Thread by @ColSanjayPande

1/ Start a journey with me tomorrow, 01 Dec to 03 December 2022 when I travel for three days going from a village to another in Himachal Pradesh to meet my unit soldiers who have long retired. This is brotherhood, camaraderie and love. This is my HUMBLE bow to my men. #VoICE

2/ I will, on 01 December leave Delhi at 5am, meet 5-6 veterans in Kurali (near Ropar), 2-3 veterans in Ropar and then climb hills and via Bilaspur go towards Mandi and attend a function of one of my old colleague at Ner Chowk where I will meet 10-15 veterans of my unit #VoICE

3/ Follow me, follow the journey and meet my men. They may be old but their spirit is never-sat-die. Numerous appear in my book ‘Under The Sun’ released in 27 Sep 2022. I will take pictures with them and recall the story. All those who have the book will relate, and those who

4/ don’t have can order today on AMAZON. The book is available just search ‘under the Sun col Sanjay Pande’ or tap on link amazon.in/dp/9356800952?…

5/‘ Under The Sun’ is leadership, character, values and fight against the tide. That is what I am. Today in my 17th year of retirement I start my twice a year travel to meet my men. The men who make India proud and the men who quietly melt in history. #VoICE #VoICEdec22 See you

6/#VoICE #VoICEdec22 Good Morning! Up at 4am and on road at 5am sharp. My colleague, friend and my transport minister Narender is at the wheel. We have been travelling together for more than 10 years now. Will share his pic when we have breakfast.

7/#VoICE #VoICEdec22 A quick exit from Toll Plaza, Fast Tag is efficient! Earlier it was a 5-15 minutes waiting! My three day circuit totals approximately Rs 1600/- to Rs 1800/- on FastTag Till deduction.

8/#VoICE #VoICEdec22 Breakfast break. Zhilmil Dhaba. Now three of them in a row and all three claim to be ‘original’. My favourite is the center one. Always a pleasure to have tea at home and breakfast on highways with Narender.

9/ #VoICE #VoICEdec22 First stop at Kurali. Started with three and finally eight! From right, me, son of our ex-Sub Maj, Naik Jagpal, Naik Satish, Hony Capt Amarjeet, Havaldar Naresh, Subedar Angrez and son of Capt Amarjeet. 1982 to 2015 FORTY YEARS OF BROTHERHOOD.

10/ #VoICE #VoICEdec22 Just left Ropar
Great meeting all of my colleagues.
From left Hav Jangbahadur, Subedar Gurmail, self, Subedar Roshan. When I joined unit, Sub Gurmail had already put in 15 years of service. #VoICE is acronym of Veterans Of India for Constructive Engagement

11/ #VoICE #VoICEdec22 Entering Himachal Pradesh. 3 hours of drive upto Ner Chowk, my next destination. I left Ropar 15 mins ago, from Korattur Sahab took the road to Bilaspur. Will share few videos of driving through hills.

11#3/ #VoICE #VoICEdec22 The hills.

12/ #VoICE #VoICEdec22 Simple lunch but the distinct taste of Himachali food instantly reminded me of numerous visits to Himachal in last 40 yrs! Himachali cuisine is excellent!

13/ #VoICE #VoICEdec22 Tidays last destination. Village Galma in Mandi Distruct, deep in interior. I met (from left) Hony Capt Mohinder, Hony Capt Paramdev, Naik Nikke Ram, Hav Nandlal, Naik Khubram, Naik Suresh, Nb Sub Heera, Naik Kashmir and Naik Bihari lal. What a meeting!!

14/ Closing the day. Absolute happiness meeting so many of my unit veterans. Laughter comes so easily. Another five joined. Brilliant day meeting 15-17 veterans in their villages. Night halt at Mandi. Good night.

15/ Day 2 dawns. Today I plan to travel 175-200 kms. First halt Mandi thereafter to Padhar, Jogindernagar, Dharmapuri, Sarkaghat, Baldwara and Ghumarwin. I should finish by 8pm today. #VoICE #VoICEdec22

16/ Why don’t you read my book ‘Under The Sun’ which is part of series that brings out leadership, character and values in form of day to day military life. There is a very interesting story in the book titled ‘mASS X VELOCITY=MOMENTUM’ story of my #VoICE #VoICEdec22

17/ …20 ton 7.2inch Howitzer saving the massive gun tower Kraz from plunging down 100 feet. I AM MEETING THE DRIVER OF THE KRAZ TRUCK TODAY. Be part of the journey. Order book on AMAZON on this link amazon.in/dp/9356800952?…

18/ Sketch from the book drawn by me for the story ‘mASS X VELOCITY=MOMENTUM’. Book has over 10 sketches drawn by me. Don’t forget to write a review. Book is ‘self-published’ by me.

19/ After a cold night a warm meeting with Subedar Hemraj who came on a Ooty from 30 kms. We served together for 16 years. We met in Mandi. I am on my way to Padhar, another tiny village to meet couple of my unit veterans.

20/ Mandi-Jogindernagar National Highway ☹️☹️

21/ Beautiful Himachal

22/ Day 2. At Padhar village met Naik Durga Singh, who had more knockout wins in boxing than anyone else and Hav xxxx a master Special Driver who towed 20 ton gun while driving a 12 ton Kraz vehicle.

23/ This is a special tweet for all those who have my book ‘Under The Sun’ and all those who will buy it now. All pictures below are interconnected. I also carry a diary in which I maintain their addresses down to Village, Post Office, Tehsil and District with Pin Code. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

24/ Unending beauty of Himachal Pradesh.

24/ Jogindernagar… Six veterans of my unit including one who has personally trained over 20,000 youth free of cost, to join Army. Today more than 3000 his trained youth serves Indian Army. AGNIVEER was our topic of discussion. They are absolutely thrilled with the scheme.

25/ I will cover ‘Agniveer’ separately. In picture Havaldar Puran, Hav Gopal, self, Hav Dilip, Naik Rewat, Subedar Netar, Nb Sub Ramesh. Gopal has trained youth and continues to do so. I will write ground report on ‘Agniveer’ and trust me, I write fearlessly for nations good.

26/ Must have crossed at least 20 landslides not yet cleared. Jogindernagar to Dharampur has miserable road + landslide stretches. Met Subedar Hira and Havaldar Desraj at Dharampur. Done 600kms so far. Travelling on interior roads is quiet a challenge. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27/ Last visit of the day. Sarkaghat. Honourary Captain Mohinder Singh and Subedar Gyan Chand. Both with me since 1982!

28/ Before I say Good Night, you must own my book ‘Under The Sun’ which has military stories of valour, leadership, camaraderie and character. Buy it on Amazon amazon.in/dp/9356800952?… GOOD NIGHT till I connect again tomorrow morning.

29/ DAY 3 Good Morning to everyone. Day started with an early morning long walk with Subedar Jagarnath with whom I stayed for the night. The walk ended with some beautiful rural sights. The village is Bhabba, 8 kms from Ghumarwin in Bilaspur District. Here are two videos. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

30/ Stayed for the night with retired Subedar Jagarnath in village Bhabba, 8 kms from Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district. So wonderful! A walk in the morning at 6.30, walking in fields and enjoying rural life. The warmth of the family makes me emotional.

31/ Meeting my unit veterans at Ghumarwin. From left Subedar Diwakar, Subedar Jagarnath, self, Havaldar Surender, Subedar Dhyan Chand, Naik Lekhram and Hav Lekhram. Now I proceed to Ladraur.

32/ Ladraur surprised me with THIRTEEN veterans of my unit coming together. Feather in the cap was Havaldar Jaichand who joined the unit in 1963 when I was three years old and Subedar Roshan who joined unit in 1967 when I was seven. Today both are 80 years plus. Truly my seniors.

33/ Ladraur - Front row from right Subedar Narpat, Sub Ashok, Havaldar Lekhram, Subedar Roshan, Hav Pradeep, Havaldar Jaichand, Hav Ratan, rear row from right, Satish, Rajesh, Vijan, Prithu, Sunil and Amar. I now go to Hamirpur.

34/ Hamirpur- From left Havaldar Rajinder, Naik Ramesh, Havaldar Devraj, Naik Rajat, Naik Jagarnath and Major Keemti Lunch with them. Having a great day today.

35/ Rangas- I met PIAR CHAND. This tweet will especially excite those who have read the story ‘What A Night Again’ in my book ‘Under The Sun’. Cover art is about a story of wolves surrounding me. Piar Chand is the Survey Havaldar in that story. He is 74 today. Buy book on Amazon

36/ SADDEST meeting at village Sukrala. Nb Sub Harbhajan of my unit passed away on 25 Nov 2022 at Delhi due to cancer. Today it is just just 9th day. I met his wife and two daughters. Son is youngest and was not at home. Another widow and three children with #SAVITA now.

37/ Sunset is just 45 mins away, journey has not finished yet. I am near Una and heading towards Mehatpur where 4-5 veterans will meet. 900kms, 12-15 hours on road and meeting veterans. Zero fatigue.

38/ Mehatpur near Nangal. The LAST meeting of the three day trip. From left Naik Suresh, Havaldar Ajmer, Honourary Lt Dalbir and Gunner Sanjeev.

39/ A BIG THANK YOU for following this pilgrimage in 17th year if my retirement. I have held highest standards of values, character and ‘practiced’ leadership. You can spread it too. My book ‘Under The Sun’ embodies it. Buy it. Present it. amazon.in/dp/9356800952?… BYE & GOOD NIGHT