Reminiscing about happy events is most rejuvenating. Memory takes me back to the sweltering summer of August 1994 when Udai Mehta, as Col Administration, and I, as Col General Staff designate, reported to the Corps HQ at Nagrota, of a yet-to-be raised new headquarters. Our temporary HQ, housed in a building, had bare essentials — skeletal staff of clerks, some stationery and limited furniture. The impending task was a cornucopia of challenges. Besides the enormity of administrative work was the added responsibility to find a suitable permanent location for the HQ.
We were to immediately take over the operational responsibility of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Doda district. South of the Pir Panjal, spread over 2,625 sq km, and enclosing the townships of Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar from where the Warwan valley stretches northwards, it ended just below the Amarnath cave. We got the ball rolling; chair-borne functions were carried out by night, and by day, we were road-bound.
Armed with maps and haversack meals, travel along the national highway (NH-44) from Nagrota to Banihal and other laterals became a routine. Location after location didn’t meet the military requirements. However, an interesting highlight is worth mentioning, the Aparna Ashram of late Dhirendra Brahmachari at Mantalai. He had a 101-point plan to create here a yogic centre-cum-holiday resort, with casinos and the works. It provided shelter and comfort, but we were not looking for that. Finally, the Dharmund Ridge, near Batote, caught our attention — a standalone mountain, with flat expanses along the top, and slopes dropping sharply into the swiftly flowing Chenab far below.
It was an ideal location for the HQ tactically, administratively and for command and control purposes. By the time our first General Officer Commanding, Maj Gen Yogi Bahl, arrived, we had a running HQ. We were extremely lucky to have him head our fledging HQ. A sound professional with great human qualities, directions were clear-cut and mission accomplishment was at our initiative. Three months later, our flag fluttered with pride at Dharmund, housed in tents and fully operationally functional.
The severity of the winter of 1994-95 welcomed us, heavy snow added to the difficulties and often our snow-laden tents collapsed, literally on our heads. To add to it, the villagers started objecting to our presence and nefarious charges followed. Resoluteness, determination and subtle diplomacy with the villagers helped.
Creating a helipad was a major challenge. As starters, we managed a small clearing, but then like the proverbial camel, we expanded. Soon large enough to take four-five helicopters simultaneously and serve the dual purpose of a six-a-side hockey ground for our evening constitutional! We had firmed in.
Operations continued relentlessly through the long winter; summer was very welcome. Building of prefab shelters got underway and the HQ started shaping up: operational room, offices and accommodation for men came at priority, followed by the Flag Staff House (FSH), the Officers’ Mess and accommodation. To preserve some history, the FSH got the acronym ‘YOGSUM LA,’ comprising the first alphabets from the names of the GOC, and his two senior staff members, Sujlana and Mehta, and ‘LA’ meaning ‘beyond limits’. It was a salute to the dedicated team who worked conscientiously to establish the HQ. Interestingly, the bar in the Officers’ Mess found a very appropriate name: “Changa Bar”, named after a long-deserted village of the same name. The first ‘chhota’ there was indeed most ‘changa’!
This year marks the silver jubilee of Delta Force, and it has created a niche for itself in the Indian Army. On September 6, the Delta Force flag will proudly swell in the wind, promising many more years of dedicated service to the nation.