Tales of Heroism
GALWAN
My ballad GALWAN pivots on events from June 2020. With just raw courage for self-defence, hand-to-hand combat at 14,000’ in a buffer zone without use of firearms embroiled ordinary soldiers patrolling borders in a barbaric face-off fight—more akin to a medieval age rather than contemporary times--with an enemy resorting to subterfuge. The extraordinary heroism ordinary human beings are capable of, putting their lives on the line for country and people through a proud tradition of professional discipline and duty, makes us endlessly indebted to them for a simple, yet profound reason: they gave their tomorrows for our today.
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0owtHQ8PI1Bsh3ERVQLPpH
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPgo-Mr9UIA
Apple Music:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/id1670617148
FOR SAURABH KALIA [July 25, 2021], traces the short and tragic life of Captain Saurabh Kalia of the 4 JAT Regiment, on patrol with Sepoys Arjun Ram Baswana, Bhanwar Lal Bagaria, Bhika Ram Moodh, Moola Ram Bidiasar and Naresh Singh Sinsinwar -- the first casualties in the Kargil War (May-July 1999) fought between India and Pakistan along the LoC (the Line of Control) in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Satire is reserved for the bureaucracy that gives up on the blatant flouting of the Geneva Conventions and does not pursue justice and redressal for grave war crimes perpetrated on Indian soldiers. In contrast, twenty-two years later, Saurabh’s still grieving father’s unflagging efforts for justice for his son speak for themselves.
Music in this video:
Track Artist, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar: Vanita Singh
Composer: Vanita Singh
Arranger: Vanita Singh
Lyricist: Vanita Singh
Producer: Vanita Singh
Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDIIUNCdn7g
ENCOUNTERS AT POONCH [October 30, 2021], is a satiric ballad that infers peace seems elusive when wars of attrition are prolonged by continuing cross-border terrorism. Ambushes, fierce fire fights with heavily armed terrorists sneaking into the densely forested mountainous areas across the Line of Control (LoC), and disrupted communication lines, are the daily lot of counter-insurgency soldiers.
In democracies it is the ballot not the bullet that is the deciding factor. Love for one’s country in the daily line of duty constantly tests the true grit and metal of the frontline Indian army soldier. The casualties--many of them extremely young--and grieving families elicit our empathy as civilians. The assumption that it is alright for army personnel to die in the line of duty because “that’s their job” is smug and callous towards the plight of the soldiers. Greater awareness and involvement in contributing to the welfare of the armed forces and the bereaved families would go a long way to mitigate so many individual tragedies.
Music in this video:
Track Artist, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar: Vanita Singh
Composer: Vanita Singh
Arranger: Vanita Singh
Lyricist: Vanita Singh
Producer: Vanita Singh
Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suEjQUwrAz0
FOLLOW ME!: [August 7, 2022] The ballad tries to convey to the audience what leadership in war is all about.
“The privilege of leading men in battle is given to very few. This is an awesome responsibility as the officers, as well as the men he leads, know that many of them may not return alive. This responsibility often falls on young shoulders, but the young officer who has been mentally conditioned to do his duty without counting the cost, does so unflinchingly.
When we go into attack, the Indian Army officer does not say “You go ahead, I’m coming.” He says instead, “Follow Me!” and Indian soldier, the best in the world, follows his leader unhesitatingly, because he is aware that his officer is right in front facing the maximum risk, and the heaviest brunt of enemy fire.
It is because of this, that the percentage of officer casualties in the Indian Army is very high. During the 1971 war, my battalion, the 4th Battalion the 5th Gorkha Rifles (FF), entered the war with 18 officers and after a war that lasted just 13 days, 4 were killed and 7 were wounded - many disabled for life. Only 7 survived unscathed or with minor wounds.
The Indian Army officer sets the right example by leading from the front. When he becomes a casualty, the Junior Commissioned Officer and the Non- Commissioned Officer take charge and complete the mission. This has happened time and again, in all the wars that we have fought, before and after independence.
Leadership therefore is critically important and there can be no higher standard of leadership than that set by Indian Army officers in war. The stakes are very high because there are no ‘runners up’ in war – the outcome is either victory or defeat. The Officer understands how well his men fight depends how well he leads them. He is therefore prepared to pay the price - whatever the cost!”
---Major-General Ian Cardozo, AVSM, SM
The general public in India remains largely unaware of the extraordinary heroism, indomitable courage, and unstinting sacrifices of our soldiers in defending the country’s honour and its long borders. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to these men—both the dead and the living, and to their families, for selflessly serving India above all else: Major Somnath Sharma (31 January 1923 – 3 November 1947), 4 Kumaon; Naik Jadunath Singh (21 November 1916 –6 February 1948), 1 Rajput (4 Guards); Major Rama Raghoba Rane (26 June 1918 – 11 July 1994), Bombay Sappers; CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat (20 May 1918 – 18 July 1948), 6 Raj Rif; Subedar and Honorary Captain Karam Singh (15 September 1915 – 20 January 1993), 1 Sikh; Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria (29 November 1935 – 5 December 1961), 3/1 Gorkha Rifles; Lieutenant Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa (10 April 1928 – 6 September 2005), 1/ Gorkha Rifles; Subedar Joginder Singh Sahnan (26 September 1921 – 23 October 1962), 1 Sikh; Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (1 December 1924 – 18 November 1962), 13 Kumaon; CQH Abdul Hamid (1 July 1933 – 10 September 1965), 4 Grenadiers; Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore (19 August 1923 – 16 September 1965), 17 Poona Horse; Brigadier Desmond Hayde (28 November 1926-25 September 2013), 3 Jat; Lance Naik Albert Ekka (27 December 1942 – 3 December 1971), 14 Guards; Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (17 July 1945 – 14 December 1971), No. 18 Squadron; Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya (5 May 1930 – 6 December 1998), The Grenadiers; Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (14 October 1950 – 16 December 1971), 17 Poona Horse; Captain Bana Singh (born 6 January 1949-), 8th Battalion, JKLI; Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey (25 June 1975 – 3 July 1999), 1/11 Gorkha Rifles; Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav (18 May 1980-) 18th Grenadiers; Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar (3 March 1976) 13 JAK RIF; Captain Vikram Batra (9 September 1974 – 7 July 1999),13 JAK RIF.
The images in this video are taken mainly from the new National War Memorial in New Delhi, and thanks to Krishna Chaitanya Velaga for the photographs of the statues of the heroes who were awarded the Param Vir Chakra, which is India's highest wartime gallantry award.
Music in this video
Track Artist, Vocals, Keyboard, & Acoustic Guitar: Vanita Singh
Composer: Vanita Singh
Arranger: Vanita Singh
Producer: Vanita Singh
Inspired by the poem “Follow Me!” by Ian Cardozo
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHg9JPFBKqw