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So, the border skirmishes, which were blamed by each on the other, soon escalated into a full-fledged Indo-Pak War, Version 2, in September 1965, less than 5 months after I joined IIT KGP.
We didn't have 24/7 paid news TV networks then, nor did we have enough power to catch the squeaking BBC World News. So we depended on our own government-owned All India Radio which we knew was giving heavily doctored versions just like her Pak sister.
Everyday we heard that our losses were tiny compared to our enemy's and were suitably proud. Apparently our WW II rusted Gnats and Hunters were downing dozens of their latest US-gifted Sabre jets.
At IIT KGP we were lucky to hear a loud aerial bombing by our Pak brethren who aimed their 1000-pounders at the nearby Kalaikunda Air Base but succeeded in dumping their thuds in the no-man's land; but yet our Hunters and Gnats downed most of their bombers and fighters in dogfights. Similar stories must have appeared in the Pak Press. Both the twins were competing fiercely in the number game.
And they had the latest US Patton Tanks while all we had were leaky cemented ones that couldn't even hold water. Neither did we have long distance heat-seeking shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles. All we had were hand-to-tank bazookas.
And yet our brave soldiers hid themselves and ran after the Pak tanks and grounded them. Apparently, in one of the armored battles, ALL their Patton tanks were destroyed once and for all. The Blenheim was known as the graveyard of the Patton tanks:
- "And everybody praised the Duke
- Who this great fight did win."
- "But what good came of it at last?"
- Quoth little Peterkin.
- "Why, that I cannot tell," said he,
- "But 'twas a famous victory."
And our own Abdul Hamid (from UP) lost his life downing all of three Patton tanks single-handed and won a posthumous Param Vir Chakra (PVC, not to be confused with the later synthetic of the same acronym):
...On 10 September 1965 at 0800 hours, a battalion of Pakistani armour supported by Patton tanks attacked the 4th Grenadier positions but was unable to locate the battalion's defences. The attack preceded by intense artillery bombardment to soften the target and to garner a heavy fire in an attempt to draw Indian response. By 0900 hours, the enemy tanks had penetrated the forward company positions. In the melee, Hamid saw a group of Pattons heading towards his battalion defences. Seeing the gravity of the situation, he moved out to a flank with his gun mounted on a jeep. Intense enemy shelling and tank fire did not deter him. He fired continuously knocking out three Pattons one after another but was killed by tank fire from the fourth before he could engage it...
...wiki
For those skeptical of these valient stories, here is an intact Pakistan Patton Tank captured and transported and preserved in the Snajeevaiah Park in Hyderabad:
I saw it recently and seeing is, as they say, is believing.
And we were all thrilled at the evidence that Indian Muslims would die for the defense of India, if any such proof is required. I don't think Pakistani Hindus are as patriotic, simply because there are so few of them prepared to die, rather than be killed.
As it happened, India was then passing through a veritable drought and so our diminutive LBS came up with the delicious slogan:
"Jai Jawan Jai Kisan!"
...Posted by Ishani
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