LAND

OF
MIGHT









Kumar .
A COMPILATION OF EXCERPTS AND LITTLE KNOWN,
UNKNOWN STORIES OF THIS GREAT LAND KNOWN FOR
ITS MYSTICISM BUT UNDOCUMENTED HEROISM. A
GLIMPSE INTO WHAT PEOPLE OF THIS LAND ARE, HAVE
BEEN, FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE .

1

Foreword

This book is a documentation of heroes of India. It is not about ordinary people or tough people. It
has been written about people who have crossed the line and lived for something which they felt
needs to be done, however magnanimous it is. Their inner strength and character infalliable.

It is composition of my own research, great articles, documentation of events by different sources.
It shows the splendour of large heartedness of some individuals, the works they did and they way
they lived..
Sufficient work has been done to gather the details, proofs of the events. They can be gladly
checked to ascertain the facts.




















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CONTENTS

The Bird man of Kheechan
Dr. Shrikant Jichkar
Bishnu Shrestha Indian Army
Shaitan Singh True blue valour
Sam Bahadur Manekshaw
Cherukulathur - A small village and a noble deed
Shyamakanta Bandopadhyay - Tiger Swami
The Lover Manjhi
Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy - The Eye Opener









3

The Birdman of Kheechan
- Gangadharan Menon


Ratanlal Maloo the man who has single-handedly called
over 15,000 Demoiselle Cranes to his little hamlet in
Rajasthan from their homes in Mongolia and Eurasia, as
annual guests, and created a sanctuary worth visiting
almost from negligible numbers. The love and care he
showed the birds ensured that their numbers increased
year after year as word spread in their home-town .

It all began over 40 years ago when his uncle requested
him to return from Orissa, where he was working, just to
help his lonely mother cross the magical age of 100. Little
did Ratanlal know that it was a decision that would change
his life, and the lives of thousands of demoiselle cranes.
Since Ratanlal had precious little to do in the half-asleep village of Kheechan, his uncle
entrusted him with a job: feed the pigeons and sparrows and peacocks that frequent a place
at the outskirts of the village.
Ratanlal and his newly married wife Sundarbai liked this idea as they were devout Jains
who believed that its their bounden duty to give alms and to feed birds. Young Ratanlal
used to carry a sackfull of grains to the feeding place and his wife used to transfer it into a
large vessel and disburse it on the ground at the feeding place.
Initially, for a couple of months, only the usual suspects came to feed: squirrels, sparrows,
pigeons, and the occasional peacock. But then in the month of September, he found a dozen
of a huge, black and white bird that he had never seen before, feeding with the regulars. On
asking the villagers, he was told that they were migratory birds that have been frequenting
the farmlands of Kheechan in winter. They were called demoiselle cranes or kurja in
Rajasthani.
It was love at first sight. Ratanlalji started observing them closely. To his joy, he realised
that their numbers started growing till it reached around 80 in November. But in February,
to his horror all of them disappeared overnight.
He had to wait for a year for them to come back. And this time around, there were over 150
of them. Word must have spread in Mongolia and Eurasia that theres a feast awaiting them
in Kheechan, served by this gentle soul called Ratanlal. This number kept on increasing
every year, and in the 40 years of his care and conservation, the number became a
staggering 15,000 last year.
4

The early days were a struggle for Ratanlal, and the later days a bigger struggle. Once the
demoiselle cranes started growing in numbers, the local dogs saw these huge three-foot
birds as sitting ducks. They used to pounce upon them, either killing them for meat, or
leaving them injured. So firstly, Ratanlal got the panchayat to allot him some land on the
outskirts of the village, and he coaxed the richer villagers to help him build a 6-foot fence
around what he called the Chugga Ghar or the Feeding Home. He then got a granary made
to store the grains that started pouring in from fellow Jain traders who were supportive of
the cause. He even got a room constructed to house the injured cranes and bring them back
to the pink, nay black and white, of health.


On asked, Ratanlal explained the quantity of grains thats required to feed these birds. What
started off as a few innocuous kilos of grains in a year has now become an astronomical 1
lakh kilos annually. In peak season today, an average of around 12,000 demoiselle cranes
arrive as state guests from November to February. Look at these amazing stats: A thousand
cranes need one hundred kilos of grains per day. For 12,000 cranes thats 12 hundred kilos.
For a month thats 36,000 kilos. For four months, that adds up to over 1,40,000 kilos. At the
rate of Rs. 60 per kilo that works out to over 85 lakh rupees per annum! Thats the kind of
money that the Jain community spread across the length and breadth of the planet helps
him raise every year. It is a quiet cognizance of his selfless service spread over four decades
that helped him generate such enormous goodwill.

Declared as a World Heritage Site by the World Crane Foundation, Kheechan attracts
hundreds of Indians and foreigners who come to witness the spectacle of thousands of
demoiselle cranes feeding right in the middle of a human settlement. Torbjorn Eriksen, an
ornithologist and wildlife photographer from Denmark a visitor said he had seen many
congregations of different species of birds across the world, but never one so dramatic.
5

Torbjorn explained the sheer ecological significance of Ratanlals act of devotion. Because
the cranes get the food they need in the Chugga Ghar, they dont ravage the farmlands of
Kheechan and the surrounding villages, thereby making them more endearing and
acceptable to humans. Hence theres no man-animal conflict here, but rather a heart-
warming man-animal coexistence.

When reminded Ratanlal that his guests come all the way from Mongolia and Eurasia, he
smiled and said, To me it doesnt matter where they are coming from, and where they are
going. What matters to me is that they have entered my life, and they are here to stay.
As a tractor load of grains was being unloaded, a farmer came with an injured demoiselle
crane, attacked viciously by a village dog. As Ratanlal washed its wounds with care and
compassion, I remembered what he had told me a while ago when I had asked him if he had
any children. He had said, No, I dont have any. But no, I do have. I have about 15,000 of
them!
Ratanlal explained to me what he had observed in these birds over the years. They spend
the night in a salty landscape called Malhar Rinn, about 25 kms from Kheechan as the crane
flies. And just before the sun wakes up, they fly to the sand-dunes overlooking the Chugga
Ghar. After the entire flock of a few thousands collect on the dunes, they slowly march
towards the Chugga Ghar thats a kilometre away. Here they wait outside the enclosure
patiently, for almost an hour. Meanwhile a group of about 30 of them encircle the place,
making sure its safe to land. Once the leader of this group lands, the entire entourage
follows. And then all heaven breaks loose! Waves after waves of these beautiful birds land
inside. First the ones that are close to the enclosure, and then the ones that have lined up all
the way up to the dunes. But the discipline they show has to be seen to be believed. Though
there would be about 4 to 6 thousand of them on any given day, at any given point in time
there wont be more than about 500 of them inside the enclosure. Its only when the groups
inside fly away that the groups outside enter.
6



Ratanlal told me that for many years it was an anonymous leader
who used to be the first one to land. But since the last 11 years, there has been a change of
guard. The leader now is a crane referred to locally as langda, as it has a limp leg. He is
instantly recognizable as his leg dangles in the air as he hovers around the Chugga Ghar,
and then lands on one leg!
The demoiselle cranes, after a sumptuous meal, fly off to the two lakes at the periphery of
the village: Vijaysagar Lake and Raatdi Naadi. Here they sip the blueness of the lake and
then gobble copious quantities of the pebbles that lie on the lakeshores. Ratalal explained
the reason for this strange habit. Since the grains they eat are whole grains, these pebbles
act as grinding stones and make it easier for them to digest them. Then they have a dip in
the lake, and the more romantic among them indulge in ballet-like mating dances. Just
before sundown, they call it a day. And fly off to Malhar Rinn to spend the night standing on
one leg. This routine continues till March, when one day, without any warning, they fly off
to the land of their birth, in the thick of the night.

On the 7th of July 2011, Ratanlal too flew away from this world in the middle of the night,
just like his feathered friends.






---



7

Dr. Shrikant Jichkar
September 14, 1954 June 2, 2004
Dr. Shrikant Jichkar was born in a farming family in
Maharashtra .Dr. Shrikant Jichkar was a man of staggering
academic, professional achievements. Most of his degrees were
with first merit . Lets see what his academic achievements
were :
Began as a Medical Doctor (MBBS and MD)
He did his Law (LL.B.) with Post-graduation in International
Law (LL.M.) and then,
Masters in Business Administration (DBM and MBA)
Masters in Journalism (B.Journ)
He did his Masters in ten subjects.
M.A. (Public Administration)
M.A. (Sociology)
M.A. (Economics)
M.A. (Sanskrit)
M.A. (History)
M.A.(English Literature)
M.A. (Philosophy)
M.A. (Political Science)
M.A. (Ancient Indian History,Culture and Archaeology)
M.A (Psychology).
He got his D. Litt (Doctor of Letters) in Sanskrit , the highest of any Degree in a University.

Gold Medals 28 in his studies,between 1973 and 1990, he has written 42 University Examinations
each ever summer and every winter.
8

In 1978 , wrote the IPS (Indian Police Service) examination and got into it, resigned and
In 1980 , wrote the IAS (Indian Administrative Services) examination and got into it. resigned in
four months and then !

Became the Youngest MLA in the country at 25 , after he contested his first election in 1980, to the
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly .
became Member of Rajya Sabha (199298) .

He became a powerful government Minister holding 14 portfolios at a time at a state. He was on
important committees of the state and central government, including the Parliamentary Standing
committee on Finance; the Patents Committee; the Planning Board; the Resources Mobilization
Committee; the Taxation Reforms Committee, and the High Power Committee on Irrigation and
Transport.

and of course he is in the Limca book of records for being the most educated man in india .




* * *







9

Bishnu Shrestha Indian Army

Shrestha-- boarded the train at Ranchi in Jharkhand, the place of his posting--was in seat
no. 47 in coach AC3, returning home following voluntary retirement from the Indian army .
As his express train roared through the darkness of the jungles of West Bengal, this soldier
was quietly, looking out the window into the calm stillness of the night sky. The 35 year old
veteran was finally on his way back home, having just retired from his position as a Naik
(Corporal) in the 7th Battalion of the 8th Gurkha Infantry a famous, heroic regiment, a
unit in which Shrestha's own father himself had served.

After having spent a good part of his adult life fighting foes and charging
enemy positions, he was looking forward to finally seeing an end and settling down,
building a family in the quiet mountains of his homeland. On this evening he was on the
Maurya Express, a passenger train sharing it's name with a King of might - Chandragupta
Maurya, enjoying the serenity of the indian night.
Around midnight, the mighty locomotive ground to a halt unexpectedly, sending
passengers lurching forward in their seats. The band of robbers, some of whom were
travelling as passengers, stopped the train in the Chittaranjan jungles in West Bengal
around midnight.

And then, from a side doors more armed thugs leapt into the train from the jungle beyond.
They started stealing wallets, tearing jewelry from the necks of old women, snatching
laptops and cell phones, and waving knives in the faces of terrified hostages.
Naik Bishnu Shrestha just sat there quietly. They started snatching jewelry, cell phones,
cash, laptops and other belongings from the passengers, Shrestha recalled, not saying
anything even when the thugs took his own wallet, he remained silent. He knew they over
numbered.
The robbers started to strip an 18-year-old girl sitting next to him and tried to rape her
right in front of her parents. The girl saw him and cried for help, she said You are a soldier,
please save a sister. He just moved into action moved by the call. He did not care any more
of the number of dacoits that were there . Shrestha recalled. I prevented her from being
raped, thinking of her as my own sister. He then took out his khukuri and took on the
robbers.

Shrestha leapt to his feet, drawing the ultimate symbol of gurkha warrior skills the Khukri
10

a traditional gurkha knife with one fluid motion. He flew across the train car, grabbing
the would-be rapist from behind in a sleeper hold, pulled him up off the girl, and used him
as a human shield while he lunged out and slashed one of the sword-swinging thugs,. One
of them, unwilling to stab in the direction of his own boss, instead took the impotent route
and tried to cut the girl, slashing his knife wildly at her neck, but the girl escaped, only took
a minor wound before Shrestha dropped him dead with one more quick Khukri strike. With
the robbers in the immediate vicinity disposed of, he took control of the attacker and
fought on .
Over the next twenty minutes, Corporal Bishnu Shrestha raced through the aisles giving
those dacoits a hard time , lunging, dodging, knife fighting dangerously. He took on the
entire train 40 men trying to pounce, in the thin passage ways of the train, killing three
and wounding eight more seriously with a ferocious series of swings even after. He took a
bad sword blow that severed a major artery and veins in his left hand, he continued
fighting with his kukri, all the while bleeding.
The sight of him fighting was too
much for those weak thugs, and
once they realized that they
weren't just beating up
schoolchildren and robbing old
ladies for their wedding rings and
were instead facing a real man,
they dropped all their loot and ran
away. The wounded robbers were
held by the passengers. The whole
thing was over in about 20
minutes. When the train stopped in
the next station, police and
emergency personnel there,
treated the wounded and rushed Shrestha to the hospital.

Bishnu Shrestha was temporarily un-retired from the Gurkhas for the purposes of being
promoted and subsequently awarded two medals for bravery and awesomeness. His
former unit also awarded him honourably with a silver-plated kukri. The Indian
Government also awarded him the bounty that was on the heads of this vicious gang and
gave him incentives.
Ultimately, Bishnu Shrestha doesn't need any thanks for doing what he needed to do. The
family of the girl he saved too, offered him a reward , but he never took it .He said it best,
responding to reporters "Fighting the enemy in battle is my duty as a soldier. Taking on the
thugs on the train was my duty as a human being."
11



death is better than being a coward gurkha moto


12

Shaitan Singh 123 TRUE BLUE VALOUR

When the survivors of Rezang La told the commanders
what had happened, they were not believed, but asked to
clear their senses from battle shock. Then the survivor had
to ask them to check the facts at the battle site to prove
their details. It was Shaitan Singh, born on December 1,
1924 at Jodhpur in Rajasthan and his troops which had
caused all this unbelievable mess . His father was Lt Col
Hem Singh Bhati.
In the 1962 Sino-Indian War, The 'C' Company of the
battalion, led by Singh, held this crucial position at Rezang
La, a pass on the south-eastern approach to Chushul Valley
in Ladakh, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, at a height of 5,000 metres (16,404 feet).
Ramchander Yadav was the Radio man of the company. The company area was defended
by three platoon positions and the surrounding terrain isolated it from the rest of the
battalion.
It was the end of a cold winter night, with light snow falling. The icy winds
howling through Rezang La were biting and benumbing. More than the thin air and cold,
the location of Rezang La had a more serious drawback. It was unavailable to Indian
artillery because of the terrain, which meant that they had to fight without the protective
comfort of the cannons, big guns. In the time of 1962 helicopters and such a transportation
was unthinkable in all locations. In the dim light of the morning, the Chinese were
advancing through nullahs(gaps between heightend land mass) to attack No.7 and No.8
platoon positions.
The Indian Army troops fell on their prepared positions to face the Chinese offensive. At
05:00 when the visibility improved, both platoons opened up on the advancing Chinese
with rifles, light machine guns, grenades and mortars. Indian artillery could, however, not
be used. The nullahs were littered with dead bodies. The survivors took position behind
boulders and the dead bodies. The Chinese, though they failed the first frontal attack, did
not go back. They subjected the Indian positions to intense artillery and mortar fire at
about 05:40 with vengeance. Soon, about 350 Chinese troops commenced advance through
the nullahs. This time, No.9 Platoon, which held fire till the enemy was within 90 metres
opened up with all weapons in their possession. Within minutes, the nullahs were again full
of dead bodies, mainly of the Chinese. This was a plan by Shaitan singh to give the enemy a
surprise.
13

Unsuccessful in frontal attack, the enemy then approximately 400 strong attacked from the
rear of the company position. They simultaneously opened intense medium machine gun
fire on No.8 Platoon. Long before the preparations were done to take care of this attack.
Shaitan singh had made arrangements so that nobody could climb up from behind and
attack. As expected this attack was contained at the barbed wire fencing of the post.
The Chinese then resorted to heavy artillery and
mortar shelling. An assault group of 120 Chinese also charged No.7 Platoon position from
the rear. However, Indian Army 3-inch mortar killed many of them. When 20 surviving
chinese charged the post, Havildar Surja Ram sent message, it is the time they will fight
hand to hand. Out of ammunition, weaponry about a dozen Kumaonis rushed out of their
trenches to fight the armed chinese with their hands and bayonet knives. Meanwhile, the
Chinese brought up fresh reinforcements. The encirclement of No.7 Platoon was sadly
complete. The platoon, however, fought valiantly till there was no survivor. No.8 Platoon
also fought bravely to the last round.
Singh displayed exemplary leadership
and courage in the battle of Rezang La.
By all accounts, he led his troops most
admirably against an immense foe.
Unmindful of his personal safety he
moved from one platoon post to
another and encouraged his men to
fight. While moving among the posts
he was seriously wounded, by a
sniping Chinese MMG but he
continued to fight alongside with his
men. He ordered his radio man,
Ramchander Yadav to be alive, to go to
the base tell and them what happened
and how the indians had fought .
While he was being evacuated by two of his comrades, the Chinese brought heavy machine
gun fire on them. Singh sensed danger to their lives and ordered them to leave him there.
Company Havaldar Harphool Singh said to Ramchander yadav, do not let the chinese get their
hands on Major saabs body. Yadav the decribed the remaining as So I opened the sling of the rifle
and tied Major saab to myself with the belt, joining our bodies together at the waist. And then,
slowly, I started to roll. .

There was very little life left in him. After
about 10 yards, there was gravelly ground, and I started rolling down faster. I rolled for
400 yards, and then there was a nullah, after that boulders again. After rolling for 400
yards, I stopped near a boulder to catch my breath. I was thinking that the Company
headquarters are below, so I should try to somehow get a couple of people from there to
help me, so I can take saab down. But when it was 8.15pm by his watch, I noticed that the
Major saab was no longer alive. Because Major saabs watch ran by his pulse, and when the
14

pulse stopped, the watch stopped. I took off the Majors gloves, and slid his body between
boulders to hide it, so that it remained safe until someone could return to fetch it .
Ramchander Yadav explained how some of his colleagues fought hand to hand when they
were out of ammunition, When company 7 was out of ammunition they ran forward With
bayonets, and attacked the incoming enemy. What they did to the Chinese, earned their
respect.
Sometimes the bayonets would not work , the Chinese were
wearing thick parkas(heavy protective clothing) and the bayonets could not penetrate
them. I saw our men, stabbing repeatedly with their bayonets, and the blade would not go
through. Then they fought with bare hands. One Havildar Singh Ram just grabbed them by
their necks and smashed their heads together and against rocks. He was a wrestler... Bahut
tagda pehelwaan tha. He could catch people like me by the scruff of our necks and say,
cmon, heat the milk. I was his boxer. Before the Chinese left, they sank a bayonet in the
ground near his head, and put a helmet on top. They gave him izzat, samman, they kept a
note there. I have seen that note. Such was the respect even among soldiers, described
Yadav.

In this action, 109 Kumaonis out of a total of 123 were killed. Of the 14 survivors, 9 were
severely injured. The Chinese suffered more than a thousand casualities.
As Ramchander Yadav said Majors body, his gloves with his blood were exactly found
hidden in the rocks; in the Company every jawan with bullet wounds on his chest facing
the enemy, no wounds on their backs; nursing assistant Dharam Pal, who put bandages on
32 wounded soldiers, and he died while bandaging his comrades with his bandages; The
jawan, holding the light machine gun, and he had bullets in his chest, dead...but the
machine gun had not fallen from his hands even when he was dead, he was clasping the
machine gun. And the jawan throwing the grenade, dead, with the grenade still in his
hands, the Chinese could not take the grenade off his hand. Many with their bayonets in
their hands, in a crouching position attacking stance, bullets in their chest, dead. The cold
weather and ice had frozen their bodies just as when they were dead.

Maj. Gen. Ian Cardozo, a Vir Chakra winner,
writes in his Param Vir Chakra- Our heroes in Battle, that When Rezang La was later
checked dead Jawans were found in the trenches still holding on to their weapons, frozen ..
every single man of this company was found dead in his trench with several bullet or
splinter wounds. The 2-inch mortar man died with a bomb still in his hand. The medical
orderly had a syringe and bandage in his hands when the Chinese bullet hit him... Of the
15

thousand mortar bombs with the defenders all but seven had been fired and the rest were
ready to be fired when the (mortar) section was overrun".
A memorial in Rewari where most of the Ahir soldiers of the regiment came from, states
that 1700 Chinese soldiers were killed in the battle on that day. There is an another one in
Ladakh built by all staff. Today because of the fight put up and stopping the momentum of
the chinese, the chinese had to rethink about the war and Ladakh retained as part of india.
After the ceasefire, the body of Singh was found, dead from the bullet wound and the frozen
with cold. It was flown to Jodhpur and cremated with full military honours. Singh was
awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal, posthumously, for his
leadership and devotion to duty.










Rezang La battle memorial in Ladakh



16

Sam Bahadur Manekshaw

It was during the World War II that a young captain
in the 4/12 Frontier Force regiment, Indian Army,
was leading his battalion as a Company Commander
against the invading Japanese. A raging battle on the
Sittang Bridge near Sittang River in Myanmar kept
both the sides on their toes. The young company
commander, even though severely injured with
multiple wounds in the stomach caused by light
machine gun's bullets, was encouraging hi troop;
coercing them and fought until the battle was on
their side. When the forces arrived at the scene and saw the severely wounded company
commander, Major General D.T Cowan quickly took off his own Military Cross and pinned it
to this commander while he was still alive, saying "A dead person cannot be given a
Military Cross". This young commander was Sam Manekshaw aka Sam Bahadur (Sam the
Brave). He was immediately taken to the hospital. With 9 bullets in his lungs, liver, and
kidney. He was not expected to survive, almost declared dead when brought to the hospital
but then the Subedar caught the doctor by the scruff of the collar forced to treat him or
bear the consequences and he lived on to be India's first Field Marshal till the age of 94 .
Sam Manekshaws name became Sam Bahadur by a
funny incident. Once Sam Manekshaw asked a Gurkha soldier in paradewhat his name
was unable to pronounce the tough parsi name Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji
Manekshaw and in tension the soldier said Sam Bahadur, sirso it started. His love for
Gorkhas and Punjabis is well noted. Sam Manekshaw was born on 3rd April, 1914 in
Amritsar, Punjab, to Parsi parents mother Heerabai and father, Hormusji Manekshaw, a
doctor by profession. Sam means the brave in parsi , he was named Sam Hormusji Framji
Jamshedji Manekshaw.
He liked good looking girls and was colour
conscious stylishly. When he went as commadant of the Staff College in Wellington, he got
into trouble in the mid 1950s because he put up photographs of the (British) queen in his
room ! Somebody made a complaint and there was an inquiry held by the then vice chief
(Lieutenant) General (P P ) Kumaramangalam and he was later exonerated.

17

He was fearless. When he was a major, with the
Sikh company in Burma, they had a promotion meeting for the appointments of lance naik
to naik. He didnt approve of one name in the list, because he said he was a rascal. Sam was
informed of the threat to his life from the rogue soldier, who said he would kill him. So Sam
Manekshaw told his senior subedar Unko march karna hai.He was marched before Sam
and he asked him You are going to kill me? Heres my pistol, now come on shoot me.
That man was so taken aback that he marched out meekly. Sam appointed him as personal
guard. That night the same soldier was standing outside Sams tent guarding. That was the
sort of man he was.
A quintessential soldier, he once told the cadets at the
Indian Military Academy, "You will not have wealth, you will not have riches, but you will
have respect, you will be the soldier of this great Army.

Once the premier Indira Gandhi reportedly confronted him to ask about rumours, that he
was planning to take over the country from her in a coup. He said jokingly "Don't you think
I would be a worthy replacement for you, madam prime minister? You have a long nose. So
have I. But I don't poke my nose into other people's affairs." Like a good officer, he was
blunt and gentleman to the core .

The temperament and perspicacity with which Manekshaw handled the planning and
administrative issues that had crept up after the country's partition, was remarkable.
Shortly after when Pakistan invaded Kashmir; he was made the colonel in charge. The
success of the operations of 1947-48 is largely attributed to him for he showed exceptional
strategic and battle skills during the military operations.

The second Indo-Pak war of 1971 again saw the
strategic brilliance of Sam in action It was a dangerous field. West Pakistan was in
monsoons at that time and any movement on those areas was wading through land bodies
which suddenly disappear to become waterbodies with no land in sight. At the point when
india was fighting on the eastern side and the western side too. It is said that there was a
difference of opinion between the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Manekshaw as when
should be the timing of the action and he was fixed, offered to resign from the post if his
plans were not accepted. Indira Gandhi accepted his plans and the result was evident in
93,000 Pakistani soldiers that were surrendered in a short span of just 14 days with
minimum indian casualities.
18


Indira Gandhi asked Manekshaw to go to Dhaka, the capital of the new nation, to accept the
surrender of the Pakistani forces, but he declined the honour, which he said belonged to the
eastern army commander, Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora who handled the
operations there. It was the sort of gesture that marked him out as a great leader, respected
by all who served under him or came into contact with him.
Once during the 1962 War, he sent a box
containing bangles & a letter saying, "If your men do not wish to fight, this is the best medal
you can wear." This was sent to the CO of a battalion who did not wish to enter into conflict
with the Chinese. However, in the coming weeks the CO & his battalion proved their grit by
battling it out with the Chinese & conducted many successful operations. When Manekshaw
learned this, he sent a letter back to CO saying "Please send back the box containing
bangles, as this is not for you and your men .

In one of his leadership lectures he said, a Yes
man is a dangerous man. He is a menace. He will go very far. He can become a minister, a
secretary or a Field Marshall but he can never become a leader nor, ever be respected. He
will be used by his superiors, disliked by his colleagues and despised by his subordinates.
So discard the Yes manat first sight.

He was frank and outspoken. His famous lines during the dark days in india polity, he said
I wonder whether those of our political masters who have been put in charge of the
defence of the country can distinguish a mortar from a motor; a gun from a howitzer; a
guerrilla from a gorilla, although a great many resemble the latter





19


Cherukulathur - A simple Kerala Village with
Worlds highest percentage of organ donors

Cherukulathur, a nondescript agrarian village in Kozhikode district is grabbed headlines across the
world after 1,500 of its inhabitants have taken a pledge that they will donate their organs after
death.
After its successful ride to grab the title of being the States first village to have the maximum
concentration of people willing to donate their eyes, the Cherukulathur village in Peruvayal
panchayat is going to embark on another voluntary initiative to encourage organ donation among
citizens.
As many as 1,500 consent letters signed by people in and around the region will be handed over to
the authorities concerned at a special function at the village on Sunday.
This is the first time that a village in Kozhikode district was coming forward to support an organ
donation drive. It was being encouraged by the State government and the medical fraternity. For
few months, the villagers were busy attending special awareness seminars on the subject.
It was on February 12, 2012 that a formal declaration on making Cherukulathur an organ donation
friendly village came from the citizens forum there. Workers of the K.P. Govindankutty Memorial
Library and Reading Room in the village took the lead role and decided to complete the consent
letter collection drive in one year.
The support of the grama panchayat too was there to make the drive a success.
K.P. Govindankutty and K.R. Subrahmanyan, who coordinated the programme, say it was the first
time in their State that a village had come forward with so many consent letters for organ
donation.People cooperated with the initiative as they were given proper awareness classes on the
need to protect human lives, they added.
Simple office-bearers of the library, with the support of the panchayat, invited special trainers and
people from the medical fraternity to steer the public awareness campaigns and seminars
organised the programme. Both the aged and the young were sensitised on the topic. The
coordinators do continue on such initiatives and more enrolments are made.
It was in 2003 that Cherukulathur first made its entry by collecting over 1,500 consent letters for
eye donation. The project, inaugurated by writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair, had come in for praise then.
The project, launched with the support of some senior citizens, subsequently got the backup of the
youth. Official sources said over 140 persons had so far got the benefit of the eye donation
20

campaign.They have handed over their consent letters to the officials of the cooperative
Government Medical College, Kozhikode in the presence of noted dancer and social activist Mallika
Sarabhai and Jnanapith winner M T Vasudevan Nair. .

In 2003, the villagers had decided to donate their eyes after death and to the college authorities and
started calling their village Sampoorna Neethradana Gramam ( Complete eye-donating
village).The pledge materialised within hours after handing over the letter of consent.
A simple village and a noble deed . .







***













21



Tiger Swami .

Born originally as Shyamakanta Bandopadhyay on Tiger
swami got his name from his deeds . Shyamakanta Band-
opadhyays family hailed from Fulia, nadia district, of west
Bengal, was born in 1852. His father Shashibhushan
Bandopadhyay was a clerk at the Tripura court. After
Shyamkantas college education he got appointed the body guard of Maharaja Birchandra
Manikya Bahadur of tripura due to his strong build. Later he left the job and joined Barishal
Zilla School as a gymnasium trainer. Soon he left that job too.

In those days, there was an abundance of tigers, hearings of tigers and tiger sightings were
common and being the homeland of the Royal Bengal Tigers, in west bengal . . it was even
more common. Shyam Kanta decided early on during his childhood that he would fight
tigers, it was a childish dream. He wanted to defeat and bow down the tiger which attacked,
killed people, was a terror . But he was born weak bodied than other children. He went on
with his dream and didnt leave it. It took him a good many years to strengthen himself.
After joining college he trained in Pehelwani( Indian system of natural wrestling ) at the
Akhara of Adhar Ghosh at Lakshmibazar, present day Dhaka in Bangladesh. There were
many herculean wrestlers at that time but the feat decided by Shyama kanta was a bit
above the level but the training continued. What made him go ahead, do it is unknown .
Coming to works, he was said to be so strong that he
would go into the jungles and knockout tigers comfortably ! He was the only one who
could go and walk around in the forests fearlessly, other than the Tiger. It is said there is a
difference between captive tigers in the zoos, circus and the tigers from the forest in their
vigour and fighting instinct, They are unmatchable in qualities.
Once when Shyamakanta was travelling in the
province of Cooch Behar on a holiday, the prince of the province invited him. He somehow
didnt like the invitation . He was one of the sons of king Maharaja Nripendra Narayan.The
prince doubted the abilities of the Shyamakanta and insulted him. he said you are a rice
eating, city weakling, how can you do such a feat, defeating the Bengal tiger . . you are an
impostor, who fights opium fed tigers from the circus and cheats people ! He was given a
time of one week to get ready and fight the princes newly caught wild tiger Raja Begum.
He was warned to prove his skill or his name would be spoiled in the whole country
22

terribly. He would be declared a fake. In those days name and honour were more
important in life, that is what people lived for . Shyama Kanta was raging furiously and he
took the challenge. The remaining part of the story is from the man himself, to two kids
who came to visit him. one of whom became a great saint called Yogananda and settled
down the US.
My servant further said to me that the prince was in
his element as manager of the bout between man and beast. He had supervised the erection
of a storm-proof pavilion, designed to accommodate thousands. Its center held Raja Begum
in an enormous iron cage, surrounded by an outer safety room. The captive emitted a
ceaseless series of blood-curdling roars. He was fed sparingly, to kindle a wrathful appetite.
Perhaps the prince expected me to be the meal of reward!
Crowds from the city and suburbs bought tickets
eagerly in response to the beat of drums announcing the unique contest. The day of battle
saw hundreds turned away for lack of seats. Many
men broke through the tent openings, or crowded
any space below the galleries.
Amidst piercing sound-explosions from Raja
Begum, and the hubbub of the somewhat terrified
crowd, I quietly made my appearance. Scantily clad
around the waist, I was otherwise unprotected by
clothing. I opened the bolt on the door of the safety
room and calmly locked it behind me. The tiger
sensed blood. Leaping with a thunderous crash on
his bars, he sent forth a fearsome welcome. The
audience was hushed with pitiful fear; I seemed a
meek lamb before the raging beast.
In a trice I was within the cage; but as I slammed
the door, Raja Begum was headlong upon me. My right hand was desperately torn. Human
blood, the greatest treat a tiger can know, fell in appalling streams. The prophecy of the
saint seemed about to be fulfilled.
I rallied instantly from the shock of the first serious
injury I had ever received. Banishing the sight of my gory fingers by thrusting them
beneath my waist cloth, I swung my left arm in a bone-cracking blow. The beast reeled
back, swirled around the rear of the cage, and sprang forward convulsively. My famous
fistic punishment rained on his head.
But Raja Begums taste of blood had acted like the
maddening first sip of wine to a dipsomaniac long-deprived. Punctuated by deafening roar,
the brutes assaults grew in fury. My inadequate defense of only one hand left me
vulnerable before claws and fangs. But I dealt out dazing retribution. Mutually
23

ensanguined, we struggled as to the death. The cage was pandemonium, as blood splashed
in all directions, and blasts of pain and lethal lust came from the bestial throat.
Shoot him! Kill the tiger! Shrieks arose from the audience. So fast did man and beast
move, that a guards bullet went amiss. I mustered all my will force, bellowed fiercely, and
landed a final concussive blow. The tiger collapsed and lay quietly.
Raja Begum was vanquished at last. His royal
pride was further humbled: with my lacerated hands, I audaciously forced open his jaws.
For a dramatic moment, I held my head within the yawning deathtrap. I looked around for
a chain. Pulling one from a pile on the floor, I bound the tiger by his neck to the cage bars. In
triumph I moved toward the door.
But that fiend incarnate, Raja Begum, had
stamina worthy of his supposed demoniac origin. With an incredible lunge, he snapped the
chain and leaped on my back. My shoulder fast in his jaws, I fell violently. But in a trice I
had him pinned beneath me. Under merciless blows, the treacherous animal sank into
semiconsciousness. This time I secured him more carefully. Slowly I left the cage.
I found myself in a new uproar, this time one of
delight. The crowds cheer broke as though from a single gigantic throat. Disastrously
mauled, I had yet fulfilled the three conditions of the fightstunning the tiger, binding him
with a chain, and leaving him without requiring assistance for myself. In addition, I had so
drastically injured and frightened the aggressive beast that he had been content to
overlook the opportune prize of my head in his mouth!
After my wounds were treated, I was honored and garlanded; hundreds of gold pieces
showered at my feet. The whole city entered a holiday period. endless discussions were
heard on all sides about my victory over one of the largest and most savage tigers ever
seen. Raja Begum was presented to me, as promised, but I felt no elation. A spiritual change
had entered my heart. It seemed that with my final exit from the cage I had also closed the
door on my worldly ambitions.
24


The same year in 1899, he left to become a
monk. He was initiated by Nabin Chandra Chakrabarty( also called Tibbetibaba), a vedantic
monk who renamed Shyamakanta as Soham Swami and then Sohom swami set up his
Ashram at Bhaowali near Nainital in uttarakhand state . People always called him by the
name of Tiger Swami knowing his past. Bhagat singh referred to Common Sense the book
written by sohom swami in one of his writings . One of his students was Jatindranath
Banerjee the freedom fighter who was acquainted with Bhagat Singh. Tiger Swami left his
body at Bhaowaliat in his Nainital ashram on 6th december 1918. The history of Tiger
Swami is well known in areas of cooch behar and recorded in the history of the royal family
.
Some of his lines were "A number of men have physical power such as mine, but still lack in cool
confidence. Those who are bodily but not mentally stalwart may find themselves fainting at mere
sight of a wild beast bounding freely in the jungle. The tiger in its natural ferocity and habitat is
vastly different from the opium-fed circus animal! "Many a man with herculean strength has
nonetheless been terrorized into abject helplessness before the onslaught of a royal Bengal.
"Mind is the wielder of muscles. The force of a hammer blow depends on the energy applied; the
power expressed by a man's bodily instrument depends on his aggressive will and courage. The
body is literally manufactured and sustained by mind. Through pressure of instincts from past lives,
strengths or weaknesses percolate gradually into human consciousness. They express as habits,
which in turn ossify into a desirable or an undesirable body. Outward frailty has mental origin; in a
vicious circle, the habit-bound body thwarts the mind. That is how humans go .



25


Manjhi - The Lover
Dasrath Manjhi, a landless farmer from India, made history after he spent over two decades
chiseling away at a mountain with rudimentary tools, in order to create a road for his
community, when the Government refused to.
If you're looking for some motivation, stories don't get much more inspirational than that
of Dasrath Manjhi. 53 years ago, he set out to carve a 1mk-long path through a rocky
hillside, all by himself, in order to make it easier for his fellow villagers to access schools,
markets and neighboring villagers. This hill had given us trouble and grief for centuries.
The people had asked the government many times to make a proper road through the hill,
but nobody paid any attention. So I just decided I would do it all by myself, Manjhi told
Indian newspaper Tehelka, in 2007. He sold his goats to purchase chisel, rope and a
hammer. People would call him mad and eccentric spirited with no idea of his plans.
Unfazed by his critics with just his chisel,
hammer and shovel, this legendary man
turned what was once a precarious one-
foot-wide passage into a 360 ft-long, 30 ft-
wide road accessible by bicycle and
motorcycle. The hill kept the regions
villages in isolation, forcing people to trek
through dangerous terrain for hours just to
reach their lands or the nearest market
town. Children had to walk eight kilometers
to reach school, but thanks to Dasrath
Manjhis handmade road, that distance has been reduced to one kilometer, and people from
over 60 villages now use it everyday. .

But what empowered a single man to accomplish
such a monumental task? For Dasrath it was the love for his wife. My wife, Phaguni Devi,
was seriously injured while crossing the hill to bring me water; I worked then on a farm
across the hills. That was the day I decided to carve out a proper road through this hill, the
farmer said. Sadly, his beloved wife didn't get to see the fruits of his labor, as shortly after
the accident she fell ill and died, because she couldnt be taken to the hospital in time. The
tragic loss only made the ambitious man more focused on his task, and fellow villagers
remember seeing him hacking at the hill day and night as if he were possessed. But with
the passing years, his motivation changed. My love for my wife was the initial spark that
26

ignited in me the desire to carve out a road. But what kept me working without fear or
worry all those years was the desire to see thousands of villagers crossing the hill with ease
whenever they wanted, Manjhi said in an interview.
Although youd expect people to jump in and help someone working for the entire
community, it wasn't Dasrath Manjhis case. At first, people ridiculed him and called him
mad for taking on such a herculean task, but as time went by, and the unfazed farmer
continued to split the troublesome hill in half, he started getting some help. Though most
villagers taunted me at first, there were quite a few who lent me support later by giving me
food and helping me buy my tools, he remembered. The day came when he stepped
through a flat passage about one-km long and 30-feet wide to his dream, the other
side of the hill.Now, all the people of the Gaya district have nothing but gratitude for the
mountain man who single-
handedly made their lives so much
easier.



What I did is there for everyone to
see. When God is with you, nothing
can stop you, Dasrath Manjhi once
said. I am neither afraid of any
punishment from any government
department for my work nor am I
interested in any honour from the
government. It took him 22 years to
fulfill his self-imposed task, but it
granted him immortality



In July 2010, director Manish Jha announced a film, Manjhi, based on the life of Dashrath
Manjhi. The film is produced by Sanjay Singh, who previously produced Udaan
(2010).Dashrath Manjhi's story was shown on Aamir Khan's show Satyamev
Jayate.Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been cast in the lead role in the film Mountain Man, which
is based on Manjhi's life. In Mandara, a Kannada film by Jayatheertha, newcomer Srikanth
plays the role of Dashrath Manji, who inspires the young hero's love.

The work on Manjhis dream project of a pucca road, named Dasrath Manjhi Road, is still in
progress.
27

When Manjhi had met Nitish Kumar at a janata durbar in July last in Patna, the chief
minister stood up in reverence to the man with Himalayan resolve and made him sit on the
Chief Ministers chair.
The state government had allotted a five-acre plot to Manjhi in Karjani village, which he
donated for construction of a hospital.
Dasarath Manjhi left the world gloroiuslusly on 17
th
August, 2007 . The government has
recently announced to name the hospital after Manjhi.

If the shining TajMahal was a symbol of love by Shah Jahan, Manjhis work through the
mountain has definitely outshone the Tajmahal by his hardwork and commitment.

the completed and usable road after finishing works by the government





***



28

Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy

Dr. Govindappa established Aravind eye Hospital in
Madurai . His instititions works are

- does cataracts surgeries at 500 Rupes ( 10 $
approximately )

- provided eyesight to more than a 10,00,000
people though surgeries

- On a slow day, Aravind hospital treats 400
patients

- Offering free services to all who need it, with absolutely no criteria for availing for
free service

- the hospital still manages a gross margin of 40%. This is despite the fact that almost
70% of its patients paying nothing, and it does not depend on donations or
government grants

- achieved perfection in the never-perfect and always-compromised world of Medical
business

- students and physicians from around the world come to teach, study, observe,
practice and boost their experience

Venkataswamy founded the Aravind Eye Hospital at Madurai. Begun as an eleven-bed
hospital manned by four medical officers, it is now one of the largest facilities in the world
for eye care. His works were through social contributions and volunteership.
His legacy was from October 1, 1918 July 7, 2006 .

Padma Shri in 1973
Helen Keller International Award, 1987
Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Republic.
29

Raja-Lakshmi Award for the year 2001 from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai.
Lifetime Service Award from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, 1982
Pisart-Lighthouse for the Blind Award, 1992
Susruta Award, Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, 1997.


A number board at the Aravind hospital






Aravind eye hospital in Madurai .

30

References :
For - The Birdman of Kheechan
http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-the-hand-that-fed-the-cranes-in-
rajasthan-1582953
http://www.travelworldexperiences.com/newsletter/september2013/destination-
of-the-month.html

For - Dr. Shrikant Jichkar
"Rajya Sabha Members - Brief Biodata". Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Government of India.
Retrieved 2009-12-30
Marathi vishakosh
http://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/at-glance-late-dr-shrikant-jichkar-india-most-
qualified-person--18010.html
http://www.timescontent.com/tss/showcase/related/photos/c1/Dr_Shrikant_Jichkar/1/r/Dr
-Shrikant-Jichkar.html
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/06/04/stories/2004060400782000.htm
http://bharatuntoldstory.tumblr.com/post/83301358388/dr-shrikant-jichkar-holds-the-
record-for-indias
http://creativerules.com/meet-indias-most-qualified-person-ever-dr-shrikant-jichkar/

For - Bishnu Shresta Indian Army
"LIST OF PERSONNEL BEING AWARDED GALLANTRY / DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS ON THE
OCCASION OF REPUBLIC DAY 2012 SENA MEDAL (Gallantry) Entry 54. 5753917A NK BISHNU PRASAD
SHRESTHA, GORKHA RIF". The-indian-army.blogspot.in. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100904/jsp/bengal/story_12895050.jsp
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=India+to+honour+Pokhara+youth+for+chiv
alry&NewsID=272686
31

"A Gurkha soldier, who fought 40 train robbers, to be felicitated in the Republic Day of India, XNepali,
16 January, 2011". Xnepali.com. 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
"Lone Nepali Gorkha who subdued 40 train robbers, Jan 13, 2011". Archives.myrepublica.com. 2011-
01-13. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
"Govt's special honor for gallant Gorkha, Jan 13, 2011". Archives.myrepublica.com. 2011-01-13.
Retrieved 2014-01-03.

For - Shaitan Singh True Blue Valour
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Major-Shaitan-Singh
http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/-nobody-believed-we-had-killed-so-many-chinese-at-rezang-la.-
our-commander-called-me-crazy-and-warned-that-i-could-be-courtmartialled-/1023745/
http://www.bhaskar.com/article/RAJ-JOD-param-vir-chakra-major-shaitan-singh-4348326-PHO.html
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-widow-of-1962-war-hero-still-lives-on-1986-pension-1384742
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/1962-indochina-war-saluting-the-brave-men-who-fought/300639-3.html
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121221/harplus.htm#2
http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTemp5P11C.aspx?MnId=/4MNPruBGWscKTrriBl71Q==
&ParentID=CqcFxBL/TV8WUKNUX8Vh7A==

References for - Sam Bahadur Manekshaw
London Gazette, Issue 35532, pg 1797 (date 21 April 1942). Accessed on 3 June 2011.
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/news/india/A-soldiers-general/articleshow/15824703.cms
http://www.economist.com/node/11661408?story_id=11661408
http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/10/stories/2009031050300300.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/The-legacy-of-Sam-Bahadur-Manekshaw-lives-
on/articleshow/33175580.cms
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/V-K-Singh-Remembers-Sam-Bahadur-Indias-First-
Field-Marshal/2014/04/03/article2147519.ece
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/remembering-sam-manekshaw-india-s-greatest-general-on-
his-birth-centenary-503729
References for - Cherukulathoor - A small village and a noble deed
32

http://www.kpgmlibrary.in/?page_id=378
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/kerala/cherukulathoor-
declared-complete-voluntary-organ-donors-village-132603.html
http://groundreport.com/this-kerala-village-has-a-unique-eye/

References For - Shyamakanta Bandopadhyaya Tiger Swami
The first edition of Autobiography of a Yogi. The first edition, which is in the public domain
according to Project Gutenberg has more recently been reprinted by a number of
publishers.

Autobiography of a Yogi. Nevada City, CA: Crystal Clarity Publishers. 1995 [1946].
481 pages. ISBN 1-56589-108-2. LCCN 99165624.

Autobiography of a Yogi. Mumbai: Jaico. 1997 [1946]. 498 pages. ISBN 978-81-7224-
660-0. OCLC 796041504.

Autobiography of a Yogi. Gardners Books. 2003 [1946]. ISBN 978-81-207-2524-9.
OCLC 221178768.
Autobiography of a Yogi. New Delhi, India: Sterling Publishers. 2003 [1946].
ISBN 978-81-207-2524-9.
Online refernces :
http://www.yoganandaji.org/board/showthread.php?t=7381
References for Manjhi the Lover
hindustantimes.com
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aamir-khan-satyamev-jayate-dashrath-manjhi-
village/1/344410.html
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-mountain-man-dies-with-unfulfilled-dreams-
1116306
http://thisgivesmehope.com/2013/08/04/749-dashrath-manjh-moved-the-mountain/
http://bhushan.quora.com/Dashrath-Manjhi-%E2%80%93-The-Man-Who-Moved-a-
Mountain-The-Mountain-Man
33


References for - Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy
http://www.rdasia.com/dr-v-s-enduring-vision ( Readers Digest October 6
th
2010 )
Padma Awards Directory (19542009)". Ministry of Home Affairs
http://www.oteurope.com/ophthalmologytimeseurope/Cataract+Clinical/The-life-of-an-
inspirational-ophthalmologist/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/389300
http://www.aravind.org/tribute/The%20hindu.htm
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1046349
http://www.ascrs.org/Awards/Govindappa-Venkataswamy-MD.cfm
http://www.accessh.org/publication/Article/14#.U4_7UnaQlY4
http://healthcare.financialexpress.com/200901/50pathfinders07.shtml
http://ryanpyle.photoshelter.com/image/I00009qhNT1NGAb8
http://www.oteurope.com/ophthalmologytimeseurope/Cataract+Clinical/The-life-of-an-
inspirational-ophthalmologist/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/389300