Pied Piper of Batalik

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Pied Piper of Batalik

Shobita Asthana

Posted: Fri Sep 10 1999 IST

The memory of the Pied Piper haunts me. A young officer, full of life, dancing ahead of the children. The village children, wild with joy, running after him. The piper would suddenly stop, turn around and shower sweets. The children would catch them and then again sprint after the piper. The piper of Tamisgamn, as we would later call him.

After humoring the kids, he came to the platform and won the respect of the whole village with his humble words. On the mike, with the whole village in the backdrop, standing tall... that's how our camera caught him. Now that's the photograph my children hold next to their hearts as they narrate stories of Pandey Uncle, their Pied Piper who became the target of enemy bullets and is known to the country as the Batalik hero, Captain Manoj Pandey.

In the spring of March '99, that's when we met you, on our visit to Leh. In those fifteen days you won our hearts. Those evenings in the mess while we played pictionary, dumb charades and other games in the dim lights of the overworked generator, your presence of mind and sense of humour never failed to amuse us. In the afternoons children would wait for your return for a pre-lunch session of darts and table tennis. The picnics and outings arranged by you and other young unit officers are etched in our minds as the most memorable and happiest times in our lives.

The virgin land of Ladakh beginning to bloom in spring, the majestic Himalayas silently being cut through by the Indus and serene monasteries were a perfect picture. This heavenly abode was the best place for the infantry battalion to unwind after a tough and successful tenure at the glacier. At dinner time after a drink or two sometimes we would hear the tales of the glacier, tales which were frightening and hair-raising, tales of brave adventure, rough climate, tough terrain. Tales of hidden crevasses and steep climbs, of sickness and laughter. Tales which a husband would never tell his wife or a son his mother. Listening to all these, admiration and respect for each one of you was strengthened. Silently, we would thank the Almighty for his blessings.

Innocently we thought it was all over. We laughed and planned for the unit's move. Little did we know that there was a tougher test left for each of you and these happy moments would be short lived. In these few days we all had fun and good times not knowing that they would be the last few precious memories of you. Henceforth we'll cherish them along with tales of your bravery. Most vividly we remember the welfare mela you organised single handedly. I remember the discussion and planning that went into it, the minute details taken care of by you.

The entire village was somehow involved. Small children with games, the old and sick with the doctor, housewives busy shopping, schoolchildren performing their traditional dance; and for the hungry their were fancy eats. You had thought of them all. The mela was a great success.On our way back, one of us mentioned that it was the first of April the next day, so let's have alittle fun. Some how you became the target. A plot was hatched and at dinner time you received a signal to report immediately at Mhow for a mortar course. You were tired after a long day and for a few minutes totally confused as to how to manage it all. Suggestions were innumerable. We controlled our laughter and wished you luck.

The whole night you pretended to pack and prepare for your departure the next morning. The other young officers danced to bid you farewell. In the morning you loaded your empty bags, said your goodbyes and got into the vehicle. At the gate was a notice saying "April Fools day'' and you were told to get back. On your return, there was laughter and the biggest question was who made a fool of whom. Such were the feelings and joy we all shared.

But now in your martyrdom you have left us all behind. You have reached great heights and memories are all that we have of you. The brave Gurkha officer, we all salute you.

 

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