#binnaguri

  Advance party left Joshimath in the first week of Sep to take charge at Binnaguri once again (surprisingly after our short tenure earlier). It was clarified that this repeat tenure was planned to give the Regiment the opportunity to complete it’s Peace tenure, especially after the participation in 1971 War followed by intense tenure of two years in high altitude area. The Main Body left by Special Train from Raiwala and reached Binnaguri after a long journey of ten days. We celebrated the Gunner's Day on 28 Sep 1974, when we were also accorded the formal welcome by other units of the Artillery Brigade. In the interim period some Jawans availed their annual leave which had to be completed by the end of the year.

  Our Regiment was fortunately allotted newly constructed accommodation for the Unit complex as well as family quarters for the officers and the Jawans. This enabled settling down quickly and allowed the families to be brought to the Cantonment. New facilities that had been created in the last two years included Shopping Complex, Army School & an Open Air Cinema Hall. The overall impression was that of a self contained township. 

  Thereafter, we began conversion training onto yet another weapon system --- the 105mm Indian Field Gun, which had been produced indigenously. This training was imparted by a team of Instructors in Gunnery and was to culminate in conversion firing in Buxaduar Ranges. We were surprised in the midst of conversion training, by the arrival of our new CO ---- Lt Col T N Konar who took over command on 28 Oct 1974. He had a reputation of being a hard task master, which he proved by his very presence during the training. The conversion firing was completed with gusto & our TIGER complimented us with the traditional message on the radio network ---” Good Shooting” !!! 

  We returned from the Ranges one week before the Diwali festival. It coincided with Children’s Day and was celebrated in a typical Fauji manner, at a central location in the Cantonment. There was a Fauji Mela having various stalls for handicrafts & regional cuisine. In the evening, there were cultural performances by Jawans, wearing their traditional attire. I was impressed, observing the enthusiasm and josh  displayed by the Jawans, in true spirit of unity in diversity. The celebrations ended with a magnificent fireworks display. It was my first experience of yet another method of bonding , by adopting various measures for welfare of the jawans & the families, specially in a peace station. Goal oriented training during the year also contributed immensely towards strengthening the team spirit  while simultaneously improving the standards of professional competence of all the Units. It proved the adage ... ‘The more you sweat in Peace , the less you bleed in War.’ 

    Several sports competitions were planned in Dec & Jan at the Brigade level .Our CO insisted that at least one officer & two JCOs must be a part of the Regiment team for each competition. I volunteered for participation in Cross Country & Hockey competitions. It was a challenge for me to prove my capabilities as a part of the Cross Country team of top 20 JATs. We commenced Cross Country practice precisely at sunrise daily, while Hockey team practised in the evenings. This continued for almost a month. Finally, we won the Cross Country trophy with a big margin & were the Runners up in Hockey..... a big impact soon on reaching Binnaguri. It was followed by another resounding victory by our Kabaddi & Wrestling teams,both these sports being their expertise.

  In the first week of March, I received the unexpected news about my selection for attending the very first Advance Gunnery Course at Deolali. I left after a preparatory capsule as designed by the CO personally. It was indeed nostalgic to be back again in Deolali (Home of the Gunners)!! It was going to prove as the next step to enhance my knowledge about all types of Guns, Mortars and Rocket systems. It was definitely difficult to understand all these aspects in a short span of two months. However, all of us studied round the clock and qualified successfully. I was fortunate to top the course while securing ‘Alpha’ grading. Thereafter, I availed one month of leave at Aurangabad and returned to the Regiment beaming with a sense of pride. Our CO complimented my performance in front of the entire Regiment during the monthly Sainik Sammelan.

  Thereafter, I was appointed as the Adjutant and looked forward to shouldering additional responsibilities. The very first responsibility was the Raising Day Celebrations which was organised centrally, after a long break due to our previous deployment in high altitude area. My CO also advised me to devote at least one hour daily for preparing for my next goal of selection for Long Gunnery Staff Course. The peace tenure in Binnaguri gave us an opportunity to apply ourselves towards learning about  Unit administration. As Junior Officers, we were assigned various tasks by rotation e.g. Canteen Officer, Mess Secretary, Office Documentation, Stock Taking Boards, all types of Inspections etc. We also learnt the protocols of social interaction within the Unit and with other Units in the Cantonment. As bachelors, we were privileged to be invited for dinners by officers having families in the station. We too reciprocated by hosting a fabulous brunch on Sundays. 

      Meanwhile, I had booked a Bajaj scooter to be purchased through CSD ( Canteen Stores Dept.). The waiting period was two months and the scooter had to be collected from CSD Depot located at Gauhati. I went along with my Buddy, by train to Gauhati and returned with my new acquisition, after booking the scooter by the Passenger train. This scooter occupied its place of pride in the Officers Mess. My scooter was used more by other officers than me, since I preferred to walk down to the Unit. I found time during this trip to visit the famous Kamakhya Temple.

  In Sep, we attended Collective Training with Infantry Battalions. I got a chance to be the OP Officer with the Sikh Battalion. During the exercise, I observed the ability of Sikh soldiers to come up with innovative solutions, when faced with any challenge. They always adopted the ‘हो  जाएगा ’  approach. Their peculiar war cry- बोले सोनी हाल, सत स्री अकाल was always a source of motivation under all circumstances. In Oct, we proceeded to Buxaduar Ranges for the Annual Practice Camp. Our performance was adjudged as ‘Outstanding’ by the team of Instructors in Gunnery detailed by School Of Artillery, Deolali. After the Camp, we visited Jaldapara National Park in small groups. This visit to a wildlife sanctuary was very exciting due to the presence of One- horned Rhino

  In the first week of Dec, our CO received his posting order, which was a surprise since he had just completed one year at the helm of affairs. All officers & their families decided to give the first family, a surprise farewell by organising a trip to Darjeeling. All bachelors took the responsibility for planning this trip at a short notice. Our entire’ Team 98′ led by the CO travelled together in a tourist bus upto Siliguri. Thereafter, we undertook  the journey by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (popularly called the Toy Train) which was very captivating. In the evening, we organised a special farewell party in the Army Holiday Home, located at an altitude of 2000 meters.              

  Next morning, we got up at 3 AM and immediately left for Tiger Hill, which was at an altitude of 2500 meters. There was an air of excitement and expectation, while all the visitors waited eagerly for the view of the majestic Kanchenjunga. Just before the sunrise, we observed the transformation of the colours on the horizon of the Himalayan Ranges which was soon followed by the sunrise itself, when Kanchenjunga glittered in all its glory. It was truly a miraculous, sight still etched in my memory. We then began our return journey to Binnaguri, reflecting on the incredible spectacle of nature which we had just witnessed and hoped to get a chance to visit again. 

  On return to Binnaguri, we organised the central farewell Bara Khana in honour of our distinguished CO. On 23 Dec 1975 , we bid him an adieu from the Officers Mess to the tune of ‘Auld Lang Syne’. His successor, Lt Col I Lokendar arrived on posting after two months  and assumed command on 23 Feb 1976. Meanwhile, we had certain other changes as well, with posting- in / posting- out of a few officers. However, the  Jat Balwans continued to perform in a commendable manner, not only in sports competitions but also in technical competitions. It was noteworthy that the Regiment secured third position out of 15 teams, in  the Inter- Battalion Athletics Competition at the divisional level.