7.5km push, sugarcane gift: 1971 war veterans relive tales of courage & camaraderie

MOHALI: A wave of nostalgia swept through a gathering of 1971 India-Pakistan war veterans of Mohali as they recounted their heroic exploits.Stationed at key locations such as 3BRD in Chandigarh, Attari-Wagah borders, Nathula in Sikkim, Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir and Halwara air base, these men once served on the frontlines and in strategic technical roles.Today, they enjoy peaceful retirement in the comfort of their homes in Mohali, but their stories continue to inspire.Lt Col S S Sohi, then a young 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Bihar Regiment, shared vivid memories of his deployment in Tangdhar and Teetwal villages in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. "We were holding the Nagina Post and were assigned the mission to capture Wanjal Post from Pakistan control. We successfully advanced 7.5km into enemy territory. That land remains with us to this day," he recalled with pride. His unit's valour was recognised with gallantry awards.Lt Col Sohi said even today, power blackouts in Mohali trigger flashes of the war in his memory.Honorary Captain Makhan Singh, then a Sepoy in the 2nd Sikh Regiment, was initially posted at Nathula Pass in Sikkim before being relocated to the Attari-Wagah border. Despite being less equipped than their Pakistani counterparts, he proudly recounted the capture of a Pakistani Major and two Sepoys, along with their weapons. "Their technology may have been superior, but our willpower was unmatched," he said. Singh's battalion included decorated soldiers like Sepoy Hoshiar Singh, awarded the Mahavir Chakra (MVC), and Gian Singh, a Vir Chakra (VC) recipient.Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Joginder Singh, an Air Force veteran, contributed to the war effort from the technical side, preparing Vampire Jet Fighters for combat. Then a Corporal, he remembered being moved without briefing, only to realise mid-air aboard a Dakota aircraft that war had broken out. "We landed at Chandigarh Air Force station and were driven to Halwara air base in private trucks," he said.Joginder Singh also shared a heartwarming story of civilian hospitality during their journey. "As we passed Morinda, my fellow airmen, mostly from south India, wished to taste sugarcane. When we stopped, local farmers and villagers generously packed sugarcane stacks into our trucks. Later, near PAU Ludhiana, a group of students handed us fruits and urged us to return victorious." Joginder Singh later served at 3BRD-12 Wing Chandigarh with MI-8 helicopters in 1985.