Author: Francois Gautier
Publication:
Date:
Bana Singh was born on 6 January 1949 and
now lives in R.S.Pura near Jammu. He joined Indian Army's Jammu & Kashmir
Light Infantry (JAK LI) on 6 January 1969 After training at the High Altitude
Training School along with his battalion at Gulmarg, he was posted in Siachen
in April 1987. Pakistan had already occupied a vantage point called Quaid
Post named after Mohammad Ali Jinnah. This is the most important and highest
post in the area. From the top of this post the entire Saltoro range is visible,
including other posts like the Amar and Sonam which get food and other materials
by Indian helicopters. On April 18, 1987, the Pakistan army at Quaid post
began firing at the Indian troops. A Junior commissioned Officer and five
soldiers were killed at Sonam. It became necessary to gain control over the
post for the safety of the men and supporting helicopters. It was therefore
decided to recapture Quaid Post.
On 26th June 1987, Bana Singh got the green
light to lead his platoon up the 90° slope with iced walls, after two
previous attempts failed with heavy casualties. This is how he remembers it:
"Though it was day time, because of the heavy snowing we could not say
if it was day or night. The Pakistanis must have been knowing that something
was going on because our troops were firing at them from the base camp (to
divert their attention). When we reached the top, there was a single bunker.
We had been trained for such a fight. I threw a grenade inside and closed
the door. At the end, a total of six Pakistanis were killed. We brought back
their bodies which were later handed over to the Pakistanis authorities during
a flag meeting in Kargil. Some must have escaped towards the Pakistani side,
perhaps over the cliff. I think that I have bayoneted three or four persons,
I don't remember now."
For this act of valor Bana Singh was awarded
Param Vir Chakra.and was presented the Param Vir Chakra on January 26 1988.The
Quaid Post was renamed as Bana Post after its liberation by Bana Singh. Today
some twenty years after liberating Quiad Post and earning a PVC, Bana Singh
is sad man, because of the indifferent attitude of the J&K government
who pays him paltry Rs 166 per month whereas neighboring state of Panjab,
HP and Haryana pay much higher amounts to PVC winners. (in Punjab a PVC winner
gets Rs 12,500 every month, in Haryana it is Rs 10,400 and in Himachal Pradesh
it is Rs 10,000).
How can a nation retain its independence if
it does not reward its defenders suitably? Does it behove a great country
like India to treat one of its greatest present day heroes, one of the three
living PVC recipients, so shabbily? This is why we have decided to bestow
our first Shivaji-FACT award of Courage to Captain Bana Singh and are trying
to raise money to hand him over as well a substantial prize money.
The Shivaji-FACT award of Courage, which will
be handed over by HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on 12th March 2008 in Mumbai on
the occasion of the opening of the Shivaji exhibition (see below), "
A Hero for Modern India".
SHIVAJI EXHIBITION
Venue P.L. Deshpande, Maharashtra Kala Academy, Prabhadevi, Mumbai
Date 12th March 2008.
Time: 4.30 pm.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
4.30 pm - Arrival of Chief Guests His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Chief
Minister Gujarat Shri Narendra Modiji, Shri Uddhav Thackerayji, Shri Gopinath
Mundeji
4.40pm - His Holiness chants a mantra at the venue
4.45pm - His Holiness and Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modiji, Shri Uddhav
Thackerayji and Shri Gopinath Mundeji light the lamp in turns to inaugurate
the exhibition
4.45 to 5.00pm - the Chief guests view the exhibition.
5.00pm - Chief guests proceed to auditorium
5.05pm - Vande Mataram
5.10pm - Francois Gautier gives the welcome address
5.15pm- Film 'Heros of Kargil' to be screened
5.20 pm- All the Chief guests are requested to sit on the stage.
5.25pm- Shri Gopinath Munde will address the audience.
5.35pm - Shri Uddhav Thackerayji will address the audience
5.55pm- Hon Chief Minister Gujarat Shri Narendra Modiji will address the audience.
Topic " Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj- a Hero for Modern India"
6.10pm - His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji will address the audience Session
will end with a guided meditation by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji
