Thread by @srikantkesnur

Folks, coming in little late on this but the legend of Chiman Singh Yadav, Maha Vir Chakra, needs recounting for the fascinating twists & turns, for his daring & bravery. Especially few days after his 76th birthday. Especially in the Swarnim Vijay Varsh, as we celebrate 50 years

https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1399582213121871877

2/n. of the 1971 war for liberation of Bangladesh. His story, among others, is told beautifully in the book Operation X, co-authored by @SandeepUnnithan (Harper Collins), a pacy thriller on untold stories of the war. So let me begin with a trick question or fascinating factoid.

3/n. What is Indian Navy's connection to the famous 'Battle of Boyra' in which the Indian Air Force Gnats downed Pakistan Sabres & the Indian Army on ground, @rwac48 captured the first POW of the war who would go into become the PAF Chief years later. Well, one Navyman was having

4/n. a ringside view having stumbled into that place just them. That was Chiman Singh, a Leading Seaman from the Navy's diving branch. What was he doing there? He was returning from a mission beyond enemy lines having infiltrated into Khulna on 01 Nov. Men of 22 Rajput who had

5/n. captured him didn't believe his story of being a Navyman from Gurgaon district till he recognised a unit jawan who was his younger brother's friend. That saved him much interrogation as he didn't have any identity proof on him. Officially he had been listed Missing in Action

6/n. or MIA. Why so? That is one part of the legend. As @SandeepUnnithan describes, Chiman was among the few chosen by Navy brass, in mid 1971, to raise & train a Mukti Bahini marine commando force that would be inserted to carryout a range of violent resistance activities in the

7/n. Maritime domain. Destruction of shipping in harbour & port infrastructure were the key objectives for this force. Having trained many such Mukti joddhas, he was possibly moved by their accounts of horrific atrocities in then East Pakistan. On 01 Nov 71, Chiman, instead of

8/n. Merely escorting the Commandos to the border to induct them into Khulna joins them much to their delight. While Indian authorities & his own superiors are taken by surprise at his disappearance they are hopeful he will be back because he leaves behind his I card, money and

9/n. Other belongings. However, he is designated MIA & a telegram to that effect is sent to his young 23 year old wife Vidya, in Gokulgarh village of Gurgaon, causing much alarm & consternation. Meanwhile, Chiman, with chest length beard, in checked shirt and lungi, armed with a

10/n. 9 mm Sterling Carbine, is deep inside East Pakistan. Having responded to the request of his understudies - 'Saheb please come with us', Chiman & his gang were headed for Barisal a port town in South central Bangladesh, further East of them. He passes off as a sympathizer

11/n. to the Bangladesh cause all the way from England, walked through the night in thick green countryside, often clocking 20 km plus each night, sleeping during the day in Mukti Bahini safehouses, and living with his gun next to him all the time. He was sure that if caught by

12/n. Pakistan forces he would shoot himself rather than give in. More details are given in the book, but suffice to say, after more than 10 nights of walking they reach Barisal, destroying opportunity targets enroute but not getting caught. And then with no targets to attack

13/n. Our hero decides to return, walking all the way back again, living the same dangerous life till he lands up at Boyra on 22 Nov & thus links the Navy to this battle. In effect, Chiman Singh spent 22 days behind enemy lines. So @SandeepUnnithan describes him as Navy's first

14/n. Commando. As per procedure Chiman is thoroughly debriefed and interrogated to rule out his chances of having been subverted by enemy. On being given the 'all clear' signal Chiman is back at the training camp at Plassey wanting to do more instead of taking a break after all

15/n. the exertions. Opportunity comes soon in the form of open war that has broken out on 03 Dec & Chiman is part of Force Alpha a tiny task force of small gun boats assembled by Cdr MNR Samant, the head honcho of Operation X (& also coauthor of the book with @SandeepUnnithan)

16/n. Chiman is assigned to embark MV Padma, in another daring mission, that commences on 07 Dec, to raid East Pakistan ports of Mongla & Khulna from sea. For more on this, read my article. 👇 thedailyguardian.com/ins-panvel-the…
On 09 Dec, while on the Pussur river at Khulna when Force Alpha

17/n. is engaged in a gun fight with East Pakistan forces, they are unfortunately hit by Indian Air Force Gnats, forcing the crew of vessels Padma & Palash to abandon ship & jump into the river. Chiman Singh on brigde top of Padma is badly hurt, his hip is mangled to the bone

18/n. with blood gushing out. Somehow he drags himself into the water & swims to the river bank near Khulna shipyard. Here, knocked out, he is captured by Pakistan forces little later who divest him of his belongings. Owing to his condition he is hospitalised & in severe pain,

19/n. unsure if he will come out alive. Finally, on 17 Dec, one day after the surrender, they are moved to Jessore and later back to India. Chiman finally regains his health at Naval hospital Asvini in Mumbai. Here, one day Mrs Indira Gandhi the then PM meets him & other war

20/n. wounded to praise their effort. A grateful nation awards Chiman Singh the Maha Vir Chakra, our second highest gallantry award, in the Republic Day honours. The Indian Navy commemorates his deeds by naming a block in Diving School, in Kochi after him. Also, a road in the

21/n. Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, is named after him so that the young entrants are inspired by his deeds. Chiman Singh Yadav is a truly unique and amazing story. First, his role as trainer & instructor of Mukti joddhas as marine commandos, second his 3 week operation deep

22/n. inside enemy territory with continuous risk to his life, third his role in Force Alpha raid, fourth his stay of one week in captivity with associated stress & a grevious wound, mark him out as an amazing braveheart. It's a story that should inspire all Indians. 2 years ago

23/n. I had the good fortune of moderating a discussion on the Book, Operation X, with @SandeepUnnithan, Chiman Singh & his then boss Cdr VP Kapil. It was a memorable evening punctuated with nostalgic recollection of the Operation that gave goosebumps to one & all. Personally,

24/n. Chiman Singh was the very epitome of modesty & courtesy, wearing his greatness lightly. He retired from the Navy as a Petty Officer & is now settled in Rewari. Rewari district, incidentally, is where another Navy braveheart, another MVC Cdr Babru Bhan Yadav, the hero of

25/n. Op Trident hails from. And Rewari is the region that gave us the bravest of brave, the Ahirs of 13 Kumaon regiment who fought one of the greatest last stand battles at Rezangla in 1962. India is blessed to have such children. A salute to Chiman Singh Yadav. @indiannavy

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