Inches away from death - 1971 East Pakistan Liberation

Here is a story that I have heard many times from my dad! One of those many "war" stories that he used to so fondly narrate!

During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation, dad was serving up at Bomdila, NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh), as a Battery Administration Officer. His division deployed along the Chinese border was withdrawn and redeployed along the East Pakistan border in preparation for the expected war. Finally, as the operation got moving he was part of the Brigades that were sent for the Dhaka thrust. The objective was to capture Dhaka.

While closing in on Dhaka, they made their way forward, taking cover behind broken down buildings amidst heavy firing and shelling. Dad was along with his telephone operator, as one accompanies every Battery Commander. They were huddled behind a broken wall when suddenly a shell landed nearby. The sound of the blast was defeaning and it took them by surprise. A thick fog of dust, debris and shrapnel ensued. As the air slowly cleared out, my dad blessed God as he found himself totally unhurt. Not even a single shrapnel had caught him! He shouted aloud (as his ears was still ringing) to his telephone operator and asked him if he was alright. The poor guy replied in Hindi, "Haan Saab, sab teekh hain", and slumped into my fathers hands seconds later! Dad realised that the man was injured and tried to support him up. Blood gushed out from a wound near his belly and into his hands. It wasn't long before the operator died! Later he found that a big piece of shrapnel had cut across his entire stomach.

Every time dad recounted this story he used to end it saying, "That splinter struck the operator but it could have so easily been me, as I was but just inches away from him!".