Dear Friend,

It was a nice article on SF you wrote and also it is an article first of its kind on the subject. Let me give you a bit of my background. I am the first batch of students from Sainik School Bijapur, , Karnataka to join NDA, Kharakvasla. Illustrious person like Capt GR Gopinath of Deccan Airways fame is my classmate.

I was commissioned into 7th Battalion The Parachute Regiment on 14 Nov 1971 and we went into battle to liberate East Pakistan and name it Bangladesh.

Maroon League is certainly an exclusive set of soldiers. Probably some SF Officer might have told you that Airborne Forces are merely Airborne Infantry. I have NO grouse on that. But with that statement you have slighted both the Maroon League and the Grand Infantry. With all the gadgetry, modern weapons, nuclear rockets etc, The Ultimate Victory has to measured by the foot soldier of the Infantry! The Maroon Berets, SF, Commandos and tanks will assist this great mass of soldiers from Infantry to win a war!

If you go back in history, Airborne Forces were dropped behind enemy lines for tasks to hasten the victory. Thus it can not be relegated to mere Infantry. Read the stories of Airborne Operations and you will come to your own conclusions. Read a book “Born to Dare” by Mr Muthaiah on Lt Gen Inder Gill who is a legend who shaped 9 and 10 Para Cdo. He was a mere Airborne Officer!!

Factual errors. I do not know any Lt Gen Pravin Katoch. Did you mean Prakash Katoch? This name figures in the first para of your article.

Suffice it is say that there are SF troops under Establishment 22 and nothing more. These are national secrets and weapons which we should guard with sanctity.

Weaponry described by you are not accurate and be it remain so.

Balidan badge. Yes it is a coveted symbol of the elite and people in power should not have diluted it. I was a second in command to a 9 PARA SF for a couple of years and they are one of the best in the world. I used to envy the Baldan badge worn by the soldiers then. I did not have or earn one.

ADGMO (SF) Look at my last para above. I was no less in understanding the SF men under me than any of their officers. These SF Officers mostly succumb to the ultimate sacrifice of a soldier. A few of them go beyond the command of their battalion. Good solid men burn out after that intense life. There is nothing wrong in a Maroon Beret sitting in that position. At that level and rank, he would certainly have the maturity. The lack of understanding of the decisive use SF Troops is in the Corps, Army and Chief’s level. Who will educate them?

Do you know that the entire defence of this country is in the hands of Defence Secretary who everyone assumes is an expert because he is IAS!! Check the level of power the def secy wields and if possible write an article on it. There is nothing more ridiculous than this.

Lastly, very few SF Officers and men may like to part from the Maroon League as the Maroon Beret is the very foundation of the elite troops in this country. It would be a sad day when we see them leave us but the Maroon Beret will remain with us.

You have done extremely well in that article. A few cranks like me may find some chinks! Take the above for whatever it is worth.

Ask me any questions you want and I have plenty of time to respond. Airborne Fraternity has made me a proud soldier to appear at the gates of Saint Peter with head held high.

GOD BLESS AND GODSPEED

Lt Col BGV Kumar,

PB No 1, Haradoor Estate,

Suntikoppa : 571237 (Kodagu, Karnataka)

Mob 9880140282 (poor network but available on Whats App as wifi is active here)

Land 08276–262307