A POPPY FOR SGT SIDHU -----Sometime in 2012, I received a Poppy for Sgt Devinder (David) Sidhu. My fathers cousin, a man who had died (KIA) before I was born. Here is the picture and letter pertaining to David, whose plane had been shot down by the Germans on a mine laying mission off the coast of Denmark in 1944. The four engined Stirling bomber (W7513) was lost with the entire crew on board. The plane and its seven crew were never found. Devinders name is on Panel 147 of the Runnymede Memorial in London which I had visited a few years back. The Memorial commemorates the tragic loss of 55,573 young Bomber Command airmen in the Second World War and was unveiled at a ceremony in Green Park, London on 28 June 2012. The Queen had unveiled a nine foot high bronze sculpture depicting seven (unknown) Bomber Command aircrew. The ceremony ended with a flypast by five RAF GR4 Tornado bomber aircrafts followed by a flypast by Lancaster Bomber, PA474, which had dropped poppies over Green Park as a message of remembrance for the 55,573 Bomber aircrew lost. And that is how I received a Poppy for Sgt Sidhu!

WHY WALK THE EXTRA MILE?? The new tax rules appear to be introducing tax on the pension of disabled soldiers and battle casualities! I think the nation, bureaucrats and politicians are losing perspective here -- we are throwing out the baby with the bath water in our haste to address the problem or to justify this extremely harmful step taken by the govt. If misused, punish the offender, but do not grind the chaff with the grain. Unfortunate. Let me explain. Dis-ability pension broadly can be classified under two heads. First--Battle casualities with a disability component (you are no longer SHAPE1) and injury is attributable to operations or is sustained in an op as such. You may continue to serve with acceptable disability or may be boarded out. Second --your disability is attributable to military service. Depending on your disability, you may continue serving or be boarded out. Hyper tension, fracture or paralysis in a MT accident, hip dislocation in a Divisional wrestling or hockey match, barrel premature injuries including loss of an eye in arty or armd corps field firing or loss of one finger during grenade throwing. or loss of hearing being a gunner (sic !!) Hithertofore the privilege was given to such an injured soldier to have exemption on his 'entire pension' after retirement. Disability pension is in any case given after you retire. So the normal service component as well as the dis-ability component of the pension was exempted in the IT Act 1961. This was as a token by a grateful nation to an injured/wounded soldier for his service to keep the citizens of India and their children safe and comfortable in their home and hearth. The GoI, through the Finance Bill 2026, has moved to legislatively override the current protections regarding Disability Pension. Now by amending the Income Tax Act itself, the Government intends to restrict the tax exemption solely to personnel "invalided out" of service, thereby making Disability Pension taxable for all personnel retiring on normal superannuation or taking premature retirement (PMR). On an earlier ocassion too the taxation of disability pension for superannuated soldiers was attempted via Circular No. 13/2019. The Supreme Court had stayed this because a mere administrative circular cannot override established pension rules. The new legislation gives exemption only for those personnel whose service was cut short specifically due to disability, and who were boarded out before completing their terms. The disability element will now be treated as "Salary/Pension Income" and the entire pension of disabled dolfiers is now taxable because you chose to continue serving your nation despite a dis-ability, a prosthetic, a tin leg or one eye. Rules will apply to Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) also. Now coming on to 'logic' for such privileges. What is the logic for ESM to avail CSD services? You have had your time. Enjoyed the CSD and cheaper liquor during service. Do civilians get it?? Why should it continue once boots have been hung?? What about IT exemption for decorated soldiers ( ESM)?? No logic-- or is it a cheap welfare measure?? Just because some 'looked down' central services have Non Progression Allowance, should the military start hankering for the same? Whats the logic?? Should politicians have multiple pensions for every time they are elected? My dear sirs the list is long. Without looking for a confrontation with anyone here, let me say that this bill is toxic, regressive, poisonous and against the ethos of a nation standing by its soldiers. It is an emotive issue for many of us. As a young officer I and another pilot had (risky-- but an error of judgement by hot, highly motivated and gung-ho fliers) taken one extra soldier while evacuating from Sonam. Flying at the edge of the flight envelope you make it at times and at times you dont. We crashed. One soldier died on the spot. One soldier became a quadriplegic. I had head injuries. Spinal fracture. Frost bite on my hands. My flying ended. After retirement I was entitled to tax exemption on my entire pension-- like other soldiers who were battle casualities. Because of such priveleges I would do it again for the nation and service without fear. I am astounded ( and pained) when I see a binary discussion on IT exemption for soldiers in this cat. Being a part of the Battle Cas whatsapp gp, let me tell you that efforts are already underway to garner sp of MP's, top bureaucrats, politicians, opposition party members to throw some sense in the govts proposal. Hopefully, it will have the support of the military hierarchy. Ever thought which soldier will go over the hill in Kargil; or walk that extra mile or enter a minefield if a nation does not care for its own!!

EMERGENCY RATIONS AND SURVIVAL PACKS In my military flying, there was only time when we had opened the aircraft survival pack. Many moons ago, I and Maj RI Bhandari got stranded overnight at Gumri while on way back from Kargil to Srinagar. We hit bad weather, low cloud base, strong winds, poor visibility after T/O from Kargil but homititis made us keep going, all the while decending lower and lower to remain under the cloud base. Those who are familiar with that area would know that from Kargil onto Gumri and thence to Zojilla you fly along a narrow longish valley with high mountains on either side till you hit Gumri. A few minutes ahead of Gumri there is a place where high tension wires are strung across this narrow valley. Normally quite unmistakable and low unless you too are low, flying in bad visibility with snow/white out conditions affecting your perspective. That day we had arranged for all these conditions. We flew low over Gumri peering ahead because we knew that once Zojilla was crossed, it was all clear, a free fall to Baltal and then on to base. Suddenly, to our unpleasant surprise we saw the HT cables dead ahead-- we were that low over the snow. And Zojilla seemed to be lost between the snow, horrizon and sky. Both of us were shaken and with not many words exchanged we backtracked 180⁰. No point in going for that steep plunge over Zojilla to Baltal. Gumri it would have to be. So we flew 'low- slow', circled and landed bang in the center of the small and isolated BRO outpost. A small det really, not more than ten men and all were there to greet us. Aliens from outerspace that dark, extremely cold afternoon with low clouds and snow all around. We were welcomed with a hot mug of tea and biscuits.They told us that when they saw the chopper circling low over the camp they had realised that ' heli ko koi dikkat hai'. I recollect they had a huge (ancient) HF radio set for comns with whatever. Through their channels a message was passed to the Corps HQ and to our Sqn that all is well and the aircraft has landed at Gumri. Bad weather. Twilight soon approached and the JCO insisted on us occupying his small room in the only TRS hut in Gumri. A couple of blankets were rustled up. A bukhari lighted specially for us. And-- can you imagine a 'barakhana'!! With their limited amount of fresh- tomatoes, onions, eggs; and rum--the BRO personnel laid out a lavish spread for us as we all ate together. The hospitality of these men was truly humbling, these hard working men who saw choppers going to and fro over their camp every day. But then the actual story is about the 'survival pack'. The one we see under the pilot/copilot seat everytime we fly out. Neatly packed and sealed in that canvas type waterproof saddlebag, almost WW 2 vintage looking. So after we had our tea that day, Ravi Bhandari said 'lets open the survival kit'. I wonder how many aviators are really aware of what all it contains. That was the only time I opened a survival kit -- I remember there were toffees, fish hooks and line, chocolate, a small compass, medicines, ( morphine ?? not sure), water purifier tablets and a reflector to indicate own position. Plus a couple other small packets and items. Wonder if there are any changes in the contents now?? Anyways, we ate the toffees and chocolates. And on returning back the next day we informed the engineering offr that 'one survival pack' had been opened. For necessary action. And yes, on my next sortie to Leh, I had carried along a bag of fresh tomatoes, onions, a dozen eggs, some green vegetables and a bottle of rum. A quick landing at Gumri, rotors running, thankyou mouthed, thumbs up and off we went !!

THE GLACIER SORTIE

Long back sometime in 1987. I and Mike (Mad) Periera were on a temporary detatchment at Base Camp from the Srinagar Sqn. Mike from 19 Flt and I from 30. The AOC Srinagar base and our sqn CO as well as our respective flt cdrs were probably happy that both of us (more applicable to Mike, less to me) were 'away' for a month or so. It was 'normal' everyday flying in the Glacier, we have all done it. Recce, inducting/ de-inducting soldiers, carrying batteries, radios, sometimes ammunition, Kero, food, letters, cas-evacs and a few shoots thrown in (it was pretty hot those days)---- So one day as we landed back, low on fuel, with Mike grumbling about the weather and blaming me for the tense 8 minutes of 'red light on' flying (it did not matter that I was the junior pilot, that I was not the captain, that I was on the left seat and that I had no control over the weather-- but all that was not relevant to Mike ofcourse) we found the Base Cdr (who was also the CO of the Bn 'inside') waiting near the helipad. He had received a radio message that the body of one of the Bn soldiers who had disappeared in an avalanche a few weeks back had been found near his post. Near Siala I think. Could we bring him to BC for his last rites. Ofcourse we could; and we would. A quick coffee, TRS, refuelling and we were off. The soldiers at the destination were waiting. The body was wrapped in a White shroud, probably torn from a para. Seemed a rather large bundle. And stiff as a board, pardon me. It took a couple of soldiers with some difficulty to lay him at the rear, seats folded. Along with him were loaded his kit and some personal effects, rifle etc. The starboard (captain side) cabin door could be locked, but the feet of the 'package' prevented the port door, behind me, from being fully closed. No problem, I was leaning back and holding it close, keeping it fairly flush. I knew if I left it, the downwash/ slipstream could wrench it free and it could hit the tail rotor. About 10 minutes after take off we recieved a call requesting that we pick up his brother whose company was deployed at one of the posts near Kumar. As happens in infantry bns, both brothers had enlisted and joined the same bn. Twins as we learnt later on. So with a slight diversion, we made an approach to the helipad nearest the post. In the surreal White expanse, horrizon barely discernible, a couple of soldiers in ghostly White uniforms, Cortina's and Koflach boots were waiting. They helped a soldier with his rifle and a bag to clamber aboard. A tight fit, no seats. He crouched, half sitting, half standing. We took off with me sitting partly twisted to the left pulling the cabin door closed, Mike flying. I noticed the soldier getting agitated and trying to undo the shroud. He would move from one side to the other trying to rip the cloth. My efforts to talk to him over the engine noise and to calm him had no effect. He would stare at me blankly. All this while I was facing the rear sideways, holding the door handle while Mike was flying looking ahead and not trying to look at what was happening at the back. Anyway, a few seconds later the soldier managed to uncover the face of his brother. I caught a glimpse of the dead soldiers face, still imprinted in my mind and it was then that his brother lost it and started sobbing, shaking his head and shouting incoherrently. I remember him repeating; 'mein maa ko jaake kya batuan ga, bhaiyon ki jori toot gayi--'. And then he started hitting his fists on his face. All I could do was to reach out and path his shoulder in my efforts to calm him. Mike yelled over the intercom, 'be careful, he may jump out'. In any case I would not have been able to hold him if he had decided to push open the cabin door. By now we were on finals to BC and we saw the CO, SM and a bunch of soldiers waiting at the helipad. It was with some relief and sadness we saw his unit soldiers take charge, unload the remains and take away the still sobbing soldier. Some incidents of service flying remain deeply etched in ones memory. This was one such incident.