In more ways than one, my posting to Kashmir in 2001 changed my life. Back then, I was at the tail end of my two-year tenure in command of...
In more ways than one, my posting to Kashmir in 2001 changed my life.
Back then, I was at the tail end of my two-year tenure in command of a Company. I had been in military service for 17 years and was naturally looking forward to being considered for a promotion as Lieutenant Colonel. Instead, the posting order in June 2001 directed me to report to a Rashtriya Rifles Unit of the Garhwal Rifles that was deployed in intensive counter-insurgency operations in South Kashmir (Anantnag). This was odd. Officers of my seniority and experience were seldom posted to serve in the Rashtriya Rifles. Besides, it was not even to our 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit, but the 36 Rashtriya Rifles unit of the Garhwal Rifles regiment, which we were not affiliated to.
Before the Commanding Officer could intervene and perhaps cancel the posting order, I decided this was providence. Something ordained by fortuity could only be lucky in the long run, and I chose to answer the call of the nation.
Thereafter, things changed quite rapidly. In about two weeks, bidding farewell to my family, I reached the battalion headquarters of 36 Rashtriya Rifles, The Gallants. As is the norm in a field area, everyone was warm...
