Meeting with Captain JD of the Indian Army

Least likely of the places to meet an army officer, the sangeet ceremony of one of my college buddies, I bumped into Captain JD of the Indian Army. Calm, quiet, composed, confident, and of course, strongly built - that's how I would describe this young officer. Barely into his mid-twenties, this guy heard the calling, left a plum job at TCS, and went on to join the services. Presently posted at Baramulla, Pakistani posts in PoK are barely 100mtrs from his post. He is in the line of fire more often than not; he tames the Pakistani generals' aggression more often than not; he restrains from replying to sporadic gun fires and shelling from Pak side more often than not [not because Indian army is not capable of doing do, but because we still honor the ceasefire].

I found an instant connect with him, and the conversation soon got intense. I was very curious why and how he joined the army, what trainings he received, what are his job duties, what about his family, and a whole lot of things. [Well yea I was there for the ceremony, but as far as I was concerned, it had already taken the back seat by now].

He told me that 2 years into the job at TCS, he wasn't very happy with the idea of a sedentary job. He wanted an active lifestyle, like that of his cousin, who was in already the army. So he applied; gave a grueling 5 day examination - Day 1: psychology test, Day 2: medical test, Day 3-5: tests on various personality traits. The result - a software engineer got selected for Indian Army, and was sent to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun for a yearlong training [that included physical training, training on military tactics, arms and ammunition, table etiquette and very unlikely but yes...cooking]. The training was anything but a cake walk. Cross country [14 km] jog when you are in fever, non-stop 100mtr crawls when you fail to throw the hand grenade at the precise instant, a long run when you feel a niggle in your knee, and many more mind-over-body techniques to transform these callow young men into fine Indian Army Officers.

However, like any other field, training can only prepare you that much. Even the finest of the officers feel the butterflies on their first reconnaissance mission. The pitch black sky, the terrorists in ambush, the fear of bullets piercing the bullet proof jackets, and worst of all, the fear of your automatic weapon malfunctioning, it all makes that first patrol last much longer than your watch suggests. But soon it becomes the routine you learn to live with, and even sooner these successful missions become stories you would share with your mates at the base. Kudos to the spirit!!

These recon missions are only a part of the duties these brave soldiers perform. Back when J&K was burning with the Amarnath Shirne Board issue, these soldiers brought the situation under control yet again. They guarded the innocent and brought the perpetrators to justice. On questioning one such perpetrator "why are you doing this?” the reply got was saddening. The reply was "sahab mujhe iske liye Rs 50/-mile hain, aur yeh karne se mujhe jannat naseeb hogi". [I’ve been given Rs 50/- for it, and I will get a place in heaven for doing this]. Another terrorist they caught at some other place said "Mujhe biryani bahut pasand hai, and khuda ke ghar mujhe bahut acchi biryani milegi isliye mein yeh sab kar raha hu". [I like Biryani, and if I do this, I will be served with delectable Biryani in heaven].

It’s not only such motivated [read brainwashed] terrorists that these brave men have to fight, at altitudes over 8000feet there is something more they have to put up against; there is: HACE [High-altitude cerebral edema], a high altitude sickness that affects the brain - men suffer memory losses, they give up food, they believe they suffer from diseases [which medical examinations later prove don’t exist]. Certainly not the coziest of the places to be.

As we were conversing, we realized it was late and was about time to leave. [The engagement and sangeet function got over in the meantime]. But even as this conversation ended, I was glad because I will meet the captain again on the wedding the following day. However, that couldn’t happen as he had to visit MHOW [Military Headquarters of War]. Still a conversation I can never forget, a person I can never forget. Lot to learn, think, and act upon.

I could possibly have only brushed the surface, and known him and his life superficially, but one thing that will keep reverberating in my mind for long – IS HUMAN LIFE WORTH ONLY A BIRYANI?