The Indo – Pak war in 1965 was a seventeen day war over the cause of Kashmir, that brought about thousands of casualties in both India and Pakistan. This post brings back some childhood memories of life in Delhi, during this war, as the author experienced.
It was September 1965. We were living in New Delhi. My father had just switched on the radio to hear the 6pm news aired by All India Radio (AIR).
The announcement made in sombre tones was startling. Pakistan had launched a massive attack on India with tanks and heavy artillery. The Prime Minister (Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri) had said that Pakistan would be given a befitting reply by the Indian Army.
How would you react to such a news which was clearly a declaration of war? Well, my heartbeats quickened and I felt shocked.
I looked at my father who was listening to the radio in rapt attention. He seemed unperturbed. Seeing my expression he chided me saying, “these things happen.”
Later on we came to know that this retaliation was a culmination of many skirmishes that took place from April onwards. Everyone lauded the Prime Minister saying that it was a tall decision for a man of short stature.
I went to the balcony and saw many of our neighbours standing in small groups and talking. It was easy to guess the topic of discussion.
THE WAR SCENARIO
Instructions were given to the citizens of Delhi through the radio. We were asked to paste brown paper on the glass window panes. If a bomb shell shattered the pane, the glass pieces would be kept together by the paper.
Complete black outs were to be carried out i.e, no lights to be switched on, not even street lights. All windows and doors had to be covered at night with heavy curtains, cardboard or black chart paper. Even a glimmer of light escaping to the outside would give direction to enemy aircrafts.
During the following days manifold instructions were given through the radio. It was confirmation of the seriousness of the situation. Neighbourhood groups were formed and most men were given duties.
There was night patrolling by the residents themselves (turnwise). Everyone became watchful and alert. Even the huge cement water tank behind our NPL (National Physical Laboratory) quarters was guarded against enemy agents who could poison the water. If some light streamed out of your house, you were sternly warned.
The atmosphere was rife with a need for action and a sense of unity and patriotism.
The atmosphere was rife with a need for action and a sense of unity and patriotism.
Women’s groups assembled small kits with a comb, razor, toiletries etc for soldiers. Many more things happened.
Trenches ( long deep ditches) were dug into the ground not only in cantonment areas but also around housing colonies, schools, colleges, office buildings etc. When there was an air raid signal we were required to run and crouch in these trenches for protection. We were to get out only after the ‘all clear’ signal was sounded.
The ‘air raid signal’ was a siren with wavering sound – alternately rising and falling. It was sounded, when an air raid was imminent and lasted for about a minute. ‘All clear signal’ was a continuous siren for about 30 seconds, with no rise or fall.
THE ENVIRONMENT IN SCHOOL
Our school was agog with updates about the war. Each of us students was just rearing to out-beat the other with information and stories gathered. Each one felt excited and important at having to face this unique situation.
Much of the things we heard were new to our young minds. Yet we felt satisfied and happy when we behaved like information mines and ‘told it all’ to our friends. Some of us who had relatives or friends in the forces became very popular.
All of us were eager to contribute to the school fund for the country’s defenders and their families. Patriotic songs were sung with fervour at the school assembly.
Articles on feats of bravery were read out on the stage and everyone listened with interest and pride. Havaldar Abdul Hamid, the Keelor Brothers, Patton tanks, Gnats, Hunters, Khem Kharan became the talk of our school corridors.
We were thankful to our school principal for catering to our desire for timely updates. Mr. Bajaj (our Social Studies teacher) was given the duty of writing war news updates on a black-board just outside the school office.
During the break we children would crowd round it. We rejoiced at every victory won. The school bulletin boards also had charts and newspaper cuttings about the war. The war had made us avid readers of newspaper and listeners of the radio.
At home we were all fans of war skits (audio only) broadcast by Melville D Mellow (journalist and newsreader). They were interesting and thought provoking.
THE BRAVE WAR HEROES OF INDIA
Havaldar Abdul Hamid was the hero of heroes of the 1965 war. Every child knew the story of this brave son of India.
Realizing the grave situation around Khem Kharan, Abdul Hamid moved forward with a recoil-less gun mounted on to his jeep. His trick was to constantly change positions and keep his jeep camouflaged amidst the tall sugarcane plants.
As a Pakistani Patton tank came trundling down he waited till it came close and then fired at it. The tank went up in flames. He captured 4-5 tanks in this way. Some were deserted.
Finally when Abdul Hamid positioned himself to aim at his last target, the Pakistanis spotted him. There was crossfire and brave Abdul Hamid was fatally wounded. His sustained acts of bravery in face of constant enemy firing was lauded.
He became the posthumous recipient of the Republic of India’s highest military decoration – Param Vir Chakra. His damaged jeep is still displayed at Granadier’s Centre, Jabalpur.
Initially my friends and I had wrongly recounted Abdul Hamid’s strategy. Somebody in school (whose imagination ran high) had told us that he always daringly jumped in to the cupola of the enemy tank and attacked the soldiers and seized the ammunitions. I became aware of the real strategy much later.
THE INDESTRUCTIBLE PATTON TANKS
Everyone talked of Patton tanks during the 1965 war. What were they? They were an extra-ordinary class of tanks manufactured by USA and used by the Pakistani army.
USA claimed they were indestructible, but the Indian soldiers knocked out and captured many of those tanks through sheer grit and courage, and strategy too. Here is an example of strategy.
The Indian soldiers lured the Pakistani tanks to a field which they had watered well the previous night. The Pattons got stuck in the swamp created. Their weight made them sink partly. We all laughed heartily when we heard this.
The 1965 war is an event of the past, but the mighty Patton tanks are still remembered for their size and participation; so much so, that a huge and hefty person today is referred to as a Patton tank.
THE ROLE OF THE INDIAN AIR FORCE
I remember that there were large scale aerial combats between India and Pakistan. The Indian Army alone was not able to stop Pakistan’s advances. So IAF squadrons were sent to support the army.
Pakistan had the more modern F-86 Sabre aircrafts (from USA) whereas our pilots were on small beaver like planes called Gnats. Yet they succeeded in bringing down some Sabres.
Thus the Keelor Brothers and one or two more pilots became heroes and recipients of Vir Chakra. Their tales of dare-devilry filled our day with excitement and exultation. Students felt motivated to join the forces after finishing school education.
IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS
As the war raged on, complete black outs were imposed. At home my elder sister and I would study with a candle stuck to the floor, careful that the light didn’t leak out. It was difficult.
So all of us students requested the Principal (a British lady who had married an Indian and taken Indian citizenship) to postpone our terminal exams. She replied, “Britain had 100 years’ war, but everything went on as usual. Nothing stopped.”
So in spite of war, exams were conducted as usual.
One day at school we heard a loud thud outside our class room. Not knowing what had happened, all of us went under our desks for protection.
Our teacher looked very confused. The school gardener was the culprit. He had thrown down a huge hose pipe from the terrace. When we realized this, the whole class burst into laughter.
A LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Besides soldiers, young farmers in Punjab also showed their valour and patriotism. Many of them crawled through heavy enemy shelling to offer roti, subzi, buttermilk, kheer, etc to the soldiers. This was a touching expression of gratitude.
The war lasted for roughly a month. At the end of it, the whole nation felt indebted to the brave soldiers. Our lives were preserved because of their defence.
“Sleep peacefully at your home; Indian Army is guarding the front”, says a signboard of the Indian Army. Truly we slept peacefully while many in the forces faced innumerable difficulties.
A salute to all the war heroes of 1965 who engineered India’s triumph through their determination and grit. Their shining examples should inspire us all to selflessly do our best for the country – whatever our field.
The war had been a learning experience for me. I became aware of its intricacies and complications. War brings hardships, challenges, destruction, an elevated sense of patriotism and unity and it makes clear the reason why we should sing the National Anthem or unfurl the National Flag together.
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I am Rubitah, a former social worker turned content writer and blogger. Over the years through my profession and personal life, I have realized that love and prayers can do wonders to family life, once you come to terms with your own self and surrender to God. Do you relate to me? Then I’m sure you would like what I post here. Read more
