“SUMAN—I LOVE YOU DEAR.” –A HALF WRITTEN LAST LETTER!
“Sir, the boy is a mental wreck! He must be immediately pulled out” Major Yavesh pleaded with his Commanding Officer (CO).
“I can not do this. There is no replacement from his regiment.” Was the quick response of Colonel VK Ahluwalia?
“Please, sir, the boy has been there since 10 September 1986. It is now 20 February 1987. It is more than six months. You know it, sir; no one can survive here for more than 90 days. Also, the formation HQs orders are also to relieve everyone after 90 days. Get him down, please.” Yavesh was begging.
“Listen, Yavesh, I can not help it. He is an Arty (ARTILLERY) OP (Observation Post) officer. He can not be pulled out without a proper relief. I spoke to his CO (Commanding Officer). He says that it was difficult for him to provide the relief.” Colonel VK Ahluwalia explained.
“How ridiculous, sir? The officer has deserted his post and he has come down to me at SIALA complex. He is crying like a baby. He was to get married in November 1986. But Operation TRIDENT was in the offing and he was held up. He was promised that he would be sent on leave in January 1987. But nothing happened. His second date of marriage was 12 February—it has gone, too. His fiancée has written a threatening letter. Please pull him out on humanitarian grounds” Major Yavesh vehemently argued for Captain SONI.
“I do understand this. But I can not have the risk of having a forward most post of SIACHEN GLACIER devoid of an arty OP. I am sorry send him back to his place.” Col Ahluwalia was crisp.
“Sir, he just refuses to go back. All my motivational talks have failed. I, too, feel he was somehow on the wrong end of a stick due to his differences with his CO” Major Yavesh retorted.
“Yavesh, do you want to plead his case because he was an EX-NDA guy like you. What is your service gap? 15 years? Do your job as told. Tell him to stop behaving like a sissy. Ask him to be a man. And stop this crap.” The CO commanded.
This was shut up call for Major Yavesh. He did a loud thinking and then blabbered out, “Yes, sir. Point conceded. But may be, you could speak to COMMANDER on this. He is not in the mental state to stay any longer on this glacier.”
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In the coldest winters of 86-87, Major Yavesh Rana, along with his Company was located at SIALA complex of SIACHEN glacier in the GREAT HYMALYAS. This glacier is the second largest glacier in the world. It is 106 km long and some 5-6 kms wide at its waist. Siachen means “THE VALLEY OF ROSES”. This lies in the NORTHERN KASHMIR on the borders of INDIA, CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, and even Pakistan, though obliquely.
SIALA COMPLEX is the NORTHERN most point on SIACHEN, touching INDRA COL on the Chinese border. It is here, the famous WAKHAN CORRIDOR joins India with Afghanistan and CHINA. At the snout of the GLACIER is the base camp, where the HEADQUARTERS of the military unit, looking after SIACHEN area, is located. The Base camp height is 12000 feet. NUBRA River starts at the snout of the glacier on the base camp. It later drains into INDUS River in POK. The foot journey from the BASE CAMP is over the most treacherous and hazardous terrain, with chunks of whiteness all around you. There is no trace of soil and vegetation all through your trek. It takes almost 5-6 days; if weather is clear, to reach SIALA from the BASE CAMP.
The normal temperature at SIALA is always around minus 30-35 degrees. It is on a height of 20,000 feet. The area is heavily fractured, full of crevasses and ICE MASTS and ‘ice-over-hangs’. The weather here is unpredictable. It snows here for days on. Blizzards are very common with wind speed touching some 200 miles per hour, tearing everything apart that stands in its way.
It is very difficult to stay here. You can not shave, you can not bathe. You do not eat, despite the richest food being made available. You can not go for Nature’s CALL with ease. Rarified air makes you exhausted over 500 meters. People feel breathless very often. You hardly get to sleep. In the initial years, the men stayed under the Parachute shelters, which used to get buried 10-15 feet below snow every day. Ration supply was through the air drop on sunny days on a drop zone (DZ) some 2-3 kms away. It used to take 3-4 hours, one-way to traverse this distance. Every time you went to the DZ, you will lose one or two men to the vagaries of the terrain. Despite all the precautions, men would go down in the crevasse, never to come out alive.
The causalities here were more because of weather and terrain than enemy action. Mail used to come through helicopter sorties. Some one had calculated that one CHAPATI that a man ate on the glacier,in those days, cost the exchequer around Rs 80. The daily cost of maintaining soldiers there, in 1987, was around 2-3 Crores. It might be at least 15 times more, these days, say around 10000 to 12000 Crores every year. And they say you need only 28000 Crores for the entire GOLDEN QUARDLATERAL PROJECT!
Generally, people go mad staying here. Many lose their vital limbs. Many never come back. Many remain frozen in the deep crevasses for the GEOLOGISTS and ARCHAEOLOGISTS of the future to write thesis for their DOCTRATE DEGREES as to how men could venture into such inaccessible areas in the beginning of the second millennium? I reckon in the year 3009 AD or so, many people would claim greatness for unfolding of the mysteries of this human madness. But that is 1000 years into the future. Today, if the stay is beyond 90 days, it sure does turn one into a psychic case.
Major Yavesh had known this. He had come here in November 1986, some two months later than Captain Soni. He was himself expecting to be pulled out because he had stayed for almost 120 days. An Ex-NDA officer, with 16 years commissioned service to his credit in 1987, YAVESH was a known ‘toughie’ in his outfit. His men referred to him as ‘HITLER’; his colleagues called him a ‘Bully’. But he, too, was seemingly cracking mentally. Widely read man, he well understood the meaning of the need for obeying military orders, once given. No cribs, no dissidence. No emotional outbursts; right or wrong, just carry out the orders.
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“Captain Lal, please examine Captain SONI and send him with escort to Mortar Position”, Major Yavesh directed his medical officer, after he had failed to seek expatriation of Captain SONI to the BASE CAMP.
“I will examine him alright but I do not think he will go, sir.” Captain Lal had given his opinion.
“Ok. We will try and convince him together. Call him to your tent (a parachute shelter).” Yavesh sounded logical.
It was around 1400 hundred hours. The weather was very bad. It was snowing. The visibility was not even two feet. A strong wind, around 150 MPH, was blowing. The orderly, who had gone to fetch Captain SONI, lost his way and never returned. It must be said the distance was only 10-15 meters.
When even after an hour, there was no news from Captain SONI, both Major Yavesh and Captain Lal, set out to meet him in his shelter. The whole area was covered with snow. No shelter could be seen. Even their own shelter was under 10-12 feet of snow. The drill followed was that one must keep shaking the tent so as to dust off the snow; otherwise one would get buried under its mounting weight.
After 40-45 minutes in the open, both of them saw Subedar Ash Nandan Singh trying to locate them. He told the duo that Captain SONI was in his tent and he was crying. It seemed the orderly had told him that he had to go back. Major Yavesh decided to meet him and give a pep talk. Both of them went to JCO’s tent. This is how the conversation went:
Yavesh: Soni, come on man, you are a tough guy; do not cry like a baby.
Soni: Sir, I want to go home. It is too much I haven’t been home for last 18 months. I was promised by my CO that I would be sent in February.
Yavesh: I know. But these things happen. You see he can not find a relief because of the preparation for some operation TRIDENT. (They hadn’t known, then, that it had been called off)
Soni: No sir, I can not stay any longer. I have a HUNCH THAT I WOULD DIE HERE ONLY.
Yavesh: Do not be negative. You are an Ex-NDA guy; you should not behave like a coward.
Soni: Please send me home. I will die here otherwise. (He started crying loudly and took out a letter from his fiancée, called SUMAN, and threw at Major Yavesh).
Soni: Please read this. She says that I have let her down. Her parents want to break the engagement because LIFE IN ARMY IS UNCERTAIN. I DO NOT WANT TO SERVE IN THIS ARMY. WHAT FOR, SIR, IF I LOSE MY LADY LOVE? (HE STARTED SLAPPING HIS FACE with both hands. Captain LAL and SUBEDAR ASH NANDAN Singh caught him to prevent him from doing this.) Major Yavesh glanced at Suman’s Letter. It was full of pleas to come back at the earliest. She had exhorted him to leave this profession if he can not even get leave to get married. It was a real touchy letter and Yavesh did not know what to do.
“What do you want me to do, Captain Soni, I tried my best”, asked Major Yavesh.
“Sir, let me desert; let me run away.” Captain Soni had said instantly.
“Come on kid, you can not make it even to the base camp alone. It is 110 Kms treacherous journey over 5-6 days. The weather is also bad. ” Yavesh advised.
“Send me in the ‘Mail Helicopter’ to Base camp. Thereafter I will make it to AHMEDABAD (in GUJRAT) on my own”, Captain Soni made a suggestion.
“Ok. We will see it tomorrow.” Yavesh decided to cut short. He told the JCO to keep the officer in his tent for some times. But Subedar Ash Nandan Singh informed that Capt SONI had been stinking since morning as he had been answering to nature’s call in his pants only. Yavesh asked Captain Ram Lal to get him cleaned up and park him in his own tent. Having said so, Major Yavesh moved out.
By now it was 5 PM. Weather was as bad as it was in the afternoon. But the winds had reduced its intensity. Around 45 minutes later, Captain LAL too joined him in his tent. Both of them discussed the case. Captain Ram Lal’s conclusion was that Captain SONI was under a deep trauma. If he was not evacuated he might do something funny. At about 7 pm Sky was clear wind had stopped blowing. A bright moon had lit up the sky. It was a beautiful scene. Subedar Ash Nandan came for the evening report. He apprised Major YAVESH that Captain SONI had been continuously crying in his tent. At times, he was yelling like a mad person. Suddenly, Major Yavesh shot a question, “Is the sky Clear?” Lal and Ash Nanadan almost said in a Chorus, “Oh, EK DUM (TOTALLY)”
“Right, I have never disobeyed orders in life but if the chopper comes tomorrow morning, this guy goes without relief” Major Yavesh was now emotional.
“Sir, why do you want to risk your career for him?” Captain Lal had advised.
“Doc, sometimes career has to go when human compassion overpowers you. I have made up my mind, he will be made to desert”, Yavesh let out a philosophical answer.
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It was 6 A.M. in the morning on 21 February 1987.
It was otherwise a clear blue sky except a small patch of clouds over the TIGER HILL—a hill made of hard ice mast. Yavesh hoped that the patch of cloud over the TIGER HILL would not spoil his plans for the day, because it was always from this direction that clouds come with snow fall. He was hoping to execute his plans with the help of weather gods. This was the time for the daily report to be given to his HQ. The signal operator had already brought the radio set for the company commander to give the OK report to his CO.
“How’s the weather, Tiger?” the CO roared on the other side.
“Fine, ‘one five’, but for this patch on the TIGER HILL?” Yavesh replied.
“OK, I hope it remains clear till 8-9 A.M so that I could push in a chopper with your mail and some fruits. How long it has been since you got the fresh vegetables?” CO inquired.
“Thanks sir. You are very kind. It is almost 10 days back we had got the ‘fresh” Yavesh said in gratitude.
“So, how is friend Soni? Did he create further trouble while moving out?” The CO wanted to know.
“He is fine. He was depressed, though”, Yavesh hid the fact that SONI had not been dispatched to MORTAR POSITION. If he had done that then, all hell would have broken lose.
“Is everything else fine?” The CO expectantly shot.
“Yes, sir”, the reply by Yavesh was also reflective.
“OK, then, all the best for the clear weather”, with this Colonel Ahluwalia signed off.
“Hey, doctor! Please, wake up. The heptr is coming.” Major Yavesh excitedly shook Captain Ram Lal out of his sleeping bag.
“Good sir, congratulations” said Captain Lal.
Captain SONI, when told by the orderly and Sub Ash Nandan, his eyes get lit up. But he is yet not sure if he would be allowed to leave. He had told Subedar ASHNANDAN, “Sahib, MERE LIYE YEH SAFED CHADAR KI ZANEEN KALA PANI JAIL HAI. Main shayad hi nikal payoonga. MAGAR AAPKA ‘MAJOR SAHIB’ CHAHE TOH MUJHE NIKAL SAKTA HAI. KYA WOH KAREGA? (Oh dear, this ICY SHEET OF WHITENESS IS A CELLULAR JAIL FOR ME. I might not get out of this ever. But If your MAJOR wants he can get me out of this. But would he?)
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Time 07.33 A.M. Date 21 February 1987.
SIALA is beginning to get covered under the pitch dark clouds. Visibility is there up to 1500 meters. Wind is blowing at a medium pace but it seems a BLIZZARD is in the offing. Major Yavesh is on his radio set screaming, “Sir, push in the chopper, now. In next 30-40 minutes it will be all snow over here."
“I will try, I’ll try. Keep your fingers crossed.” Ahluwalia was assuring him.
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Time 07.53 A.M. Date 21 February 1987.
'KUMAR' COMPLEX Tiger, Major Bharat Singh, comes on the air. He informs Major Yavesh that choppers were returning to the base camp, as weather had packed up. He however gave the hope that in case it cleared by afternoon, the choppers might come back with the ‘FRESH’. He further cheered him by saying that he had taken the mail of his company. He also told him of two letters Yavesh had got from his wife. He made an offer to open and read it to him. But Yavesh politely declined, though, this at times, was the common practice in SIACHEN Glacier, when weather packed up for days on.
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Time 07.58 AM.
It starts snowing. Wind speed picks up and the snow storm is building up. Subedar Ash Nandan Singh blows the alarm and asks everyone to get to his shelter. Yavesh was disheartened but still hopeful that weather might clear up by afternoon.
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Time: 08.29 A.M.
SIALA complex is under severe snow storm. Visibility is zero. Wind speed is touching around 150-160 Kms. Most of the shelters are already under 3-4 feet of snow. No one can dare to come out unless he wants to be blown with the wind.
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Time 11.17A.M.
Storm has fizzled out. It is still snowing but the wind intensity has died down. Subedar Ash Nandan comes to the company Commander and informs him that Capt SONI’s tent was not traceable. Yavesh and Ram Lal come out and find men digging in the general area of the rough location of the tent. Yavesh orders them to divide the men into three teams of six men each and dig up the area in three parts. The digging continues. Snow fall stops. It is now about 11.45 A.M. Still, there was no trace of the tent.
Finally, No 2 Team gets to it around 12.03 P.M. All of them rush to the spot. Pull out the sleeping bag of Capt Soni. He is fully into it , totally zipped up to his head. Doctor Ram Lal feels his pulse. It was not there. He remorsefully signals to Major Yavesh to tell him that Capt SONI was no more. “He is dead”, he shouted. HIS PREDICTION ABOUT HIMSELF HAD COME TRUE!
He probably died of asphyxiation, because he had gone into the Sleeping bag fully zipped even with his head inside. He did not realize when the tent collapsed and the tons of snow did not give him a chance. It all happened between 8.30 A.M. and 11A.M on 21st February. In just two and a half hours, a life had gone. On search of his pocket, a half written letter to his FIANCEE—SUMAN was recovered. He had, probably written part at night and part in the morning itself. It ran:
My dearest Suman,
Oh my dear, finally, oh, yea, finally my dear, there is a hope that I would ESCAPE FROM THIS EL-CATRAZ kind of WHITE PRISON tomorrow. This JAIL WARDEN (?) here tells me that he would help me escape,even if official permission does not come. I will escape. I do not care about the consequences. I love you, SUMAN. I am coming, SUMAN darling. It is a clear night. Hope it will be the same tomorrow too.
Oh, what a fine morning. It is clear. I will come and I do hope this ‘Bully’ (?) here stands by his promise. To hell with him, if he does not, I will scramble on my own. I will come. -------Hold on someone is coming.
Oh yea, It was my orderly. What great news? He told me that HELICOPTER WOUL BE HERE AROUND 9 A.M. Major SAHIB has told him. What luck? Finally I will be a free man. I will come soon, my dear SUMAN. Tell your parents; tell the whole world----I love you SUMAN---Love you, love you, love you my SUMAN. Oh, some wind blowing----------------
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The letter had ended abruptly because it seems the weather had packed and along with it Captain SONI’s last hopes had also vanished. Yavesh was sad. He was furious that he could not let him escape to his freedom and a life full of dreams with his SUMAN.
The weather remained packed up for 9 days. And the dead body of Capt SONI had to be kept in the same tent where YAVESH and RAM LAL had stayed. They were cramped up for space but there was no choice.
On 02 March 1987, a Chopper came. The dead body was evacuated with the half written letter to “SONI’s DEAREST SUMAN”. Perhaps, she might not ever know as to how much he loved her because the fate had robbed her love for ever. May be she might not even remember him because she might be married to some one else. BUT YAVESH WAS SURE CAPT ‘SONI’ HAD DIED WITH THE NAME 'SUMAN' ON HIS LIPS. It is on this day he penned these few line on SIACHEN calling it a ‘NATURAL HUMAN PRISON’: --------
Morning comes, hopes grow;
Evening shatters Life’s glow,
Silently curse men their lot;
What crime had them brought?
Memory gets normally impaired,
Eating becomes sometime affair,
Emotional tension abounds in lads,
Some lose nerves and go mad.
Each one counts each one’s days,
No one wants a prolonged stay.
Yet time for them moves very slow
Each day seems, years in a row.
Leaders across borders make tall claims,
Honors bestowed on heroes of Siachen fame’ –
‘Sense of reality’ though seemed to be lost,
Amidst emotional minds and prestigious boasts!
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