Honouring The IPKF Srilanka…. It Had Fought for India
For the attention of all Veterans who were part of IPKF, and residing or present at Delhi/ NCR
We the veterans of the IPKF campaign in Sri Lanka between July 1987 and April 1990 are holding a commemoration wreath laying ceremony at the National War Memorial, India Gate, New Delhi on 29 July 2021, the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Indo- Sri Lanka Accord between the govt leaders of both countries.
Like Col Channan explains in his well crafted article below, this was not some private war the Indian Armed Forces fought on a whim of General Sunderji or General Kalkat. It was the then Government of India that had ordered the Armed Forces to enter Sri Lanka and enforce the “peace” between the terrorist group of the LTTE and the govt of Sri Lanka.
Obeying the order in true Indian Armed Forces ethos, over 1300 men, mostly young officers, JCOs and OR sacrificed their lives in the best traditions of our Armed Forces. More than 3000 all ranks suffered injuries, some maimed for life, others medically boarded out with meager financial compensation for what may be to lead a life of destitution, squalor, dishonour and an untimely death. This sacrifice was for Mother India and to ensure that our neighbourhood remains peaceful and free from interference from any external power. It demonstrated THE WILL of India that we will not hesitate to defend our interest.
However our own domestic politics interfered.
The nation remembers its martyrs from other campaigns like the 1948, 1965, 1971 & 1999 wars. Why not those who gave their all during Op Pawan in Sri Lanka? We intend to change that come 29th July.
The wreath laying will begin with General AS Kalkat, then Overall Force Commander of the Indian Forces in Sri Lanka, now retired and living in the NCR. He will be followed by other veterans of Op Pawan both from within the NCR and outside.
I request all my friends here to publicise this in their groups and request those with friends/ relatives in the media to give maximum coverage. Further details could be had from ADGPI, MOD, GOI, New Delhi either by calling them or by accessing their official web site. The Sikh TA Batallion at India Gate would be coordinating all arrangements at the NWM.
Lt Col Manoj K Channan, Veteran brings out the contrast of the mind-set of us Indians, comparing OPERATION PAWAN with KARGIL :
How rightly did Time, the American magazine, write at that time, post-Sino- India conflict of 1962, “The Indian Army needs almost everything except courage.”
The COAS General VP Malik in 1999 made a statement, *”We will fight with what We have!”*.
Over decades the situation remains the same and the raw courage and valour of young officers and men have proven time and again that the Indian Army has never been short of “courage”. In the recent past, it was again demonstrated by Late Col Suresh Babu, MVC and his gallant men as they clashed with the PLA at Galwan on 15th June 2020.
Kargil was the first operation that was covered “live”; much to the chagrin of the troops being launched into operations.
Social Media / NGOs like “Lest We Forget” carry out a stupendous job of remembering each day the sacrifice of our gallant men each year and keeping the public memory alive.
The young officers just commissioned, many doing their mandatory infantry attachments; though commissioned in the “Services”; adequately demonstrated the fact that the leadership in the Indian Army was unmatched and the kill ratio of the officers is well recorded as statistical data.
The quotes of these officers, before going into assault have become famous quotes, a legacy that will keep their memories alive. The most famous of them by Late Capt Vikram Batra, PVC on being asked on a TV channel what were his feelings and he responded _“Yeh Dil Maange More”;_ a tag line of an advertisement; displaying his courage of conviction to kill and evict the intruders at the oxygen-deprived heights.
Are days of commemoration only to remember the bravado of those Killed in Action?
As responsible citizens, it is also time for us to ensure that our troops are better equipped and have the where with all for carrying out operations.
This is a long wish list to include Intelligence, Surveillance, Target-acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR). ISTAR is the process of integrating the intelligence process with surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance tasks in order to improve a commander’s situational awareness and consequently their decision making.
Future conflicts are going to be conducted over many domains which will be non-contact initially and kinetic to mop up the enemy. This will encompass Cyber and Economic domains that impact the war waging capacity of nations.
It is also a time to reflect the biased mind of our citizens in general and politicians in particular who tend to remember what was fought on the land borders of the country. Kargil Diwas is celebrated on the 26th of July each year; however, in 1987 Indo Sri Lanka Peace Accord was signed on the 29th of July; thus launching the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) into Sri Lanka to bring about peace and tranquillity on the island nation.
Due to political reasons the mission of IPKF was changed overnight leading to a violent conflict which led to 1200 Killed in Action and more than 3000 gravely wounded/amputations for life. In 1948 operations – 1,104 killed; 1962 war – 1,383 killed; 1965 war – 2,862 killed; 1971 war – 3900 killed and 1999 war – 527 killed.
Operation Pawan wasn’t a private war of the Indian Armed Forces, it was at the direction of the Government of India that it carried out its operations, with one hand tied behind its back, as always.
The Government of India both in 1987 and 1999 had imposed restrictions on the use of all its resources to eliminate the Enemy. During Kargil, the restriction was imposed that the Line of Control will not be transgressed to evict the Enemy, notwithstanding the fact that we lost two fighter aircraft and one helicopter. This is something to reflect upon as we remember and honour our Braveheart’s for their supreme sacrifice in the service of the Nation.
