Warriors in the East
Adjoining the flowing Hooghly, straddling roughly between two
iconic structures, Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu, stands a
fortified citadel famously known as 'Fort William' since the latter half of the
18th century, which was once the military headquarters of British India.
Ironically, unlike most forts of yesteryears, Fort William in
its present 'avatar' never once stood any siege. Famed cannons that once dotted
its ramparts but never once fired, today embellish its historical
significance as it houses the present day headquarters of one of Indian Army's
sword arm, the Eastern Command.
The pre eminence of Fort William, once the symbol of British
military, also did not diminish despite shifting of the capital of British
India from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911. The aura of Fort William, still held in
awe, is unmatched by any other military formation in the country. With the
rising sun as its 'Coat of Arms', Eastern Command's rich and varied history
goes back many centuries to the days of the Mughals and the East India Company.
Having played a key part in the process of evolution of the pre
and post Independence Indian Army, many illustrious formations such as 4 Corps
(raised in May 1942) that fought their way to victory in the Burma Campaign,
continue to serve in Eastern Command even today while some others like 15
Corps, have moved to other parts of the country.
Retaining its splendour as the seat of military might, and
subsequent to the restructuring and demobilisation of the Indian Army after
First World War, Eastern Command was formed on November 1, 1920 in Lucknow (Nainital being
its summer HQ). Its territorial jurisdiction extended over Delhi, Uttar
Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Bengal and further east beyond Assam.
Nearly two decades later, the advent of Second World War led toredesignation of
Eastern Command as Eastern Army in April 1942, with the additional operational
responsibility of the Burma front included. With the creation of 14th Army in
October 1943, and with operational responsibility limited up to river Meghna (now
in Bangladesh), it reverted back to its earlier status of being Eastern Command
and has remained so till date.
At the time of Independence, Eastern Command was located in
Ranchi. In 1955, It moved back to Lucknow, and eight years later
to where it really belonged - Fort William in Calcutta. It has remained in the
renamed Kolkata city with territorial jurisdiction signifying multi-faceted
operational and administrative challenges.
Conflicts Crises and Glory
Post Independence, the crisis in North Eastern Frontier Agency
(NEFA), the parts of north-eastern India in Arunachal Pradesh as it was then
called, in 1962, was to prove a cathartic event in India's history. Valuable
politico-military lessons relevant till date were learnt during the crisis. HQs
4 Corps that was disbanded after the Second World War was re-raised at Tezpur,
Assam on October 4, 1962.
In 1971, Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora, then GOC-in-C,
Eastern Command, accepted history's greatest surrender since the end of Second
World War. It was indeed a red-letter day in the history of the
Indian Army. The Indian Armed Forces had achieved a stunning and memorable
victory, leading to the liberation of Bangladesh. Audacity and speed of
operation knocked the adversary off balance.
Over 93,000 personnel of the Pakistan Armed Forces were taken as
'prisoners of war'. The victory epitomised the glory of the Indian Armed Forces and
since then, December 16, the day of 'Instrument of Surrender' was signed by Lt
Gen AAK Niazi of Pakistan Army, is celebrated as "Vijay Diwas".
The Vijay Diwas event is celebrated in a big way in
Fort William under Eastern Command. Mukti Jodhas and Indian
veterans are hosted by Eastern Command on the occasion every year. In the
celebrations held in December last, VeerNari Smt Balamdina Ekka and
son Vincent Ekka, family members of the sole Param Vir Chakra
(PVC) recipient in the eastern theatre, martyr Lance Naik Albert Ekka,
also graced the event.
Quest for Peace
Since Independence not all crises in the north-eastern region
were gnawing threats from adversaries, some of them were from within. The
insurgency of Nagaland was the first to begin, setting tone for others in the
region to follow. While Nagaland came into being a state in 1963, 8 Mountain
Division was raised the same year to counter insurgency in the state.
A Counter Insurgency and Jungle warfare (CIJW) School was
established at Vairangte, Mizoram to impart pre-induction training to all the
incoming units. Today, it can be mentioned that the CIJW School has become a
'centre of excellence' where foreign troops are regulars, either for training
or joint drills, in the global quest for peace against insurgency-related
actions.
To counter the growing powerful underground organisations such
as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), HQs 3 Corps was raised in
February 1985 to ensure a co-ordinated employment of all troops combating
insurgency. Army units have carried out endless cordon and searches of
villages, interceptions and raids to maintain a strike rate higher than the
insurgent's ability to recoup.
More importantly, formations of Eastern Command have initiated
many steps to win the hearts and minds of the people. In December last month,
the current GOC-in-C, Lt Gen Dalbir Singh who also previously
commanded the 3 Corps, hosted and feted children from the Kuki tribe
of Nagas at Fort William during a 'Sadbhavna' excursion for the
30-odd students organised by the Army. It may also be mentioned that similar
excursions from Jammu & Kashmir are also routinely hosted here.
The insurgencies in Mizoram and Tripura also ran a similar
course. The undercurrents of frustration among the youth in the Mizo Hill
Districts were akin to the ones in Nagaland. Relentless operations by the
Indian Army quelled Mizo National Front (MNF) activities that had
become very hostile. Meanwhile, emergence of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA)
activities in Manipur were among the other internal threats that the Army
units under Eastern Command had to counter in the quest for peace in the
region.
The resentment of the presence of 'foreigners' by ethnic
population of Assam beginning with agitations also gave birth to a secessionist
organisation who tried to acquire a Robin Hood image, albeit with the knowledge
of making improvised explosive devices (IED) and the power of media. The
signing of 'Assam Accord' in 1985 did nothing to curb their hostile acts. The Army's efforts
in quest for peace hasmostly helped peace return to the beleaguered state.
The complexities of insurgency in the north-eastern states
notwithstanding, Eastern Command and its formations have dealt with a vitiated
internal security situation with a firm yet patient and understanding hand.
Restrain and the minimum necessary force was always resorted to only
when it was unavoidable. Successive Commanders at all levels have always sought
to reduce the Army's presence and primacy so that other organs of the state
attend to the root causes of the insurgency.
Golden Milestones
The Eastern Command has been operationally committed since
Independence. Their sacrifices have justly earned them many distinctions,
honours and awards. General K Cariappa, OBE, who became the first Indian
Commander-in-Chief on January 15, 1949 (now celebrated as Army Day), was also
the first GOC-in-C of Eastern Command for a short spell after Independence. He
was later conferred the rank of a Field Marshal in 1996. Similarly, Field
Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, MC, who led the Indian Army to victory in 1971 and
became India's first Field Marshal in 1975, was yet another of its illustrious
Army Commanders.
Besides, the current Chief of the Army Staff, General Bikram Singh was the
Eastern Army Commander, others who preceded him included Generals PPKumaramanglam,
AS Vaidya, VN Sharma and VK Singh.
Paving the Way Onwards
In addition to the complex challenges of national security and
land borders with five neighbouring countries, and CI operations in many
north-eastern states, Eastern Command will continue to play an important role
in the years ahead. It therefore, continues to engage in the dynamic process of
preparing to face the future challenges. The external and internal threats
demand a high degree of operational readiness and the ability to deliver a
decisive response from the formations and units serving under Eastern Command.
With a strong dissuasive posture and a restrained minimum force in conjunction
with other security forces and the civil administration, the military might of
Eastern Command is competent to quell any threats from within.
To forge ahead to effectively face all challenges, the Eastern
Command relies on the well-deliberated modernisation programme of the Indian
Army that has been further set into motion by the current Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh.
Troops deployed in the north-eastern states are in the process of being
equipped with a series of modern weapon systems and force multipliers to
enhance their surveillance reach, night fighting capabilities and the quality
of fire power.
Eastern Command continues to aspire to contribute its share of
effort to nation building activities. Providing aid to civil authority in times
of distress, winning the hearts and mind of people by helping them to help
themselves, greening of the cantonments and educating troops to protect the
ecologically fragile north-eastern region remains one of its key result areas.
Eastern Command is justifiably proud of its glorious past,
confident of managing the complex challenges of today with professional élan
and looks forward with hope to a promising future. Its glory, like that of the
rising sun, shall never diminish. The future will surely witness the high noon
of soldiering of the indefatigable 'India's warriors in the east'.
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