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A matter of honour

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

It was an emotional time at the Air Force stadium in Subrato Park, New Delhi. This was where the Indian Air Force paid homage to the 'sentinels of the Indian skies', air force men who have died in action since Independence.

There were tears shed, pride expressed, memories rekindled and the odd moment of haunting silence. Historical fact and sentimental past mingled easily here as old parents, young widows and little children walked up the stage to receive the Emblem of Honour, the Scroll of Citation and Rs 100,000 each from Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis.

While many of the men who were remembered are dead, some family members are hopeful that, in some cases even after 30 years, their dear ones may still be alive, locked away somewhere in a Pakistani jail.

Born in the spirit of Kargil, the IAF's new attempt to honour and pay tribute to the sacrifice of its men in all wars, battles and operations India has carried out after Independence was a landmark.

"We will continue with our efforts," Air Chief Marshal Tipnis said.

The IAF has lost 132 men in all action since Independence -- the 1947-48 Kashmir operations, the 1962 war with China, the 1965 war with Pakistan, the 1971 Bangladesh operation, the Siachen operations, and the Kargil conflict.

The IAF had tracked down family members of more than 90 of these heroes. Of these, families of 62 of them agreed to participate in the function that was also attended by former air force chiefs, including Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh, who commanded the IAF during the 1965 war with Pakistan.

Air Chief Marshal Tipnis said the IAF was honouring each of them a "friend and a comrade-in-arm who made the supreme sacrifice -- some of them more than 50 years ago. For some, it was but only yesterday," he said The ceremony was being held to "help the kith and kin of those who have laid down their lives; at the same time, it is also an occasion for celebration" of heroism.

He said these "people who flew with us, fought with us were men of valor. Instead of them, it could well have been us... Their sacrifice was not in vain." He said the IAF was trying to "make sure that with the passage of time, as scars heal, the memories do not diminish."

He assured their family members that "each one of you is a member of this family, that is, the IAF. We believe that, we want you to believe that... We are not only proud of the martyrs, but also the families where from they have come."

The ceremony witnessed several emotional moments, and even the toughest of soldiers were seen trying in vain to hold back tears.

An old fragile Rama Devi, wife of Flying Officer Balwan Singh, who died in 1948 Kashmir operations while on a bombing mission, was the first to step on to the stage. Though weakened by age and rendered stoical by a life of loneliness, Rama Devi was picture of composed dignity.

Squadron Leader V K Sehgal, Vayu Sena Medal, was flying a Bell 47G-3 helicopter to assist the army to restore some vital communication links when he went missing during 1962 war. Though his wife Kamla Sehgal received the Emblem of Honour, the Scroll of Citation and Rs 100,000, she was still hopeful that her husband was still alive somewhere. While she didn't say much on the subject, there were other families who were vocal about their missing ones.

Poonam Goswami, wife of Flight Lieutenant S K Goswami, who went missing on December 5, 1971, during a mission from Agra to Sargota, believes her husband is still alive. "From Pakistan Radio and newspapers we learnt that he ejected and landed on Pakistan side. But they are not giving us any proof," Ms Goswami told rediff.com. She said her husband's name still appears in the official list of Prisoners of War in Pakistani custody.

The government still maintains that more than 40 Indian Army and Air Force personnel who fought the 1971 war are prisoners of war in Pakistan.

"My father travelled to Afghanistan and collected newspapers where it was reported that he was a prisoner with Pakistanis. My father also met some Indian civilians who were prisoners there and who met my husband in the jail there. In 1987, we were also told by some people that he was in Miawali jail," she says.

Trying to hold back her tears, Poonam Goswami says, " He was flying in a Canberra with ejectable seats. He is still safe." Eternal hope that refuses to died down even after the air chief asked her to "reconcile herself to reality".

The family of Squadron Leader M K Jain, Vir Chakra, who went missing in Chhamb sector of Jammu region in 1971 war, also believes Jain is alive though they have little proof.

"My father did survive the mission. We have been writing to everybody, all governments. Nobody is bothered," says his daughter, Meenu Jain. The Indian army unit in the Chhamb sector had reported that they saw an Indian pilot eject to safety at the same time as Jain's last mission. But there has been no more information about him till now.

"They returned his identity card in 1972, and some clothes that they said belonged to him. There has been no more information," says his wife Kamlesh Jain, who believes that "none of our governments are bothered about us".

Among those who walked up to receive the honour were the young widows of the Kargil heros Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, Squadron Leader R Pundir and Sergeant P N V R Prasadar.

But the wounds were still too fresh for them and they wept intermittently as their husbands' heroism was described. There is still time for that great healer, time, to do its work.

EARLIER FEATURE:
IAF honours sentinels of the sky

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