By Matters India Reporter
Siliguri, Dec 19, 2021: A group of students of a Salesian college in West Bengal has organized a felicitation program for war veterans to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s birth after a 13-day India-Pakistan war.
“The National Service Scheme Unit II members of Salesian College Siliguri mooted the idea of paying homage to war veterans and mark the Vijay Diwas,” said NSS Program Officer at Salesian College Siliguri Pinak Dey, assistant professor of education.
Leading six veterans and a war widow at the December 18 function was 86-year old Captain S.B Chhetri of the Gorkha Rifles who were part of the decisive battle of Bogra to capture Dhaka, then capital of East Pakistan.
Other eminent veterans present were Hawaldar Duryodhan Tamang (Army Corps of Engineers); Caption Hemant Subba; Subedar Bijai Kumar Subba Sena Medal; Havildar M Gautam Tamang; Subedar Tilak Ram Chhetri, and war widow Ishadevi Thapa representing late Sub S B Thapa.
Three of these veterans present were of the valorous 5/11 Gorkha Rifles regiment.
The 5/11 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army that was re-raised after Independence of India. The regiment consists of primarily the Kirant Tribes Rai, Limbu, Yakkha, Sunuwar of eastern Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Dooars of West Bengal, Sikkim and other parts of Northeast India.
During the India-Pakistani War of 1971, the 5th battalion was in action to fight against West Pakistan in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), fetching the unit battle honor Bogra and theater honor East Pakistan.
Also present at the event were members of Assam Rifles 101 regiment instrumental in the entry through Dowki.
Vijay Diwas is observed on December 16 to honor the martyrs who lost their lives in the India-Pakistan war of 1971.
The veterans were offered a plaque of appreciation that read: “With our greatest appreciation, Salesian College Siliguri, NSS Unit 2, presents this memento to Salbari Purva Sainik Ardha Sainik Kalyan Samiti in recognition of their timeless service to the country on the occasion of Vijay Diwas commemorating the 50th year of India’s glorious victory in the Indo Pak War of 1971.”
President of the veteran’s club Captain Hemant Subba regaled the audience with war day anecdotes and recalled Indo-Pak War legend Field Marshal Sam “Bahadur” Manekshaw and his appreciation of the velour of the Gorkhas.
Manekshaw is credited with saying, “If a man says he is not afraid of death, he is either lying, or a Gorkha.”