Epilogue feutenant Colonel VP Airy, the Commanding Officer of 8 Grenadiers in an area south and west of Chhamb was /alone in his tent on the evening of December 8, 1971, He wasn’ fully aware how vital the next few days were to be Dut right now he was ina reminiscent mood. Ie smiled to himselfas he recalled his days at the Indian Military Academy sixteen years ago and one of the incidents that came back to him was about an unusual camping experience as a third termer. All began well as they camped in the evening between the rivers Tons and the Yamuna, beside a dry nallah that acted as a causeway of sorts joining the road from the Academy. Soon they had thelr supper and retired for the night. At 10 rains started and by 1.80 i turned into a heavy downpour, the river waters rose and in the morning weater had entered some of the tents, The day's training exercise of patrolling had to be changed and « new one instituted in its place- tree climbing and ‘soon Gentlemen Cadets becameadept at i.? Next day i poured incessantly and the waters kept rising and the tents were removed voa safer place to avoid their being swept away. The third day too passed the same way and as the read connecting IMA was also inundated, supplies were cut offand they were effectively marooned, The whole camp was placed on halfrations of dal and rice, but spirit, however was not dampened and all were happy at this novel turn of events. On the sixth day a Dakota came andl dropped food packets. When these packets were opened it was a veritable feast of roast chicken, bread rolls and chocolates from Wengers the famous confectioners of those days in Connaught Place, New Det, Iwas only on the seventh day water levels receded enough for the ‘camp to return toa heroes welcome back atthe IMA. He was smiling away to himself when his second in command rushed in to announce that just a while ago Pakistani Air Force had launched air attacks in the Western sector and the war had begun. Pakistan decided to open up the western sector (odivert Indian troops from the east and prolong the war, Shakargarh bulge was a key strategic area for Indi as i comprisedt road links between Jammu and Indian Punjab. Therefore, securing the region was crucial for India as Pakistan had a military base nearby in Sialkot and could have easily launched a massive invasion of the Shakargarh region, cutting Jammu ‘and Kashmir from the rest of India. The Indian Army maintained a hase at Pathankot, couple of hundred miles away from Shakargarh and quickly mobilised forces to defend the region. In an attempt to gain advantage through the element of surprise, the Indian Army, though outnumbered, attacked Pakistani positions in Jarpal area, triggering the Battle of Basantar, Colonel Ary's task was to launch an offensive and establish a bridge head across the Basantar Ricer. After days of intense fighting towards the tail end of the battle, Pakistanis attacked the Indian stronghold near Shakargarh, This is best described in Lieutenant Colonel Airy's words who save with his own eyes in acitation he werote for Lieutenant Colonel Raja. “Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Akram Raja, Commanding Officer 35 Frontier Force Regiment oho led the counter attack on Indian Position of Village Jarpal ‘at 0500 hours on 17 December 1971, has died a real soldier's death, our hats off to him, He was personally leading the attack bby being inthe front line ofassault when he was hit by an MMG Burst from our position righton the face killing him on the spot. ‘We had recovered his body on 18 December 1971 after having been told by one of the prisoners of war captured by us. The prisoner also helped us in identifying the dead body. We found both his arms frozen after his death, in the position in which he was holding his sten gun, which indicates his determination to ‘get ahead. In this action Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Akram Raja displayed courage, determination and personal bravery ofthe highest order in keeping with the tradition of the soldiers. This herotc deed of Lieutenant Colonel Raja, a brave soldier should not go unnoticed. Praying for the departed soul.” Lieutenant Colonel Raja was awarded Hilal e Jurat, the second highest gallantry award of Hilal -e- ratPakistan, Lieutenant Colonel Airy was the reciplentof ‘Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award of India, Such an extraordinary thing has perhaps been never done before in the annals of modern warfare and is @ shining example that shows the great spiritual heights an Indian warrior, one trained in the Indian Military Academy can reach. Ved Prakash Airy went on to become a Lteutenant General and both his sons joined the Indian Military Academy and joined the Grenadiers. Naveen the elder jobned his father's regiment and went on to Command it while Praveen ‘commanded 9" Grenadters. Thirty five years later when 3° Grenadiers was on a UN Mission in Ethiopia, while celebrating Jarpal day, they had an unexpected Maha Vir Chakra quest from 35 Frontier Force which too was on the same mission. It was the Commanding Officer designate Major Yusuf Jamal the son of Lieutenant Colonel Akram Raja, He laid a wreath at the memorial and presenteda portraitofhis father and he was presented a portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Airy. ‘Five years before this, another incident equally strange, took place involving Brigadier ML Khetarpal father of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal that gallant young tank warrior who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously. Going ahead in years he had a wish, that isto visit his ancestral home in Sargodha, Pakistan, In February 2001, he was received at Lahore airport, by Brigadier Khaurja Mohammad Naser. who took it upon himself to be Khetarpal’s host and guide, Naser went out of his way to ensure that his quest had a satisfying and nostalgic visit to the home he grew up in Sargodha. Upon his return to Lahore once again Naser hosted him. Khetarpal was overwhelmed by the extreme kindness, deference, courtesy and respect showered upon him by Naser and his family. As the countdown for the departure approached, bonds of their friendship grew stronger. However Khetarpal sensed something amiss, which he could not quite figure out. Was it the long silences that punctuated their animated conversation or was it the look of compassion in the eyes of the women in the farnily? He would, however, always remember the hospitality, warmth and affection of this Pakistant soldier and his family Finally the night before departure, Naser said "Sir there is something that Iwanted to tell you for many years but F did rot know how to.get through to you, Finally fate has intervened and sent you to meas an honoured quest, The last few days swe have become close toone another and that has made my taskeven moredifficule. It is regarding your son who is ofcourse a national hero in India. However on that fateful day, your son and I were soldiers, unknown to one another, fighting for the respect and safety of our respective countries. I regret to tell you that your son died in my hands. Arun's courage was exemplary and he moved his tank with fearless courage and daring, totally unconcerned about his safety. Tank casualties were very high (il finally there were just two of us left facing one another. We both fired simultaneously. It was destined that I was to live and he was to die. It was only later that I got to know how young he was and who he was. Weare trained to fight and hill, however, we are humans too and sometimes war takes a personal turn and makes an impact on the inner se. had all along thought that I would ask your forgiveness, but in telling the story [realise that there is nothing to forgive. Instead I salute your son for what he did at such a young age and I salute you too, because I know how he grew into such a young man. In theendit is character and values that matter” ‘The one who had lost his young son thirty years ago remained silent. Coming face vo face with the person responsible for his son's death, and also to have enjoyed his hospitality isa disturbing feeling. However, he realised right away that his host's feelings were genuine for something that happened in the line of duty, Both gentlemen retired for the night in deep thought. A {feo days after ke reached Dethi he received photographs of his visit along with this note, “With Warmest regards and utmost ‘sincerity, To: Brigadier ML, Khetaypal, father of Shaheed Second Lieutenant Arun Khetaxpal, PVC, who stood like an insurmountable rock, between victory and failure, of the counter attack by the ‘SPEARHEADS' 18 LANCERS on December 16, 1971. Khawja Mohammad Naser, 13 Lancers, March2, 2001, Lahore, Pakistan’.