Nothing But!: Book Four: Love Has No Religion

Family Trees of the Eight Families

(Principal Characters Only)

1   Sikandar Khan—Muslim Family from Kashmir

First Generation—Sikandar Khan—Wife Zainab Khan—Brother Sarfaraz Khan

Second Generation-Curzon Sikandar Khan—Wife Nusrat Shezadi

Third Generation—Ismail Sikandar Khan

Fourth Generation—Shiraz Ismail Khan(Adopted Son of Ismail Sikandar Khan)

Fifth Generation—Paramveer Singh Bajwa (Peevee for short) son of Shiraz Ismail Khan and Shupriya Sen—adopted by Monty and Reeta Bajwa

2   Harbhajan Singh Bajwa—Sikh Family from Kashmir

First Generation—Harbhajan Singh

Second Generation—Gurcharan Singh Bajwa—Wife Harbir Kaur

Third Generation—Daler Singh Bajwa—wife Simran Kaur

Fourth Generation—Montek Singh Bajwa—wife Reeta—sister Loveleen

Fifth Generation—Rohini Bajwa (Dimple—nickname—Husband Bharat Padmanaban

3   Sonjoy Sen-Bengali Hindu Family from Calcutta

First Generation—Sonjoy Sen

Second Generation—Naren Sen—Wife Shobha Sen

Third Generation—Samir Sen—Ronen Sen—wife Mona Sen—Purnima Sen

Fourth Generation—Shupriya Sen

Fifth Generation—Paramveer Singh Bajwa (Son of Shiraz Ismail Khan and Shupriya Sen)

4   Apurva Ghosh—Bengali Hindu Family from Chittagong

First Generation—Apurva Ghosh

Second Generation-Debu Ghosh—Wife Hena Ghosh

Third Generation—Arup Ghosh—Galina Ghosh—Swarup Ghosh—Anup Ghosh—Mona Ghosh

Fourth Generation—Lalima Ghosh daughter of Arup and Galina Ghosh and Shupriya Sen (daughter of Ronen Sen and Mona Ghosh)

Fifth Generation—Paramveer Bajwa (son of Shiraz Ismail Khan and Shupriya Sen—adopted by Montek and Reeta Bajwa)

5    Haji Abdul Rehman—Afridi Pathan Muslim Family from Peshawar

First Generation—Haji Abdul Rehman

Second Generation—Attiqur Rehman—Wife Nafisa Rehman

Third Generation—Gul Rehman—Wife Zubeida—Aftab Rehman—Arif Rehman—wife Ruksana—Shenaz Rehman(wife of Nawaz Hussein)

Fourth Generation—Aslam Rehman—Wife Farzana—Fazal Rehman—wife Samina—Mehmooda—Husband Karim Malik—Saira Rehman wife of Riaz Mohammed Khan(Shiraz Ismail Khan)—`Salim Rehman-wife Aasma

Imran Hussein(son of Shenaz and Nawaz Hussein—adopted as Shiraz Ismail Khan by Colonel Ismail Sikandar Khan

Fifth Generation—Samir Rehman(son of Aslam and Mehmuda) Nasreen Rehman(Daughter of Aslam amd Mehmuda—Shezadi Rehman(Sherry-Gammy daughter of Saira and Shiraz(Riaz Mohammed Khan)Tojo(son of Saira and Shiraz)

Samira Rehman(daughter of Fazal and Samina)—Shafiq Rehman (son of Fazal and Samina Rehman—)

6   Shaukat Hussein—Muslim Family from Calcutta

First Generation—Shaukat Hussein

Second Generation—Dr Ghulam Hussein—Wife Suraiya Hussein

Third generation—Nawaz Hussein—wife Shenaz Hussein

Fourth Generation—Imran Hussein(Shiraz Ismail Khan) later found and adopted by Colonel Ismail Sikandar Khan

Fifth Generation—Paramveer Singh Bajwa (son of Shiraz Ismail Khan and Supriya Sen adopted by Monty and Reeta Bajwa)

7   Edwin Pugsley—Anglo Indian Family from Calcutta

First Generation—Richard Pugsley

Second Generation—Edwin Pugsley—wife Laila Pugsley

Third Generation—Shaun Pugsley—Debra Pugsley—Sandra Pugsley—Richard Pugsley-Veronica Pugsley

8   Colonel Ronald Edwards—Only son of Roland and Gloria Edwards—British Family from England—First Generation

CHAPTER-1

Duty Towards Country Comes First Always and Everytime

In the first week September 1971, seeing the feverish military build up by Pakistan in the west, the Indian army too was put on high alert The shortage of young officers as company commanders in the front line was now required to be made up from those who were serving on staff and on administrative appointments in the various peace stations and establishments, provided they were both physically and medically fit. Not to miss the action, Captain Shiraz Ismail Khan whose battalion from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles was now on the move from a peace station in the Punjab to the Mendhar sector of Kashmir, he too requested for a posting back to his unit.

"Well young man the earliest that you can be relieved is on 15th September provided you complete all the given assignments, ‘said his immediate boss while congratulating the young officer for his regimental spirit. It happened to be the 6th of September that day and it was also Loveleen’s birthday. Uuknown to Shiraz and the Indian army it was also the day when Major General Ghulam Jilani Khan, the DG. ISI Pakistan placed a copy of what was suppose to be India’s likely overall operational plan in front of the Pakistan President and his three service chiefs. Some clashes had also been reported from the border districts of East Pakistan with the Indian army assisting the Mukti Bahini forces to infiltrate across.

To celebrate Loveleen’s birthday and in order to give her a surprise, Shiraz had requested his elder brother Monty to book a table for eight at the ‘Cellar.’ He had also asked him to seek Mrs Sen’s blessings and ensure Shupriya’s presence too on that happy occasion. Knowing fully well about Loveleen’s soft corner for Flight Lieutenant Maninder Singh Gill, Mandy for short and vice versa, he rang up the handsome Indian Airforce officer at the nearby Hindon airforce base and invited him also as his own personal guest. Shiraz felt that Mandy his coursemate from the NDA would be an ideal match for his dear sister and he wanted to formally introduce him to all the members of his family, so that some little thought could be given to the matter and progress made subsequently in his absence.

The Cellar was probably India’s first disco which had opened in Connaught Place a few years ago. Located in a basement which probably gave the hang out for the young boys and girls its name, it had become indeed very popular for the modern Indian generation who loved the dim lights, the cosy informal atmosphere, the hippy smoke, the chilled beer and above all the loud music that went with it. With no dress regulations one could enter the place dressed as one pleased to suit the occasion. In order to give everybody a surprise, Shiraz had come dressed up in a peacock coloured lungi, a bright red tee shirt, and a yellow scarf neatly tied around his waist. The scarf was primarily to prevent the lungi from slipping down. For a headgear to go with it, it was the typical red Turkish fez cap with a tassle on top. However, none of them were yet aware that this was also going to be Shiraz’s farewell party to them.

That evening when Monty with his wife Reeta and Loveleen went to pick up Shups, they found everybody in the house in a bad mood. Mr and Mrs Sen were having a heated argument in Bengali while Shupriya was in her room trying to hideaway her tears. Mr Sen was trying to convince his wife that there was no frightful hurry to get their daughter married, because he was of the view that since Shupriya was a brilliant student, she should first complete her masters and only thereafter the marriage could be solemnized. Moreover, winter was around the corner and with the trouble on India’s borders he may not even get a day’s leave to make all the arrangements. On the other hand Mrs Sen was trying to convince her husband that the delay of another whole year could result in the prospective groom’s parents finding another match for their well qualified son somewhere else and she was therefore not prepared to miss this God given opportunity. After all the young man was a topper from IIT, the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and was doing well financially and had a great future ahead of him. She therefore did not want to loose her prized catch for her only child.

Don’t worry everthing will be fine and I as your best friend from childhood will do anything and everything to see you happy and I promise that the Bajwa family will not let you down, whispered Loveleen into Shupriya’s ears while helping her to get dressed for the occasion.

"But something has to be done fast or else my mother will get me married by the beginning of the coming year and she is not in the least bothered about my future or in my completing my masters degree. Without telling me or consulting my father she has even got the horoscopes matched by her Brahmin Pundits. I don’t even know who the guy is and what he even looks like except that he is some damn engineer from IIT Kharagpur and is presently working with a Danish firm called L and T and I don’t even know what the alphabets L and T even stands for,’ added an angry and worked up Shups as she got into a pair of faded jeans and a simple Hawaian floral top.

Well may be that letter ‘L’ stands for your Love for my brother and the ‘T’ the Tears for the other poor guy, said Loveleen in a lighthearted manner as she coaxed her dear friend to apply a little more make up on her face and under her big eyes to hide her grief and sorrow.

When they got to the ‘Cellar,’ Loveleen quietly took Shiraz to a corner and gave him the bad news.

But I will not let it happen. Shups is mine and mine alone and if she is willing we can even get married on the quiet tomorrow itself. After all she is an adult and is well passed the legal marriageable age for girls and whatever her mother says Shups has all the right to reject the match and marry the one whom she loves, said a visibly upset Shiraz as Mandy with 21 big red roses and a bottle of French red wine that was well tucked in and hidden in one the many big pockets of his airforce flying suit entered the smoke filled disco. He had just returned from a night air exercise and did not even have time to change from his flying clothes.

I think this must be the first time that somebody in an airforce dungaree or rather flying suit had patronized the cellar and it was good for publicity too,‘said the manager as he took a few photographs of the group with tall Mandy in the centre.

"Yes, and don’t forget to blow it up and display it at the entrance because it is not everyday that a handsome Indian airforce fighter pilot comes to the cellar,’ said Shiraz as he winked at Shups and which brought a big smile on her face. Though Monty and his wife Reeta were aware to some extent about Shiraz’s involvement with Shupriya, but they could never imagine that it was all that serious. But when they saw the couple dancing cheek to cheek on that old Platters song ‘‘Only You’ that Shiraz had especially requested for, it was evident that they were madly in love. And after the dance, when Shiraz announced that in another week’s time he would be on his way to Kashmir to take on the Pakistanis if need be, there were tears in Shupriya’s eyes. Realising that they were madly in love, both Monty and Reeta decided that it was time to act, but discreetly. And though the party that evening ended rather early, but Monty, Loveleen and Reeta having taken Shiraz and Shups into full confidence decided that before Shiraz left for the battle front, they would get the two of them secretly married.

"Now just don’t worry about Bibiji and your parents. We will not tell them anything for the time being and when the time comes we will convince them that this and this alone was the best match for the two of you and the families and I am sure will reconcile and understand,’ said Monty as he saw off Shups near her bungalow gate and begged of her not to mention about this to anybody.

On the morning of 15th of September, 1971 and a day prior to his departure for Kashmir, Shiraz in the presence of his brother Monty, his sister-in—law Reeta and sister Loveleen together with the Holy Guru Granth as witness married Shups in the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara of New Delhi. It was a simple ceremony as Shups dressed in a plain salwar kameez and a dupatta covering her head followed Shiraz around the Holy Granth Sahib four times while the high priest of the Gurdwara read the four stanzas of the Lavan Hymn by Guru Ramdass. With the’Ananth Karaj’or the ‘Blissful Union’ having been completed, both Shiraz and Shups now accepted Sikhism as their religion but they did not change their names.

After the ceremony, Shiraz who was also dressed in typical Punjabi style with a turban around his head presented Shups with a diamond ring and a matching set consisting of a diamond necklace and a pair of diamond earings. Shups in turn presented Shiraz with a plain silver locket that had a minature photo of little Shupriya in Shiraz’s arms and when she was three old and Shiraz was eight.

It only simply signifies the fact that their love for each other goes back even to their childhood days, commented Reeta Bhabhi most appropriately as she escorted the bride and the groom for the simple wedding feast of some delicious langar food that was prepared in the gurdwara kitchen and the sweet Kara Prasad, that was Shiraz’s all time favourite. For posterity and for future proof, Monty took a few photographs of the low-key wedding.

Ofcourse under the present circumstances there was no question of going on a honeymoon or of spending the night together. But in order to give whatever little time that was available to the young couple to be together, Monty had booked a room for them at the Oberoi Maidens Hotel in old Delhi. It was a turn of the century hotel that was located at the heart of old city and close to the River Jumuna and which had once played host to the Duke of Windsor when a gala dance was held there in his honour way back in the early 1920’s. Moreover, the hotel also offered the young couple with the much-required privacy. With a small change of clothes which included a new nightie that Loveleen had so thoughtfully kept in her brother’s little attaché case, the couple spent the next few hours together in total bliss as they made love on the bed, on the rocking chair, on the carpet and even inside the sprawling bath-tub of the hotel’s luxurious and spacious bathroom.

At around six o’clock that evening and before darkness fell, Shiraz having borrowed Monty’s Padmini Fiat for the day dropped Shupriya near the gate of the Kotah House Officers Mess on Shahjehan Road and returned home with a load of gifts for everybody in the family.

But what for Puttar, said Bibiji with a look of total surprise in her face as Shiraz lovingly draped the warm off white mohair shawl around the gracious lady’s frail shoulders.

Oh Mamma don’t you know that Shiraz Bhaiya is celebrating his next medal for bravery in advance and I am sure he will come back with the highest one in the land, said Loveleen in all seriousness as little Dimpy now nearly ten years old came and sat on Shiraz Mamu’s (Shiraz Uncle) lap and planted a tight kiss on his cheek to thank him for the big Barbie doll that she had been presented with. A few minutes later, when Flight Lieutenant Mandy arrived with a box of sweets from Bengali Market to bid farewell to his friend, Shiraz quietly conveyed to Bibiji that the young dashing pilot would indeed be a good match for Loveleen. An hour or so later and on that very evening, Shiraz with the whole Bajwa family called on the Sen’s. It had become more or less a ritual for the two young male members of the Bajwa family to bid goodbye to Uncle Ronen and Aunty Mona whenever they proceeded outside Delhi for long periods of time and today was no exception either. However it looked rather odd when Shiraz went and sat next to his father-in-law and presented him with a bottle of Something Special. It was a skotch whisky that Shiraz knew Ronen Uncle always enjoyed, but what the Uncle did not know was that it was his own son—in—law who was gifting it to him. And while they were both enjoying the drink with soda and ice, and Monty was helping himself to a chilled beer, Aunty Mona the hostess graciously asked all of them to stay on for dinner. Though both Ronen and his dear wife were completely oblivious of the fact that their one and only daughter had secretly got married that very morning, Ronen that evening while coming home from office had purchased a whole big four kilogram ‘Katla’ a fresh water river fish inclusive of the big head that the Bengalis relished. So when Ronen insisted that all of them must stay on for the potluck dinner, Mrs Sen seeing the big smile on her daughter’s otherwise sulky face decided to make the evening even more enjoyable by announcing an impromptu sing-song session, while the dinner was being prepared.

After the usual ‘Pahle Pahle aap’—No first you, first you business and the no please after you, after you debate was over, Shupriya very sportingly sang the first song. It was her favourite and it was from the 1966 film Mamta starring the glamourous Bengali actress Suchitra Sen. As her melodious voice rendered those touching words, ‘Rahen Na Rahen Hum’ there was pin drop silence in the room. And finally when she ended the song and a small teardrop from her eyes fell on her little songbook, the sadness in her eyes said it all. But luckily only her friend Loveleen who was sitting beside her had noticed it. When it came to Shiraz’s turn, he first sang an old number in memory of the late young and talented music director and composer Jaikishen who had died three days earlier on 12th September. Jaikishen Dayabhai Paanchal with his friend Shanker Singh Raghuvanshi were popularly know as the Shanker-Jaikishen duo and they had become legends in their own lifetime. Both had started their lives with the Pritvi theatre as tabla and harmonium players and by doing bit parts in Prithviraj Kapoor’s stage plays. They were catapulted into the Hindi film music world when Raj Kapoor in 1949 signed them on for his film Barsaat’ and thereafter there was no looking back for them. The song that Shiraz chose to sing that evening was ‘Ramaiya Vastavaiya’ from Raj Kapoor’s hit film ‘Shri 420’ and on that evening Shiraz probably even felt like one too The figures 420 or four-two-zero in India pertained to a section of the Indian penal code and it was a common term for a crook, a cheat, a conman and a bluffer. When on an encore and a special request for a particular song from Mrs Sen followed, Shiraz promptly obliged with the latest hit number Kabhi Door jab din dhal jaye" from the poignant and sad film ‘Anand.’ It was an outstanding film that touched everyones heart and was directed magnificently by Hrishikesh Mukerjee and had a lanky new comer by the name of Amitabh Bachchan playing the role of ‘Babu-Moshai,’ a Bengali gentleman opposite the superstar Rajesh Khanna. Ronen Sen seeing the expression of sheer pathos in his daughter’s eyes inadvertently remarked to Mrs Simran Bajwa who was sitting beside him.

You know Bhabhiji, sometimes I wish that Shiraz too should have been born a Babumoshai also. After the typical Bengali dinner of fish curry and rice, when Shiraz while bidding farewell to the host and the hostess touched their feet as was customary and sought their blessings for himself and for his unit to teach the Pakistanis a lesson if they dared to go to war, Uncle Ronen in good humour remarked.

‘I think one Captain Shiraz Ismail Khan is good enough for the entire Pakistan army.’

A little later, when Shiraz was about to get into the car, Uncle Ronen presented him with two new best sellers of the year. One surprisingly had the title Love Story by Erich Segal on it while the other was titled ‘The Day of the Jackal’ by Frederick Forsyth.

I think Uncle to complete the cycle of the current bestsellers, I will also present him tomorrow with ‘The Winds of War’by Herman Wouk, added Monty in good humour as he took the wheel.

The next day before Shiraz boarded the Kashmir Mail in the evening for his journey to Pathankot, thanks to his elder brother Monty who had booked a room in his new company guesthouse at Maharani Bagh, the young couple once again managed to get a few quiet hours to themselves.

"Now do please keep writing to me regularly at least once a week, but for Heaven’s sake do not ever make the mistake of addressing me by my name or post it to me at my address. Therefore as before you have to send all the letters addressed to Loveleen Bajwa but do not forget to write her name in big bold capital letters and underline it. Then simply put two small zeroes on top of the envelope or on the inland letter cover next to her name for easy and quick identification,’ added Shups as she kissed her loving ‘Dablo’ and dragged him to the big double bed. With their naked bodies reflecting through the huge mirror that was placed bang opposite the giant bed, they again made love for the last and final time that day.

Late that evening after Shiraz got into his first class compartment on the Kashmir Mail at the old Delhi Railway Station and was being seen off by the entire Bajwa family, Bibiji very happiily remarked that since both the families had agreed to the Mandy-Lovleen match, she with her family would soon be going to Dehradun to meet Mandy’s parents and to finalize the dates. When Shiraz hugged Loveleen, and she with tears in her eyes said that she would only get married if Shiraz Bhaiya promises to grace the occasion, Bibiji who was also crying hugged Shiraz tightly and said to him. Arre Puttar agar tu kahe tho mein tere liye bhi ek acchi biwi dhoond ke laoon. Aur agar tere mun me koi hai to mujhe batade. Tu buss aab aur deri math karna aur tere wapas ate hi hum teri bhi shaadi kara denge. (Well son if you so desire I can also look for a nice bride for you. And if you have somebody in mind then do please let me know. You should not delay it any further and as soon as you return I wil get you married too.) On that comment by their mother, all the children kept a pokerface till the train guard blew his whistle. Shiraz once again hugged all of them and having touched Bibiji’s feet asked for her blessings. Waheguruji ka Khalsa. Waheguruji ki Fateh, and may the name of Waheguru be enshrined in your heart and may you find success in all that you do, said the gracious lady as she folded her hands and closed her eyes. And then just as the train was about to depart, the loud voice of Mandy was heard as he came charging down the overbridge. As usual he was late and was shouting on top of his voice ‘Bole Sonehal’ which automatically was responded loudly not only by by Shiraz and the entire Bajwa family but also by all the other Sikhs who were on the platform and elsewhere. As the words ‘Sat Sri Akal’ which meant that he who speaks God’s truth which is eternal will always be spiritually uplifted,’ echoed across the platform, Shiraz standing at the door waved out and saluted.

By the time Shiraz reported to his unit the next day, he had already finished reading the two books that Ronen Uncle had presented him with. Out of the two the books,’Love Story’ was completely different in content and plot from the other in every manner possible and Shiraz felt that the book had a lot of similarity to what he and Shups were currently going through. It was a saga about a young boy and a girl who met in college but practically had nothing in common except their love for one another and who even after getting married were ready to sacrifice everything for eternal love. The second book ‘The Day of the Jackal’ was a spy thriller. Set in 1963 during the French-Algerian conflict, it was about a French secret organization’s plan to assassinate President Charles De Gaulle by hiring a lone and deadly professional killer who was an Englishman and was only known as ‘The Jackal.’Shiraz was also very impressed by the credentials of the author. Coincidently, Frederick Forsyth was an Englishman who was born on 25th August 1938 and eight years later in 1944 on the same very day Paris was also liberated. Thus on the 25th of August every year while France celebrated Liberation Day, Frederick celebrated his birthday too. An ex fighter pilot, he left the Royal Airforce early and switched to journalism. For writing this book against a background of real events and characters he had carried out a thorough research for years together that included talking to De Gaulle’s ex bodyguards, a passport forger and even an interview with a real hired assassin.

Though he was now legally married, Shiraz decided to keep his marriage to Shups a well guarded secret till such time the threat of war existed and this was because of three main reasons. Firstly he had not taken the prior blessings and permission from his commanding officer as was the convention, the custom and the norm. Secondly his disclosing it to others could also lead to the matter being prematurely exposed, and knowing Mona aunty’s attitude towards him being a Muslim, it could cause a permanent rift and break between the two families who for generations together had such a strong bond of love, friendship and trust between them. Thirdly with the clouds of war gathering in the horizon for another Hindu India versus a Muslim Pakistan bout, Shiraz felt that this was not the right time to start a family feud that could add to more tensions and which could even lead to his wife leaving her parents for good for his sake.

From the very next day after his arrival in the unit, and once the formal interview with the commanding officer was over, Shiraz having earned the commando dagger from the infantry school and an instructors grading in the signal and field engineering courses conducted by the category ‘A’ army training schools and establishments of the Indian army he was therefore tasked to select and train an additional sub unit of a platoon strength for special operations behind the enemy lines. And from the very first day having selected his team, he started out in right earnest in training them. Most of the training was carried out at night and it included long night marches that culminated in commando raids on mock enemy ammunition dumps, communication centers and gun positions. Seeing Shiraz’s enthusiam on training his subunit and at the request of the young acting major who had been promoted recently, the Divisional Commander even included a heliborne raid exercise on a mock enemy formation headquarters to test his tactical and leadership capabilities.

A few days later during a major two sided exercise when Major Shiraz Ismail Khan with a small detachment of just one section in a single MI-8 helicopter carried out a successful mock assault on a mock enemy headquarter and the team returned unscathed with the ‘enemy’ brigade commander as a hostage, the GOC was thrilled and he invited him for a drink in the Alfa Mess. The raid was reminiscent in the manner in which Major Otto Skorzney had carried out the famous Gran Sasso raid in Italy that had rescued Mussolini during the Second World War and it gave Shiraz a lot of confidence that it could also be done as a daring commando operation against Pakistan backed militant outfits that were now also operating inside Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile by end October 1971, the problems in East Pakistan for General Niazi and his commanders had reached a new crisis level as the activities of the Mukti Bahini had started surfacing in the cities and towns too. On 11th October, Dhaka airport came under a heavy mortar attack and ten days later on the 23rd, the former Governor of the province Abdul Monem Khan was shot dead in broad light in his own house. The Hotel Intercontinental, the State Bank, the television station were also targeted and cases of arson and revenge deaths were now also on the increase. According to reports some 3000 square miles along the border with India was now fully under the Mukti Bahini sphere of influence and which was backed by India. And for the Pakistani troops who had been trying for the past eight months to restore control in the rural areas of the long porous border with India, it was already a hopeless situation. The troops had been at it without rest or relief and were already fed up. Their morale was in their boots and as casualties kept mounting by the day, the men were even afraid to get out from their posts. There was no aggressive patrolling of the border and the frequency too had been reduced at some places to just once a week. Major General Jilani, the DG ISI in the month of September while briefing the American Congressman, Frelinghuysen had not only expressed Pakistan’s serious concern about the big Indian military deployment in the border areas of East Pakistan, but he also condemned India’s intentions in armimg and tacitly supporting the Mukti Bahini. General Jilani also highlighted on a map the existence of nearly 70 Indian sponsored Mukti Bahini insurgent training camps that were now in existence along the long East Pakistan’s border with India. At the same time some enterprising foreign correspondents representing prestigious magazines and newspapers like the Time, The Guardian and others, seeing that things were now hotting up, and in order to factually and truthfully tell the world what the actual political and military situation was like on the borders even at the risk of their lives had now started making periodical forays with the Mukti Bahini guerrillas into East Pakistan. They also reported about the many Mukti Bahini training camps that had already mushroomed and about those that were in the process of being organized. Dan Coggin the Time magazine correspondent having met people in the Gopalganj Subdivision of the province reported the presence of a Bangladesh shadow government in the area, and Martin Woolacutt of the Guardian even accompanied a raiding party from the Nyomito Bahini, the newly formed Bangladesh forces to harass the Pakistan company position at Maslia in the Jessore Sector. For Martin it was quite an experience as he accompanied the leader, a tall officer who was earlier in the Pakistan Army Service Corps and his 16 barefooted soldiers for the operation. They were all dressed in their traditional lungis or shorts and were armed with a few old bren guns, a Chinese sten, a few two inch mortars and a couple of .303 rifles for the task. As they got into a boat the young officer having warned his motley crew not to smoke, told Martin that tonight’s operation was nothing more than a mission by his jitter party to harass and to keep the enemy awake and guessing. It was a short and sweet affair as the group took up position well away from the objective and opened fire with their weapons. A few minutes later as they got back into the boat, the enemy retaliated by firing a couple of flares to light up the area and then follwed it up with a few rounds from their own mortars that did nobody any harm. With the mission accomplished the jitter party returned back safely to base.

And as the Mukti Bahini operations in East Pakistan gathered momentum, Montek Singh Bajwa (Monty) who was now working with Burmah Shell Company received his transfer orders and he with his wife and daughter Dimpy left Delhi for Bangalore. Though he was being sent there on promotion as the regional manager, but he felt sad leaving Delhi and his mother and sister Loveleen behind.

This was also the month and year of the inaugural world cup for the supremacy in field hockey. Initially the competition for the beautiful 61 centimetre trophy that was presented by Air Marshall Noor Khan, the President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation was to have been played in Pakistan, but with a war on the horizon, it had now been shifted to Barcelona in Spain. With their love for the game both the brothers, Monty and Shiraz had taken a token bet of a hundred rupees with Monty backing Pakistan as the favourite and Shiraz backing India to win the trophy. But India only got the bronze while Pakistan won the gold and the trophy by beating the hosts Spain in the finals. India under captain Ajit Pal Singh had lost 2-1 to Pakistan in the sem-finals, and Pakistan under their captain Khalid Mahmood had beaten Spain 1-0 in the pulsating final. On that day of 24th October as Khalid Mohammed lifted the handsome trophy over his head, the man who felt the most proud was Brigadier Atif a former Pakistani Hockey Captain and who now was the Brigade Commander of the 117 Infantry Brigade at Comilla in East Pakistan. Brigadier Manssor Hussein Atif had represented his country in four Olympics and it was under his captaincy during the 1962 Asian Games at Jakarta that Pakistan beat India 2-1 in the finals. That was also the year when the Indian army had been humiliated by China and now Atif having given due consideration in developing the Comilla cantonment into a fortress waited for the day when the balloon would go up.

For Pakistan the day of reckoning was not very far it seemed as the Indian Prime Minister, Mrs Gandhi in mid October embarked on a whirlwind tour of Europe and America. She first went to Moscow and then to the capitals of the western world to put across to the world leaders the reality of the situation in the explosive borders of the subcontinent. On 19th October, at a press conference in Delhi, she declared. We do not want to provoke war or do anything because of which a war situation may develop. But it is not a one sided matter and we cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.

And even a fortnight later when she followed this up on 2nd November, 1971 during a television interview in London by stating that. We in India are determined that we are not going to be saddled with another country’s problem and the refugees must go back, people didn’t take her very seriously. But when she appeared on the popular BBC programme ‘Panorama’ and in a firm tone and in a no nonsense manner said. We are not dependent upon what others think or want us to do. We know what we want for ourselves and we are going to do exactly what we feel is good for our country, whatever is the cost, an excited Shiraz who was listening in on his radio remarked Here here and well said Madame Prime Minister. And when The Indian Prime Minister further added that India would welcome help from any country but if it doesn’t come, it would’nt matter and rubbed it in more by adding that. When Hitler was on the rampage, why didn’t you say lets keep quiet and lets have peace with Germany and let the Jews die, or let Belgium die or France die , a proud Shiraz immediately wrote about it to Shups.

Meanwhile seeing Nixon’s love for Yahya, Madame Gandhi also wrote to him and in all sincerity asked. Mr President, was the release or secret negotiations with a single human being, namely Sheikh Mujibur Rehman more disastrous than the waging of a war? Now the situation was indeed becoming desparate as far as India and Pakistan were concerned. Both in the east and the west the Pakistani armed forces were now put on full alert as India intensified the forward movement of her troops. The Indian Army Chief, General Sam Maneckshaw together with the Naval and Airforce chiefs having outlined the strategy for operations in both the theatres, was now getting ready to finalize the joint plans and implement the full scale mobilization of their respective services.

At around sunset on the 7th of November, 1971 which also happened to be the October Revolution Day in Russia, Begum Abida with her daughter Samina dressed in the long traditional Muslim Burkha outfit which they were not very much used to decided to take the risk and cross over into India. They were escorted by two local men who were were carrying a bundle of their clothes on their heads. And going off the beaten track they had made their way from the town of Jessore to the border village of Boyra which they were told had been secured by the Mukti Bahini and by a platoon of Indian soldiers from the Indian Army’s 1st Naga Regiment. Forty-eight hours earlier, Mrs Haq had received intimation from a reliable source that ‘the fish in Moscow was not at all tasty’ and the Indian intelligence network operating in that area had conveyed that coded message to her. They also conveyed to her that her husband in Moscow on that very night of 7th November would also defect and make his way to some western country and seek political asylum there. And she with her daughter should therefore must also escape and seek asylum in India. Unfortunately as the party neared the border village of Garibpur, they were apprehended by a Pakistani military patrol. With the information that the Mukti Bahini were now utilizing the services of women for gathering intelligence, all of them were arrested and taken to the nearest Pakistani army post. Luckily none of them were carrying any weapons and the two bundles that the two locals were carrying on their heads only had only some old clothes inside them. While the two local guides were being subjected to third degree methods, the two ladies were made to wait outside the Company Commander’s office cum bunker. When the deep voice of the man from inside the bunker ordered the patrol leader to go back to the nearby village and get hold of a village elder and an elderly woman to carry out a physical search of the two ladies who had been apprehended, Samina on hearing that voice which sounded so very familiar, nearly fainted and she instinctively put both her hands to her lips. The male voice had a familiar ring and she immediately whispered in Bengalii into her mother’s ears.

Ma, maybe I am wrong but I think it is him. The voice did sound like Fazal’s and if that be so he certainly won’t believe our cover story either. And what if he or his deputy wish to see our faces for identification and they start interrogating us, that will be indeed terrible, whispered Samina to her mother. The two ladies had been briefed by the Indian intelligence that incase they were apprehended before reaching the border and were questioned about their presence in the area, they should say that they were from Jessore and having received information that their grandfather who was from Boyra was on his death bed, they were on their way to the village to pay their last respects to him. And in order to give more authenticity to that cover story, the two ladies had also been given two new identities as real sisters. The authorities concerned had even placed a frail old dead body in the village for inspection if required. The question now was should they or should they not reveal their true identities and if they did speak the truth would Captain Fazal Rehman help them to escape, or would he do his duty and arrest them.

Well if he does really and truly loves you so much then I think we should quietly take him into confidence and tell him the truth before the patrol party returns and conducts the physical search. Don’t forget we also have a lot of Indian rupees hidden in our under garments and if that money is found then the cat will be out of the bag and we will be in real trouble, said the mother as the Punjabee Muslim sentry guarding them outside the bunker warned the two ladies to stop jabbering in Bengali and to keep quiet.

A minute later Samina and her mother purposely got into a heated argument as they kept shouting at each other loudly and accusing one another for not summoning the family doctor from Jessore while their old grandfather who had done so much for them lay dying. Hearing their frenzied quarrel, Captain Fazal Rehman who by now thanks to Samina understood colloquial Bengali as spoken by Dhakaites quickly came out from his bunker. And when he apologized and said in his broken Bengali that he felt sorry for the two ladies and added that the body search was just a formality, but mandatory and would be soon over with, Samina with tears flowing from her cheeks for a brief moment lifted the veil of her burkha and revealed her beautiful face to him. On seeing her face Fazal Rehman was simply stunned. He did not know what hit him. For a few seconds he just stood there speechless. He did not know what to do or say till the sentry who was standing nearby asked in Punjabi. Sahib sub thik tho hai na (Sir I hope everything is alright.). Hearing that Fazal Rehman immediately told the sentry to inform the company Subedar to have the two ladies and the two men released immediately and he retreated back into his bunker. Lying on his wooden charpoy he took out Samina’s photogaph from his purse, kissed it and prayed for her and he mother’s safe passage to India.

That night before crossing the border into India, Samina wrote a small touching note to Fazal and gave it to the two escorts to deliver it to him on their way back to Jessore. The note in English enclosed in a small envelope with a lock of her beautiful hair inside simply read. ‘My Darling, love has no borders and no matter what happens in the future, I will always keep loving you. Thank you for giving us a new lease of life and let us both pray to Allah that we are once again reunited in the not too distant future."

Early next morning when that note was delivered to Captain Fazal Rehman, he too could not hide his tears as he kept kissing the note and caressed the lock of hair. A few minutes later he received information that another major Indian infantry unit had crossed into his battalion defended sector in the Boyra sub sector. The unit was none other than the Raghupartap, the First Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifle Regiment and which also happenned to be Major Samir Bhattacharya’s parent unit. A unit that he loved and was commissioned into way back in 1959 when the unit was deployed on the snow bound heights above Kanzalwan and Gurez in the trouble torn state of Jammu and Kashmir.

It now seemed that the Indian Army had decided to take the initiative by pushing in its regular troops with those of the Mukti Bahini in order to liberate and get physical control of some of the more tactically important border areas which eventually would serve as firm bases and jumping off points for the Indian army’s major offensive into East Pakistan. The move was also aimed to test the enemy’s defensive capabilities and to make him react prematurely.

On 19th November, 1971 and on the eve of the great Muslim festival of Eid, Lt General Niazi on receiving a topsecret message from GHQ that the Indian Army was planning to launch its main offensive on Eid Day when his own troops and their commanders would be busy with the festivities, the General officer having adopted the fortress concept of defence by converting the border towns along the likely axes of advance by the enemy into strong points and nodal points decided to preempt the Indian move with a full scale attack on Boyra. The task to evict the ingress made by the Indians in that sector was therefore given to units of the Divisional troops which consisited of 21 Punjab, the Recce and Support Battalion that was being commanded by Lt Colonel Imtiaz Wahraich and to 6 Punjab a regular Infantry Battalion under the command of Lt Colonel Sharif.

At 6 AM on 21st November, both the Pakistani Task Forces Alfha and Bravo commenced their attack, but it soon got bogged down when Indian tanks opened up from their well concealed positions and the Indian artillery from across the borderd plastered the area with their long range medium and heavy guns. The desperate Pakistani Brigade Commander of the 107 Infantry Brigade conducting the operation now called for air support. No sooner had the three Pakistani Sabre jets appeared in the sky, they were intercepted and attacked by the four Indian Gnats from the 22 Squadron that had on an early radar warning taken off from the airfield at Barrackpur near Calcutta. In that dogfight when the Pakistanis lost two of their aircrafts and the third limped back and crashed into the nearby Chaguacha Lake, the Indian ground troops and the refugees on the border watching the action simply went delirious with joy. Some of them from the Raghupartap unit came out of their bunkers and started doing the Punjabi Bhangra dance, while the Pakistanis licking their wounds had no other option but to call off the ground attack. As some of the debris from the aircrafts fell in and around Captain Fazal Rehman’s post, a dejected Fazal Rehman retreated into his bunker to record the event in his diary.

The credit for shooting down the F-86 Sabres went to a team of young Indian pilots that were ably led by Flight Lieutenant RA Massey and it was his two young pilots, Flight Lieutenant MA Ganapathy and Flying Officer D’ Lazarus that had scored the first hits. However, both the young Pakistani pilots, Flight Lieutenant Parvez Mehdi Quereshi and Flying Officer Khalil Ahmed who managed to bail out after that dramatic and spectacular air battle were captured by the Indian ground troops and 1 JAK RIF(Raghupartap) that day became the proud owners of a war trophy. It was the ejection seat of Flight Lieutenant Parvez, a capable pilot who aspired to become the Pakistan Air Chief one day. The next day when the two Pakistani pilots were produced before a crowded press conference in Calcutta and the gun camera shots of the dog fight in the sky were splashed across the newspapers of the world and made headlines, Shiraz who personally knew one of the Indian pilots promptly wrote a letter of congratulations to him with the caption The tiny Indian Gnat once again proves to be a a giant killer. Just keep it up.

During the fierce land battle that continued for two days and saw a major encounter of tanks from both sides in equal numbers with one trying to get the better of the other, it was the courage and heroisn of Major Daljit Singh Narang and his Charlie Squadron from India’s 45 Cavalry who took the honours. But unfortunately the young Sikh officer did not live to see the day when his remaining PT—76 amphibious tanks of Russian origin would once again annhilate the enemy. The outdated Pakistani Caffee tanks it seems were no match against the versatile PT-76. For the Pakistanis that 21st of November, Eid Day unfortunately became a bloody Sunday of regret and sorrow. The very next day the three chiefs of the Indian armed forces having held an urgent meeting with Mr Jagjiwan Ram the Indian Defence Minister put their respective services on high alert. Earlier the Mukti Bahini too had their share of success when they carried out an attack on a Pakistani troop train that resulted in further losses to the already demoralized Pakistani soldiers fighting in East Pakistan.

The Battle for the Boyra salient that was fought near the village of Garibpur and at an important cross road that was along the highway to Jessore marked the first formal engagement between India and Pakistan. Though Brigadier Mohammed Hayat Khan the Commander of Pakistan’s 107 Infantry Brigade at Jessore refused to admit defeat, that evening a jubiliant Major General Dalbir Singh the GOC Indian 9 Infantry Division, a Sikh and a kingsize man with an equally kingsize heart was rejoicing at the success of his gallant troops by having some rum and pakoras with them. But Boyra was not the only place where the Indian troops had ingressed. The Indian Army had followed it up with similar limited operations at other salients including those in the areas bordering Belonia in the Noakhali District, Maulvi Bazaar in the Sylet District, Burangabari in the Rangpur district, Hilli in Dinajpur District and even in the Chittagong hill tract. For the Pakistan troops in East Pakistan and for Lt General Niazi in particular this meant that the noose was now in the process of being tightened around them from every possible side, both by the Indian army and the Mukti Bahini. Observing the pattern and the deployment of the Indian fighting formations against his forces, Lt General Niazi only a few days ago had spelt out to his Divisional staff and other senior formation commanders his overall plan to counter the Indian grand design to liberate East Pakistan. He had been tasked to defend East Pakistan at all costs and his orders now were that the troops deployed on the borders must keep fighting till he personally ordered them to withdraw to his so called fortresses that were based on the important towns and major obstacles in depth and were along the enemy’s major axes of advance to Dhaka.

Surprisingly despite India’s military action of crossing the international border, which ofcourse was being vehemently denied by the Indian government, it was not capitalized in the manner it should have been by the Pakistanis. This was a blatant act of aggression which should have been highlighted by Pakistan politically and internationally by calling for a urgent meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations, but thanks to the ambitious, clever and crafty Mr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who had once again been appointed to look after the country’s foreign affairs by General Yahya Khan, he made sure that Pakistan did not do so. When Mr Agha Shahi who was Pakistan’s permanent representative in the United Nations on 22nd November send an urgent cable to Mr Bhutto urging the need to bring the matter before the Security Council, the shrewed and ever scheming and calculating Mr Bhutto simply sent back a reply saying that the matter was being considered and Mr Agha Shahi should not take any action on the matter. Meanwhile General Yahya Khan on that very day declared a state of emergency throughout Pakistan.

Arif Rehman Khan in the Ministry of Exrenal Affais who was now marking time to go as an Ambassador or High Commissioner to some important country was also shocked beyond belief with the reply that Bhutto had sent to Mr Agha Shahi. Arif felt that a God sent golden opportunity to put India on the mat as an aggressor had been missed. With clear cut proof of India’s involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs that could have been highlighted through photographs of Indian soldiers killed in action and taken prisoners by the world press and the television media, Pakistan could have forced the United Nations security council to condemn India’s actions, but Bhutto it seems was more interested in fanning the fire to his own personal advantage. Only a day earlier when General Yahya Khan on 21st November, appointed Mr Nurul Amin, a Bengali from East Pakistan as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, it had hurt Bhutto’s ego. Bhutto too had been offered the post of Deputy Prime Minister, but he caregorically said no to it. He was confident that he would now be the one who would be calling the shots in the west and as far as East Pakistan was concerned it could go to hell. Seeing Bhutto’s attitude, Arif Rehman who had drafted that note for the members of the Security Council asking for the United Nations immediate intervention in the matter simply tore it off and left the office in disgust.

That evening when he with his wife Ruksana went to his elder brother’s house to give him the good news that his only son Salim Rehman was planning to appear for the Pakistan Foreign Service, the suave Pakistani general officer and a thorough gentleman from the First Pioneers who was about to hang his boots at the end of the year was also cursing the generals and other senior officers of the Pakistan army for their total lack of political vision, immoral conduct and poor leadership qualities. As a senior officer who was about to retire, Gul Rehman had received some very disturbing letters confidentially both from serving and retired army officers regarding the unbecoming conduct and irresponsible behaviour of some so called senior military leaders of the country, and especially about those who were presently serving in East Pakistan. He was worried that this could have a very devastating effect on the young blood in the long run. After all they were the future of the nation. One such letter was also from his son Captain Fazal Rehman Khan who spelt out in no uncertain terms that the conduct of some of the senior military commanders in East Pakistan was so very disgraceful and demeaning that he himself felt ashamed of wearing the uniform. According to another Lt Colonel who had just retired and who had distinguished himself during the 1965 operations and had served under Lt General Niazi on his staff when he was commanding a Division in Sialkot, the letter was a real bombshell. He was now openly accusing the general officer of being nothing less than a lousy sex hungry debauch. Another retired officer who had served till very recently under the same general while he was in command of the Pakistan 10 Infantry Division at Lahore was no less abusive either. According to this officer, Niazi who was also the martial law administrator at Lahore till he was promoted and sent to Dhaka, was nothing less than a sexmaniac and a crook. And what was worse is that even now in Dhaka under the present circumstances he was reported to be frequently making such nocturnal visits to houses of ill repute that were also being frequented by his own junior officers. There were also unconfirmed reports of his and his senior staff officers indulging in the smuggling of ‘Paan,’ betel leaves from the east to the west which was considered to be very lucrative business. Therefore all this was naturally giving the Pakistan army in the east a bad name and Gul Rehman was obviously very upset about it. Taking his younger brother Arif into confidence he then in a distressing and sad tone said.

You know Arif sometimes I feel that I should have resigned the day I was superseded. Atleast I would have gone home proudly wearing my damn uniform. And look what is happening now. As it is our men in uniform in that part of the world have been branded as rapists, killers and looters and instead of checking such shameful activities the senior officers are themselves indulging in all this, added Gul Rehman with a look of disgust on his face as Zubeida with her six month old grandson(Vovka) Samir Rehman Khan in her arms and with her daughter-in-law Farzana with the drinks trolley in tow, and sister-in-law Ruksana with a plate of hot kebabs joined the two men in the drawing room.

Conceived in Moscow and born on the 1st of May 1971 at the Pindi Military hospital, the beautiful child with light blue eyes like that of his pretty mother Farzana and with the Russian nickname of Vovka was now the darling of the house. The presence of the child amidst the elders was a source of joy for everyone and when the topic centered on whom he looked like and everybody expressed their individual opinion, Gul Rehman very proudly took him in his arms and having smothered him with kisses said, Naturally he is like his handsome grandfather, But when the theme once again reverted back to the juicy subject of the nightlife of some of the generals and notably that of the President himself and General Niazi, and Arif’s wife Ruksana in order to have a little dig at her brother-in-law casually mentioned that if one wanted to really know more about the Pakistan army, then all one had to do was to visit some of the popular whore houses of Lahore and particularly the more trendy one which went by the name of ‘Senorita Home’ in Gulberg, that was being run by one Mrs Saeeda Bukhari, there was a wicked smile on Gul Rehman’s face. And on hearing that coming from his wife, Arif Rehman too felt a little embarrassed.

"Well she is damn well right and as far as Sialkot is concerned one had only to contact someone called Shamin Firdaus because she too was in the same profession catering for the high and the mighty,’ added Gul Rehman as Zubeida also gave him a dirty look and took Vovka back into her arms.

My God I must say that all of you are indeed very well informed, but guess what, at a kitty party the other day in the club when I met a few senior ladies whose husbands are presently serving in East Pakistan they seem to be very happy with the extra moolah coming in from there. Some of them I was told have also gone into the whitegoods business of selling fridges, air conditioners, radios etc, and with no more additional space available in their houses, they have therefore opened up shops in their garages in order to dispose of all the loot that has steadily been flowing in from the east, added Farzana as she called out to the khansama in the kitchen to quickly send some more snacks.

Chi Chi Chi Chi what a damn shame!. This is simply ridiculous and is this what our army has come too? How can the very guardians of our nation in a crisis situation like this ever even think off behaving in such a mean and disgusting manner, remarked Zubeida as she rocked little Vovka to sleep.

On 23rd November, 1971 the American State department in a secret telegram to its Embassy in Islamabad directed the American Ambassador to seek an immediate interview with President Yahya Khan and convey to him America’s deep concern over the recent military developments in East Pakistan. The American State Department also conveyed the same to Mr Keating the American Ambassador in Delhi. The secret telegram also mentioned that the United States was also instructing Mr Jacob D Bean, the American Ambassador in Moscow to convey to the Soviets about America’s concern in the rapidly deteriorating situation in the subcontinent and with a request to the Soviet leaders to use their influence in restraining India from escalating the issue any further. In the meanwhile, in order to ensure China’s support, General Yahya dispatched a high-powered delegation to Beijing. It was led by Mr Bhutto who was now once again the counry’s Foreign Minister and he was accompanied by Air Marshall Rahim Khan, the Chief of Pakistan Airforce and Lt General Gul Hasan Khan, the Pakistani Chief of General Staff. In the month July with Pakistan’s help and diplomatic effort, Mr Henry Kissinger had also made a secret trip to Beijing, and since then the Sino-American-Pakistan bond of friendship had been steadily growing.

Assured by Yahya that the Chinese and the Americans