Pune: Palak Kumar, daughter of Subedar Rakesh, died while on intelligence duty on October 14, 2020. ChushulThe Ladakh woman became proud and emotional after seeing her father’s statue at ‘Satark Park’, which was inaugurated just outside on Saturday. military intelligence Training Schools and Depots (MITSD) in Pune.
This is the first in the country Memorial Dedicated to the Military Intelligence (MI) personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
Palak is a first year MBBS student at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital Kangra In Himachal Pradesh.
An emotional Palak told TOI, “It was my father’s dream to see me as a doctor. He would have felt happy and proud of me today. Unfortunately, he is not with us. Paying the tribute here gave me special emotions.”
Palak was also accompanied by her mother Suman, who works in an insurance company. Standing in front of her husband’s statue, Suman said, “My daughter has fulfilled his dream. She would have been in seventh heaven to achieve it.”
She said, “This is my first visit to Pune. Last time I was invited I could not muster the courage. But today it was a special occasion for us. So I came with my daughter to pay homage to him.”
Like him, family members of 40 MI personnel who sacrificed their lives in action since 1960 also attended the event.
He recalled his fond memories and the military virtues that he followed in his life during and after duty.
‘Such a facility will inspire our young generation’
War widow Sunita Mehta, wife of Kirti Chakra awardee Brigadier Ravi Dutt Mehta, said, “This is the first statue of my husband in the country. Through this park, the common people will know about his supreme sacrifice and bravery.” His son, a serving Group Captain Indian Air Force (IAF) also participated in this program.
He said, “We need such a facility to inspire our young generation to take up a career in the armed forces. He has aptly conceptualized the park cum memorial.”
An emotional Sunita recalled her early days at MITSD.
She recalled, “Right in front of this memorial, I stayed in school when my husband came for a course in the early 90s. Whenever I go to school and to Pune, it is one of the memories of my blissful life.” It’s like taking a walk down memory lane.”
It was an emotional day for octogenarian Ganesh Chaurasia and Meenakumari, parents of Major Ganesh, who sacrificed his life in anti-terrorist operations in Assam on January 6, 2005.
He said, “He was brilliant in studies and remained a topper throughout his career. He was determined to become an army officer. He fulfilled his dream. Seeing his statue today reminded me of his memories and it made me feel like never before Made me emotional.” ,
‘Our contribution to his supreme sacrifice is negligible’
Lieutenant Colonel Leena Bajaj, who currently serves as the Education Officer of the Bombay Sappers, is the widow of Captain Jitesh Bhutani. He was awarded the Sena Medal for Gallantry (posthumously) for his contribution in the anti-terrorist operation in Shopian. Jammu and KashmirIn November 2003.
She joined the army after the death of her officer husband.
“Before joining the Army, I was a professor at Allahabad University. His supreme sacrifice inspired me to join the force and have been proudly serving it for the last 20 years. Coming here and paying tribute to my husband is my greatest pleasure. It’s an honor to be in this place,” he added.
Lieutenant General PK Chahal, Commandant of the Military Intelligence Corps and senior most officer Indian Army“Like the family members, today is an emotional day for me too. I have worked with some of the unsung heroes whose statues are here,” he told TOI.
“I took charge of an important branch from Brigadier Ravi Dutt Mehta in the 90s. I still remember his advice given to me then and I followed it sincerely. He was a great officer of the Intelligence Corps. Similarly , I still remember my initial talks.” Spent days in school with Colonel Surinder Bansal, being awarded the Sena Medal (posthumously),” Chahal recalled.
MITSD has been converted into a park cum memorial with the help of Roadway Solutions India Infra Limited.
“It is an honor for us to do something concrete for the unsung heroes of the country. Our contribution to their supreme sacrifice is negligible,” RSIIL managing director Ameet Gadhoke told TOI.
What’s in the memorial?
- Since 1962, 40 brave personnel of MI Corps of Indian Army including 11 officers have sacrificed their lives in various operations.
- Statues of these MI personnel have been unveiled in the park and brief information about their actions is written on a plaque below each statue.
- Statues of heroes include Kirti Chakra awardee Naik Pratap Singh (June 12, 1977) and Brigadier Ravi Dutt Mehta (July 7, 2008), Shaurya Chakra awardee Sepoy Om Shiv Sharma (September 5, 1994), Naik Jangbir Singh (August Are included. 20, 1996), and Havildar S. Sami Kannan (April 2, 2004).
- It has been constructed by Military Intelligence Training School and Depot (MITSD) with the help of Roadway Solutions India Infra Limited.
- An island strip outside MITSD, the alma mater of MI personnel, has been converted into a park-cum-memorial.
- The MI Corps pledge is written on a separate cement concrete platform inside the memorial.
- The two vertical lines of the bust (36 inches long, made of a mixture of resin and fiberglass, all weatherproof) draw attention.
- At one end of the memorial is the emblem of the Corps, while on the side is a tank signifying its association with other arms and services of the Indian Army.
