The POW

The Prisoner of War - - - - - -

"Join the Army for a bright future, and I joined, lured by the promise. And now I am sleeping in a tent some where in Laddakh. The tent starts boiling during the day and freezes to minus temperatures in the nights. I have just completed my MBBS from Medical College Lucknow and some basic Military training. I am on my way to joining my parent unit. I have been told that we are close to the border and very often the Chinese patrols attack our patrols and also take some as POWs. In such an eventuality, if captured alive I am not suppose to give out any thing other than my name and my Number. What the hell do I know any way, that I will give out some thing. I am so scared that I don't remember my name also. And this stupid 'Sahayak' of mine always has some thing scary to tell. Just five minutes ago he has departed after telling me how last week one of our 'Patrol' had been ambushed and three persons taken POWs ( Prisoners of War). Dear 'Hanumanji' ab to tumhara hi sahara hai"

The promised bright future was no where in sight and the young Doctor was seriously contemplating going back to the not so bright future of Lucknow as a civilian once again.

Some time after the above thoughts crossed the mind of our young Military doctor, he was taken POW. As the events unfolded later the Young doctor, (in the true spirits of a well trained soldier) was able to make a clean escape from custody of the so called 'Chinese' and went missing.

The 'Sahayak' who was actually an Officer from the same Paltan, was in panic. So was the Unit of the young doctor. And the Chinese who were actually soldiers and officers of the sister battalion ( Gorkhas) from the same Brigade were in panic too, what with failing to keep an 'Indian doctor' secure in their custody. The Brigade was located on the 'Line of Control' and the young doctor having escaped from the custody did not know that he actually was in the danger of crossing over to the other side of the border not knowing where he was and what he was doing.

This spread an all round panic and many small teams were created to go and find the young officer before he actually handed himself to the 'neighbors' creating a diplomatic situation.

The young doctor was eventually located after a few hours, hungry and in panic. He wanted to shun the 'Bright future' that he had chosen for himself immediately and no amount of convincing helped. What happened to the other officers who had planned this grand reception for the young doctor, will be dealt with later some time. Suffices to say that the tables were turned on them suitably by the recruit.

The young doctor is a senior officer now and continues to serve the Army with pride.