aapro Adi

Photo sourced from the internet

The central theme in my opinion, of the movie Ikkis, is respect for your adversary. The understanding that the person on the side opposite is doing exactly what you are doing — fighting for your unit, your country, your beliefs & most importantly for honour. Post movie, some rabbit holes appeared and I dove in. Read about the Poona Horse regiment and its first PVC recipient, Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir (Adi) Burzorji Tarapore — of the 17th battalion. A Mumbaikar. Wikipedia has an entry linking one of his ancestors to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Adi was killed in a battle at Butur-Dograndi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Not before his team knocked off 60 Pakistani tanks while losing 9. As per his wishes, he was cremated on the battlefield. The most fascinating part was an account that the Pakistanis as a mark of respect to his bravery stopped shelling as the cremation was taking place. Next day the nespaper Dawn named him and his brave batallion as Fakhr-E-Hind (Pride of India). That at the height of the war, anyone can stop to salute the bravery of someone on the side opposite is just phenomenal. Something to never forget.

In an interview his daughter described something which I hope to remember to my last breath. An inter regimental tournament, a ball at the officer’s mess. At around 10 pm her father got notice to move. Around 1 am is when the tanks started moving to the railway station. To be loaded on special flat bed wagons. this took till morning — Adi returned home around 6:30 am, bathed, said his prayers, had his lunch and left. She remembers standing at the station bidding them farewell. She says one by one all the officers lined up and saluted all the ladies as the train left. What a sight it must have been, proud soldiers going to fight, their hands raised in salute, their loved ones fading from sight as the train steamed out. And then the task of preparation, the steeling of resolve that is required in battle.

And the scene on the other side of the border; how different would it have been if at all. All soldiers leave loved ones behind in perennial worry for their return. Some make it back home, while some die and become one with the battlefield, amid a plaintive bugle and an awestruck enemy.

Whatever their fate, they stay forever in memories; their chivalry, humanity, professionalism, valour and honour told & retold. May we never tire of telling their stories. Aapro Adi.