Chaman Lal Sharma
This is a untold story of Shaheed Ravindera Dass Ji, hero of the nation who played a vital and crucial role in the 1965 Indo Pak War at Amritsar sector as a brave soldier of Indian Army.
Nitin A Gokhale in his book namely- “1965 Yudh – Bharat Ki Vijay – Ek Naya Daur” has mentioned that at Amritsar sector during “Operation Riddle” on 06 September 1965, Lieutenant General J S Dhillon, GOC 11 Corps and General Harbaksh Singh, VrC, GOC-in-C reached to Attari and monitored the actual position and updated status of the war in presence of Major General Prasad. Duo asked the Major General Prasad to attack and occupy Ichhogil Canal Bridge. Headquarter 38 Infantry Brigade assigned the task to 6 KUMAON Battalion, as a part of Headquarter 96 Infantry Brigade.13 Punjab, 15 Dogra, 54 Infantry Brigade, 50th Parachute Brigade under 7 Infantry Division, 48 Infantry Brigade under the leadership of Brig KJS Sawhney, 17 Rajput under the command of Lieutenant Colonel A S Gill attacked and occupied the border post of Pakistan. 6 / 8 Gorkha Rifles under the command of Lieutenant Colonel G A Nagale attacked and occupied large area of Pakistan. 16 Punjab- under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J S Bhullar Central India Hors (CIH) with Sharman Tanks, 4 Sikh, 4 Grenadiers, 1 / 9 Gorkha Rifles, 3 Cavalry, 9 Deccan Horse, 4 Mountain Division also participated in war that lasted for 22 days.Early in the morning 54 Infantry Brigade as a part of 15 infantry Division commanded by Major General Niranjan Prasad, 1 JAT at 3 JAT units as a part of Headquarter 54 Infantry Brigade under the command of Brigadier MS Rikhand crossed the International border and attacked Pakistani Army upto 14 miles within two hours. Colonel D Head, CO 3 JAT was bravely leading the battle. His unique leadership quality and brave act during war will be remembered for ever. Indian Army killed Pakistani soldiers and many war soldiers were arrested during the period. Tanks of 14 Horse troops were accompanying them. Within 8 hours of crossing International border Indian army crossed the most fenced Ichhogil Canal and occupied the Pakistan territory, they were very near to attack and occupy Lahore.
A Battalion of 15 Dogra also crossed International Border and damaged the post of rangers, they attacked Pakistani camps deputed for the security of Doab Canal Bridge and undertook the custody of the bridge. They arrested one officer and 20 Pakistani war soldiers. During the conflict and tough fight hero of the nation Nk Ravindera Dass was giving a befitting reply to the army of enemy but matrtyrdom , got martyred alongwith an officer and 13 brave soldiers of the nation through Pakistani Air attacks.
On hearing the news through telegram after eight days of martyrdom, all the family members and relatives were stunned and were in shock. His wife became unconscious for hours. Dead body of the Shaheed was not sent / received at home as such later on Smt Shushila Kumari along with two brothers, one sister of her husband and two minor children went to Amritsar to collect ashes for immersion in Shree holy Ganga Ji at Haridwar.
When the news circulated in local area, many people/relatives from society visited their home town and paid homage and condoled the Shaheed’ family. It is pertinent to write here that though special mention and due recognition was given by the elite society to the martyr but noted that society gathered, cooperated and reacted generally with sympathy to mark supreme sacrifice for the nation.
During my interaction with Veer Nari Smt Shushila Kumari, she revealed a strange and true story that her husband was very gentle, polite, handsome, helpful, cooperative, truthful, kind hearted with a pleasant personality. She recalled the days when her father in law told that her husband Ravindera asked his mother- “Maa Ji, what is Shaheed”, to which mother replied “Beta, who gives his / her supreme sacrifice for the sake of nation becomes Shaheed”. To which he responded to his mother by saying” he too would like to become a Shaheed”. After which his mother was mum. And Ravindera kept his words during Indo Pak War. Shaheed Ravindera Dass was born in the year 1934 at Village- Pyaan-Gorah, Tehsil-Palandri, District-Poonch. He was able to read / write / speak Poonchi, Pahari, Dogri, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English. He married to Smt Shushila Kumari born on 01 July 1942 daughter of Sh Ganga Ram and Ganeshi Devi of Nadgola Palandri Poonch in the year 1958.
The brave soldier and son of the soil Shaheed Nk Ravindera Dass was enrolled in DOGRA Regt on 15 May 1952 with No- 3943161P. After basic training, he was posted to and joined 15 DOGRA. During Indo-Pak war in 1965, his unit was part of ‘OPERATION RIDDLE’, the brave soldier fought against enemy at Amritsar border. Shaheed soldier served the Indian Army / nation for 13 years 115 days and sacrificed for the country when he was just 31 years leaving behind his wife Veer Nari Shushila Kumari alias Bimla Sharma at the age of 22 years with his elder son of 2 ½ years and younger son of 7 months of age only.
Veer Nari struggled a lot in her life as she was stunned to listen the death of her husband in so young age and had to survive for the sake of her children. She added that after marriage she accompanied him to Meerut only once.
Later, sacrifice of great brave soldier was recognised by Government dignitaries including Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Prime Minister of India with Condolence letter, the then Chief of Army Staff with letter of Condolence, Commandant Dogra Regiment Centre and CO 15 Dogra, Appreciation letter by Gen Ved Malik, COAS, Awarded with Golden Badge of Sacrifice and Sainya Sewa Medal by Govt of India.
Shaheed was the son of Bodh Raj and Guru Devi and grandson of Hukam Chand, a PoJK refugee of 1947, migrated to Poonch city, Nagrota Camp, Bhour Camp wherein family lived in tents / mud houses and finally at Karan Bagh(Jammu).
On behalf of my Samaj I request Central / State Government to honour the brave soldier of Indian Army and son of the soil by re-naming Government Higher Secondary School (Bhour Camp Jammu) after the name of Shaheed Ravindera Dass Ji, a Hero of 1965 Indo Pak War, construction of gate at suitable place near Karan Bagh and re-naming of his native road / place of residence after his name in the loving memory of martyr. During the golden era of celebration of ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ it will be a little effort by the country / country men to honour the Shaheed of the nation.
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