussainiwala Fort. The Memorial is located outside the Fort

Another Tower of the Fort

Full View of the Hussainiwala Fort

Self with Col Sharawat, of my unit, who was one of my 

Company Commander, in front of the Fort

One of the Images in Bhagat Singh Memorial, - Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev

A closeup of the Statues of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at the Memorial

Self, Maj SR Roy, Col VS Sharawat and Col VK Rana, All Veterans at the Memorial

The Spot Near the Fort, where the Railway Track Going into 

Pakistan has been cut and Terminated after the Partition

A Placard at the Memorial

A View of the Fort from the Memorial

The Placard Indicating the Destruction of the Memorial by Pakistani Army in 1972

15 Punjab War Memorial Near the Monument

Statues of the Company Commanders of 15 Punjab, who 

sacrificed their lives, Defending the Memorial

Note - The Information about Hussainiwala has been extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

THE RHINOS OF DARING DOZEN - II

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,
C/O COL GKS REDDY,hile on a visit

Secunderabad - 500 015.

THE VETERANS RE-UNION OF DARING DOZEN

THE SECOND DAY FUNCTIONS


PAGAL GYMKHANA AND INTERACTION WITH JAWANS

Introduction

          The present Commanding Officer of Daring Dozen, invited all the surviving Veterans for a Re-Union on the Eve of 31st Raising Day of the Unit and he offered to make all the necessary arrangements for the event.

          Most of the Veterans confirmed their willingness to attend the event, which was scheduled to be held over a period of three days from 09 Feb 2016 to 11 Feb 2016. All of us left our different locations in the Country to the unit which is located somewhere on the Western Border and reached there by 09 Feb 2016 FN.

          Since the functions were to commence in the evening, a programme was arranged in the morning to visit the Golden Temple. I decided instead to visit, one of my Ex - Commanding Officer in Ludhiana, who could not make it to the Re-Union, due to being seriously ill and completely bed ridden

Visit to Ludhiana

          I started for Ludhiana, at about 0900 h and reached by lunch time. We had some trouble in locating the Residence of Col BS Judge, my Ex - Commanding Officer. I met him and his family, spent some time with him, discussing our past association in the unit and went back to unit after Lunch.

Second Day Functions  - Pagal  Gymkhana and Interaction with Jawans


          The Veterans participated in Pagal Gymkhana and Interacted with the Jawans. We had Lunch with the Troops and their Families.

Self with Hav Nripen Bora, who was part of My Personal Protection Party during 

Anti Militant Operations in Kupwara Dist of J&K. 

With Nk Haupu Hawkip, who was also in my Protection Party

With Hav NK Sinha, who was my Helpar during 1998 to 1999

Self with Maj SR Roy (Extreme Left), Nb Sub Lal Boy, An Excellent Marksman and 

Lead Singer for Unit Jazz Band and Hav NK Sinha

With Nk Nara Singh Meiti and Famindly with Pagal Gymkhana Stalls in the Backgrou. 

Nara Singh a Black Belt in Karate was in my Personal Protection Party during

 Anti Militant Operation in Kupwara, J&K

With Hav Chinnappa, who was incharge of the Cleanliness of the Residential and Office Complex of the Commanding Officer in Kupwara 

With Hav Ganglian Ghangte of Arunachal Pradesh, who was Shot while fighting the 

Militants in 42 Rashtriya Battalion and Permanently Disabled. He was my Helper 

during Anti Militant Operations in Kupwara, J&K

Hav Ganglian Ganghte with Col Jayachandran, who was the 

Second in Command in Kupwara, J&K

Interaction with the Veterans and Families during Pagal Gymkhana

With Col & Mrs Jagdish Pant

With Col Jagdish Pant, Senior most Surviving CO

With the Veterans Left to Right - Col AK Roy, Col J Pant, Self, A Friend, 

Commanding Officer, Col VK Rana and Brig SN Rai

Brig SN Rai, Col J Pant and a Friend with Pagal Gymkhana Stalls in the Background

Col AK Roy and Col VK Rana

Self and Col VK Rana

From Right to Left - Sub Ramanand, Col VK Rana, Self, Col AK Roy 

and son of Sub Ramanand

From Right to Left - Mrs (Late Col) SS Bhullar, Mrs Priti Pant 

and a Relative of Col Pant

From Left to Right - Mrs VK Rana (Kiran), Mrs AK Roy (Bela) and Mrs Vikram Tewatia (Boonga Antal, daughter of Late Brig JS Antal)

The Present Holders of the Fort and their Families

Self and Col Pant with the Present Rhinos and their Families

The same Group with the Commanding Officer and Gagandeep 

Singh son of Col RBS Anand

The Tribal Cultural Programme in the Evening

          The Tribal Cultural Programme of Various NE Tribes was Organised in the Evening, which is Unique to Assam Regt, As we have Troops from Assam and all the Tribes of NE.

The Area Representing the Recruiting Regions of Assam Regt

Another Unique Feature of the Regt is the Educateds  Families of the 

Jawans do the MC themselves

The Manipuri Tribal Dance

VISIT TO HUSSAINIWALA BORDER CROSSING AND BHAGAT SINGH MEMORIAL - I

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,
C/O COL GKS REDDY,hile on a visit

Secunderabad - 500 015.

VISIT TO HUSSAINIWALA BORDER CROSSING AND BHAGAT SINGH MEMORIAL

Introduction

          Visited Hussainiwala Border post and Bhagat Singh Memorial on 10 Feb 2016 along with all the Veterans of my parent Unit, who were in the Area for a Veterans Re-Union from 09 Feb 2016 to 11 Feb 2016.

Hussainiwala

          The village is named after the Muslim Peer Baba Hussainiwala ji (Saint Hussaini wala or Saint "who is of Husain"), whose tomb is in the Border Security Force headquarters at Hussainiwala

Hussainiwala Border Post

          The Hussainiwala border crossing is now closed for travelers, although a flag retreat ceremony is still held daily. Until 1970, it was the principal road crossing between India and Pakistan, and was a trade route for truckers, mostly for the import of Kandahari Angoor (dehydrated grapes) and other fruits and food products from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The border crossing was replaced by the border crossing at Wagah, a little further north. In 2005 there were proposals to reopen the border, but it has not yet frutified and the Border Post remains closed.

The Entry Gate at Hussainiwala Memorial

A BSF Sniffer Dog Guarding the Entry 

The Inner Gate to The Border Crossing Entry. Self with a Friend

The Pakistani Visitors Gallery at the Border Post

Another View of the Pakistani Visitors Gallery with The Border Gate in the Foreground

The Central Portion of the Pakistani Visitors Gallery

A Close up of the Pakistani Ranger and some of the Pakistani Visitors

The Indian Visitors Gallery

Another View of the Indian Visitors Gallery

A Closeup View of the Indian Visitors Gallery

Border Gates Open and the Soldiers on Both sides Ready for the Flag Down Ceremony

A View of the Indian and Pakistani Flags before the Flag Down Ceremony

 The Complete Flag Downing Guard on the Indian Side

Flag Downing Ceremony In Progress. Note that, the Indian 

Soldier is on the Pakistani Side and vice Versa

The Flags are down and Being Folded

Note - The Information about Hussainiwala has been extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.