When the Indian Government decided to reestablish its embassy at Kabul in Afghanistan, it faced a peculiar problem of an extremely poor communication infrastructure for rearward communication to Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) requested Signal Officer-in-Chief (SO-in-C), Corps of Signals to assist in planning, installing and operating communications network at Kabul Embassy.

It was agreed that a satellite link would be established between the Indian Embassy at Kabul and MEA in New Delhi. In addition, local network for voice and data connectivity at Kabul would also be required in order to provide connectivity for the local area network and its access to internet.

On the advice of Director General, Signals, the necessary hardware was purchased by MEA. A team of officers, JCOs and ORs from the Corps of Signals was selected and imparted an extensive training. The team divided the hardware into suitable packages and transported it to Kabul.

The Signals team reached Kabul in September last year and set up VSAT communication link between MEA in New Delhi and Indian Embassy, Kabul; a 24-line exchange for the trunk and local voice communication and a Local Area Network (LAN) at the Indian Embassy. This provided the much- needed voice, data and internet access to the Indian Embassy. It brought the isolated embassy on the world map communications.

In 1897, the 36th Battalion of Sikh Regiment (now 4 Sikh) was deployed at Saragarhi Post (Samana ridge) in the Hindu Kush mountains (now in Afghanistan) at the height of 6000 ft in the North West Frontier Province. On September 12, at 9 am, about 10,000 tribesmen (Afridis and Orakais) attacked Saragarhi Fort. There were only 21 Sikh soldiers under the command of Hav Ishar Singh. A fierce battle was fought which lasted for more than six hours. At 3 pm Signaller Sep Gurmukh Singh sent a message to headquarters that all his comrades were dead and he requested permission to fight alone. After getting the nod from the headquarters, he took up his rifle and shot 20 tribesmen before being burnt alive. The tribesmen later admitted that they had lost 200 men with another 250 wounded in the battle. They revealed how the defenders had held on the fort and how a wounded soldier shot four of them when they tried to force their way into the fort.

All 21 troops had been awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest gallantry award then given to Indian soldiers.

To commemorate the battle, an impressive obelisk was built at Fort Lockhart at Samana. On hearing such acts of valour, the British Parliament paid homage to the fallen soldiers. The Battle of Saragarhi has been included in the syllabus in schools of France. It also figures as one of the stories on bravery published by UNESCO.

Seventeen Parachute Field Regiment, one of the oldest decorated units of Indian Artillery, celebrated its 62nd raising day at Agartala. Recipient of two battle honours-Zojila and Poongli Bridge—the regiment this year was also honoured with Chief of the Army Staff Unit Citation for counter-insurgency operations in the North-East. Lt Gen KM Seth (Retd), Governor of Tripura who was the 15th Indian Commanding Officer of the unit was the guest of honour on the occasion. Speaking to the troops at a special sainik sammelan, the Governor complimented the unit for its valour and bravery.

The celebrations also included a badakhana in which officers and men participated.

-ML Arora

Indian Army has joined hands with Coca Cola India (CCI) to launch a scholarship programme for senior students in Army schools all over the country. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to this effect at the Army Headquarters. Brig Vikram Madan, Deputy Director General (welfare) signed the MoU on behalf of the Army and Mr Sunil Gupta signed on behalf of Coca-Cola.

Under the programme, each year 500 students from classes X, XI and XII will be given a Coca Cola scholarship of Rs 5,000 each towards their tuition fee, uniforms, books and other educational aids. The arrangement is initially meant for three years. The CCI will also bear the administrative cost to run the programme.

The Rehabilitation and Welfare Section, Ceremonial and Welfare Directorate in the Army Headquarters will select the deserving students for the scholarship on the basis of ‘means and merits’. The list of scholars will be drawn from amongst the children of officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks belonging to regular Army. Sixty per cent of scholarships will go to the children of soldiers and other ranks, 25 per cent to the wards of JCOs and the remaining 15 per cent to officers’ children.

The education standard in Army Schools is among the best in the country. There are 116 Army Schools spread across the country. The total number of students registered in these schools is close to 1.25 lakh. During the academic year 2001-02, nearly 75 per cent of the students secured 60 per cent and above.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sunil Gupta said that it was a great privilege to be associated with the Indian Army. The scholarship will come into effect from the academic year 2003-04.

The College of Combat of Army has been rechristened as Army War College with effect from Army Day, this year. In view of the need for an institution for training in all arms-integrated battle, the College of Combat was founded in 1971. It was the pioneer institution to promote the concept of joint warfare.

Over the years, the College has developed into an institution of international repute. The scope now extends to national strategy, operational art, leadership, logistics and information warfare. It has also pioneered training methodologies and application of IT in the curricula. The College has also been interacting with other armies of the world.

In the present environment, the name of the college was considered not appropriate enough to fully convey the large fields of its activities. Similar institutions in other countries have had ‘war’ incorporated in their names. The USA has two such institutions namely, US Army War College and US Naval War College. Therefore, the new name of the college would suggest jointmanship as the order of the day.

-PIB (DW)

Lt Gen GS Sihota, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command took over as Colonel Commandant of Army Aviation Corps from Gen NC Vij at a function held at Army Headquarters. He received Colonel’s Baton and Banner from the Army Chief.

Lt Gen GS Sihota is the first Army aviator to hold this coveted appointment. He is an accomplished aviator who has flown both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters in varied terrain. He was awarded Vayu Sena Medal and Vir Chakra in the 1971 operations. He is also the Senior Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery.

Present on the occasion were senior aviators like Lt Gen A Natarajan, Adjutant General, Lt Gen Narayan Chatterjee, DG (MP & PS) and Maj Gen Charanjit Singh, Additional Director General, Army Aviation at Army Headquarters.