The Dispatch Rider's Podcast: Recent Episodes
Puneet Mathur
The 'Dispatch Rider''s podcast is a podcast series that brings to you Indian war stories, stories about war related incidents, and stories about the brave men and outstanding military leaders from the Indian armed forces
This is the story of a daring rescue of 10 passengers stuck in a damaged cable car - and suspended mid air about 1500 ft above a river. The passengers were rescued from air by an Indian Air Force helicopter, by a brave army commando, and two very skillful Air Force pilots.
The Civil War in Sri Lanka was never meant to be an affair in which India should have meddled.
The Indian Army which was called in to help the Government of Sri Lanka, was threatened and forced to leave the Country.
During the 1971 India Pakistan war, the Indian Navy conducted sequential attacks on Karachi port, Pakistan's main Naval and maritime base. These attacks were code named Operation Trident and Operation Python. The result was complete destruction of Pakistan's military and economic assets.
The only Indian Air Force officer to have been awarded the 'Distinguished Flying Cross' twice, Wing Commander Karun Kumar Majumdar would have risen to the post of Air Chief for certain, but for his untimely demise in an air crash.
The Maharaja of Jaipur and an Indian Army Commando - Bhawani Singh or 'Bubbles' fought in the 1971 India Pakistan war and won a Maha Vir Chakra. Yet, we Indian have forgotten him
Some Indians have only heard of the name ‘Siachen’ but few Indians especially the GenX (those born after 1995) know anything beyond the fact that there is a place called Siachen and that there is some kind of conflict there.
Here's the story, for the uninitiated
The capture of the Haji Pir Pass by the Indian Army during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, is a saga of guts and glory. In a bold and daring military operation, the Haji Pir pass, a strategically important feature under the control of Pakistan, was captured by the 1 Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army.
Here's the story of a soldier who served all three arms of the Indian Military - The Army, Navy and the Air Force - all in one lifetime !
A feat achieved by none other
This story is about Captain Mahendra Nath Mullah of the Indian Navy, who was commanding an Indian Naval warship - a frigate named "INS Khukri" during the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. When his ship was hit by an enemy torpedo and starting sinking, Captain Mullah ordered all others to abandon ship.
He continued to supervise the rescue of many sailors, till the very end. He was last seen going down with the sinking Khukri
Listen to the full story
Bana Singh led his team of four men, to climb a mountain wall more than a thousand fee in height, in the middle of a blinding blizzard, at temperatures around -50 deg C, to capture a strategically located post from the enemy.
For his act of bravery above and beyond the call of duty, Bana Singh was awarded India's highest gallantry award - the Param Vir Chakra.
Bana Singh is the only solider to have been awarded the Param Vir Charka during peace time.
This family is unique indeed because the Father, and all of his seven sons joined the Indian Army, and served the Nation with distinction. Furthermore, the grandsons also followed the family tradition and donned the uniform. The grand daughters married Army officers.
The Kler family - a Sikh family from Punjab had three generations donning the uniform and serving the Nation with distinction.
Two family members rose to become Lt. Generals, one became Air Marshal and one became Major General.
Here's their story
The Vohra brothers were four brothers. All four joined the Indian Army. All four were commissioned into the Armored Corps. Two brothers rose to Lt. General and two brothers became Major General.
A unique family indeed ! Four brothers - all Generals
Three brothers their Father and sister - all joined the Indian Army. While the eldest brother Major Somnath Sharma attained martyrdom in a rare display of gallantry during the 1947 India Pakistan war, thereby becoming the first recipient of India's highest gallantry award - The Param Vir Chakra, his Father two brothers and sister served the Nation with excellence, while in uniform
Four brothers from the same family joined the Indian Air Force. Three of them were awarded the 'Distinguished Flying Cross'. One of them won the Mahavir Chakra. Two rose to the rank of Air Marshal. One became Chief of Air Staff.
Listen to their story
Sam Manekshaw was the most popular General of the Indian Army. He needs no introduction.
He became India's first Field Marshal - a rank that he held till his death.
Sam Manekshaw needs no introduction. He was the most popular General in India and later rose to the rank of Field Marshal - a rank he held till he died.
This is the story of Inder Gill, an officer of outstanding qualities - a deep professional knowledge and clarity of thought. An excellent leader and trainer. An officer who always stood upright for what he believed was the right thing to do. Hugely respected and admired through the rank and file of the Indian Army.
When the 1971 war was on between India and Pakistan, Sekhon - an Indian Air Force fighter pilot was posted at Srinagar airbase.
On 14th December the air base was attacked by six Pakistani fighter aircraft. Sekhon took them on singlehandedly. He shot down one aircraft and seriously damaged another before the sheer numbers got the better of him.
Sekhon was awarded India's highest gallantry award - Param Vir Charka. He remains till date, the only Air Force officer to have been awarded this award.
As a Naib Subedar Bana Singh led the team that wrested control of the highest peak on the Siachen glacier, from Pakistani forces, in sub human conditions - with temperature close to minus 50 C, snow storm and zero visibility.
Following this the post hitherto called the 'Qaid Post' was renamed 'Bana Post'
On September 19, 1965 when the India Pakistan watr was on, a Pakistani Air Force fighter jet shot down an Indian civilian aircraft. The Chief Minister of Gujarat Balwant Rai Mehta, along with his wife, three members of the staff, one jounalist and two crew members perished in the crash.
One of the finest armor commanders the Indian Army has produced. A brilliant strategist and tactician of tank warfare. A 'revered' leader. His simplicity, courage, boldness, and a high sense of professionalism will continue to inspire thousand of officers and men of the Indian Army.
Physical and moral courage are seldom found in abundance, in the same person. Yet, Lt. General Bhagat was an example of this. For the former, he won the Victoria Cross during the Second World War. For the latter, it is said there are innumerable instances to recount.
Few officers in India's history would have had the moral will, courage and the ability to stand upright against authority to preserve the dignity of self and the Nation. Here's the story of one officer who did. And that officer was Lt. Genl. Thakur Nathu Singh
In the 1965 India Pakisan war two brothers - Denzil and Trevor Keelor fought side by side as fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force, They achieved a unique distinction. Listen in to find out more.....
Every Indian knows the story of 2nd Lt. Arun Khetrapal, who participated in the Battle of Basantar dring the 1971 India Pakistan war, single handedly destroyed several Pakistani tanks, before his was mortally wounded. He was only 21 old. For his act of courage above and beyond the call of duty, Arun Khetrapal was awarded the Nation's highest award - the Param Vir Chakra.
Many years later, Arun's father - Brigadier ML Khetrapal, was invited to Pakistan as part of some peace keeping initiatives - also known as 'twin track dipomacy'
Who did he meet there and what happened ? Listen in....
In 1977, an indian Air Force plane belonging to the Communications Squadron (tasked to transport VIPs and VVIPs) left Palam airport, Delhi on way to Jorhat. The passengers were the Indian Prime Minister - Morarji Desai and his entourage.
Shortly before landing at Jorhat the plane crashed killing all crew members. The Prime Minister miraculously survived the crash and literally walked out of it.
Listen in to find out more.....
On 14th December 1971, a deadly and ferocious attack on the Governor House in Dhaka (then East Pakistan) by the Indian air Force, literally brought the entire Pakistani administration to its knees, and resulted in Pakistan's surrender
This is a story of a brave young Indian fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force, who bravely single handedly engaged and fought with four enemy aircraf that were attacking an Indian air base, during the 1965 India Pakistan war. Cooke shot down two of the enemy jets and chased the rest away. Listen to his story
The battle over Boyra was an aerial battle fought between the air forces of India and Pakistan on 22 November, 1971 several days before the India Pakistan war officially commenced, Two Pakistani fighter jets were shot down by the Indian fighters, and pilots were taken prisoners. Listen to this story...
During the early days of the war between India and Pakistan in December 1971, a Pakisani submarine - PNS Ghazi sunk off the Vishakapatnam harbour. The Indian Navy claimed that the submarine was destroyed by one of her warships - INS Rajput.
Was this really the case?
Listen to this story....
In 1977, an aircraft of the VIP Squadron of the Indian Air Force, carrying the Prime Minister iof India and his entourage, crashed while landing at Jorhat.
The Prime Minister walked away from the crash, virtually unscathed. The brave crew flying the aircraft perished
This story is about the brave 2nd Lieutenant Aun Khetrapal, known to the whole of India, as the bravest of the brave, who fought valiatnly against the enemy during the 'Battle of Basantar' (1971 India Pakistan war), and laid down his life, in the finest traidtions of the Indian armed forces. For his act of bravery Arun Khetrapal was awarded India's highest gallantry award - the 'Param Vir Chakra' Arun was just 21 years old when he died.
But this story doesn't end here. Many years later, Arun's Father - Brigadier ML Khetrapal (Retd), was invited to Pakistan, as part of a twin track diplomacy initiative started by both Countries for peace. His hosts in Pakistan, was a retired Brigadier from the Pakistan Army, and his family.
When Brigadier Khetrapal realised while staying in Pakistan, who his host actually was, he was shaken to the core.
Listen on....
This story too, relates to the 1971 India - Pakistan war.
India's primary war objective during the 1971 war was to liberate East Pakistan leading to the birth of Bangaldesh.
The war was started by Pakistan on 3rd December 1971. Ten days later, the Indian Army was advancing towards Dhaka from the East West and South. The Pakistan Air Force had been decimated by the Indian Air Force, just four, five days into the war. While Pakistan had virtually lost the war militarily, the political leadership refused to accept that fact. Something drastc needed to be done, to convince the Pakistani leadership in Dhaka, to surrender, leading to cease fire and liberation of Bangladesh.
At this stage, the Indians stumbled upon some intelligence and decided to give the Pakistanis, a shock treatment.
LIsten in....
This is the story of two brothers - Denzil and Trevor Keelor. Both joined the Indian Air Force and became fighter pilots. Both brothers flew the same fighter aircraft - the 'GNAT'.
Both brothers fought in the 1965 India Pakistan war. Both shot down the same type of enemy aircraft - the F86 Sabre Jet. And both brothers went on to be awarded the Vir Chakra for bravery.
A unique distinction indeed, for a family. Listen to their story
This is the story of Alfred Cooke, who was a Flight Lieutenant in the Indian Air Force during the 195 India Pakistan war. Cooke displayed exceptional grit and courage when he single handedly took on two of six Pakistani Sabre Jets that came to attack the Kalaikunda airbase. Flying his Hawker Hunter aircraft at supersonic speed at tree top height, Cooke shot down and destroyed one aircraft. He was then successful in chasing another aircraft back into Pakistan.
Here is Cooke's story
In the run up to the 1971 India Pakistan war, some local skirmishes and battles had begub towards the end of November. One such battle was being fought at Garibpur, between the Pakistan army on one side, an the 'Mukhti Bahini' (the libration army of Bangladesh) and a small detachment of the Indian Army.
The Pakistan Air force dispatched four fighter aircraft to lend support to the Paksitan army in Garibpur. These aircrat were intercepted by four Gnat aircraft of the No. 22 squadron, of the Indian Air Force.
The air battle that ensued came to be known as the Battle over Boyra. Listen in to know what happened,
When Pakistan was contemplating war against India in 1971, she formulated an ambitious plan to enter India's territorial waters, and destroy Indian Navy's only aircraft carrier - INS VIKRANT, with an aim to provide a deadly blow to India's maritime capability. For this mission they chose to deploy their submarine -PNS GHAZI.
Listen to this story
On 14th December 1971, an air attack was executed on the Governor's house that was so lethal and intimidating, that it forced the East Pakistan government to resign. That changed the fate of the war, and East Pakistan surrendered just two days later.
This is the story of Denzil and Trevor Keelor, two borthers, who fought in the 1965 India Pakistan war and flew the same type of fighter jets (Gnats). Trevor and Denzil both shot down Pakistani Sabre jets. Both were awarded the Vir Chakra for gallantry. They are the only siblings to have been awarded the Vir Chakra for the same feat.
Arguably one of the best Indian Air Force pilots ever, Flt Lt. Cooke intercepted and attacked four Pakistani Sabre jets that were attacking Kalaikunda air base during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. He shot down one and badly damaged another two, while the fourth one got away.
Here's the story of Alfred Cooke.
On November 22, 1971, a few days before the India Pakistan war started, some Pakistani jets ostensibly providing air support to ground troops in the Garibpur area near the India - East Pakistan border, entered Indian territory and were immediately intercepted by four Indian Gnat aircraft.
In the ensuing battle, two Pakistani jets were shot down, and the pilots taken prisoners, while a third aircraft badly damaged in the air battle, managed to get back into Pakistan
This is the story....
The Timber Trail resort nestled in the Shivalik hills in Himachal Pradesh’s Parwanoo has been a big draw for tourists since the early 1980s. And the main attraction there since 1988 is a cable car ride that ferries people from the resort’s one property along the Chandigarh-Shimla highway to another located 1.8 km away on a hill top at 5,000 ft above the sea level.
On 13 October 1992, the cable car ferrying around 10 tourists to the hill property broke down, leaving the scared passengers suspended at a height of 1,300 ft.
This is the story of the daring rescue operation conducted by an Indian Army commando, very ably backed by a brave and efficient helicopter crew.
In 1977, a TU 124 aircraft of the VIP squadron of the Indian Air Force, carrying Prime Minister Morarji Desai and his entourage, crashed while landing at Jorhat.
Most of the crew perished in the crash, but Morarji Desai literally walked out of the wreckage, and lived to tell the tale.
Bana Singh led the team that wrested control of the highest peak on the Siachen glacier in Kashmir from Pakistani forces as part of Operation Rajiv.
For his act of bravery, Bana Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest gallantry award. This is the only Param Vir Charka to have been awarded during peace time, since India and Pakistan were technically not at war at the time of the incident.
Captain MN Mullah, was commanding an Indian Navy warship during the 1971 India -Pakistan war, when his ship was attacked, destroyed and sunk by a Pakistani submarine. As the ship was sinking, Captain Mullah had the choice to leave the ship and save himself. He chose to remain on board the ship while supervising the rescue of hundreds of sailors. He was last seen on board the ship, when it sank.
Here is the story
PNS Ghazi was a Pakistani Submarine, sent on a mission to the Bay of Bengal, to hunt for and sink India's only aircraft carrier - the INS Vikrant, during the 1971 war between India and Pakistan.
A few days into the war, the Ghazi was destroyed and it sank off the coast of Vishakhapatnam. The Indian Navy reported that one of its warships the INS Rajput destroyed the Ghazi.
But is this really true? What actually happened to the Ghazi? Listen in....
On September 19, 1965, when the India Pakistan war was on, an Indian civilian aircraft belonging to the Gujarat Govt. and carrying the Chief Minister of Gujarat and his entourage, was attacked and destroyed by a Pakistani fighter plane.
Listen to this story.
Arun Khetrapal is a household name in India. This young officer, all of 21 years old, fought valiantly against the enemy in the India Pakistan War of 1971, and caused huge destruction to the enemy's men, machine and moral. In the process Arun gave up his life. He was awarded the Nation's highest battlefield honor - the Param Vir Chakra.
Many years later, Arun 's Father, Brigadier ML Khetrapal, was invited to Pakistan. Listen to this story.