Interlude: Desert Storm

From the pages of India Today: Written by Rohit Parihar
When 12 riders galloped past villages in the deep desert of Rajasthan, their horses excited children, were surprised by camels and had people worshipping them. The 1,000-mile expedition, organised by the Indian Army’s Directorate-General of Mechanised Forces and the Adventure Wing, covered 200 villages in 60 days and was the first to be organised after Independence. The aim was adventure as much as to familiarise the armymen with the terrain. Led by Lt-Colonel P.S. Grewal and his second in command Lt-Colonel Sanjeev Bhalla, a veterinary doctor, the 10 jawans are now fondly called ‘Desert Centaurs’. “The expedition reminds me of the historical progression from cavalry to armour,” says Lt-General S.N. Handa, chief of staff, headquarters, South West Command.

The horses and men underwent rigorous training which helped them cover up to 64 km a day. The riders lost weight during the expedition till their meals were augmented with desi ghee and mutton. To escape the heat, they would often begin their journey at 4 am and reach a village at midnight, surprising villagers. The locals in turn worshipped the horses, recreating scenes depicted in village paintings. But the biggest shock was reserved for a village that saw 12 horses stay there and live as the villagers believed that they were cursed and no horse could survive there. The journey had its escapes too.

Once Grewal’s stallion suddenly stopped and turned back while racing down a slope which had a deep and invisible gorge. At times, potable water was a problem. Also, what put their plans in disarray was the fact that maps would show a much shorter distance than what they would actually cover. A major military advantage of the expedition was that it updated their knowledge about the desert terrain after a long gap.

The soldiers were taken aback by rural progress. “Most villages had power, roads and schools,” Grewal says. They also saw antelopes, lizards, snakes and even a pair of desert wolves, and hope to undertake a longer journey in the future. As part of their preparations, they had gone through Colonel James Todd’s Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan but decided to make their own way. Next time, it could just be in Todd’s footsteps.

An extraordinary Indian

At first glance, R M Vohra is an ordinary Indian. Look a little closer and you notice the distinct military bearing, the crisp voice and the sharp eyes. Speak with him for a while on his experiences - as I did - and you realize that he is anything but ordinary. Lt. Gen. R. M. Vohra, PVSM, Mahavir Chakra winner of the 1971 war, to give his full introduction, commanded an Indian armoured regiment during the famous Battle of Basantar during the Indo-Pak war of 1971.

The war was won many years ago, the dust has settled on the battlefields, the warriors have moved on with the passage of time but for a short while one evening in early April, the warrior in Gen Vohra spoke again. During the time I spent with the General, he recounted the story of his journey from being a young boy who, along with his family, made the desperate crossing into India from the land that became Pakistan and went on to serve his country with honour.

The first pit stop for Vohra came as a Gentleman Cadet at the Joint Services Wing (JSW), where he was part of the first course. With coursemates such as Ramdas (later Admiral and Chief of Naval Staff), N C Suri (later Air Chief Marshal and Chief of Air Staff), Roderigues (later Gen and Chief of Army Staff) and the renowned Hanut Singh (later Lt Gen), the JSW was an experience that built solid foundations to what would be a distinguished career.

Gen. Vohra spoke of people and places he had known, touching upon both military leaders like Gen. Sundarji and a senior JCO of his regiment with equal respect. Notable among his 'people-experiences' was the time when he drove Sundarji (then GOC-in-C, Western Command) through the desert with nothing more than "a map in my hand and the stars above". At another time, he was humble enough to acknowledge that his senior JCO was correct in admonishing him and showed the true spirit of the armoured corps in learning from one and all.

The manner in which the General spoke made it sound like a great time, but there were moments of extreme uncertainty and grave danger in his career. His journey from the JSW to becoming Eastern Army Commander was full of trials and tribulations. From commanding the Hodsons Horse in 1971, to being a member of the team planning Ex. Digvijay; from commanding an armoured division to a Corps, it was a long tough journey. But then, Lt. Gen. R.M. Vohra, PVSM, MVC is a tough man.

To hear Lt. Gen. Vohra speak of his career, log on to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPRTOlfWQ88