“A hero for heroic...”

Old soldiers just fade away and do not believe in publicizing themselves by getting a colored photo printed on the cover page of a community magazine and advertising their personal lives as has been done ("A hero for heroic times,” and "A soldier called Sam,” Parsiana, August 2003). The man with the ceremonial baton seems ready to throw his stick in the air in tune with the music. I have never met Sam Manekshaw, nor do I know him so I have no ulterior motives for writing the letter but only with the purpose of improving the quality of Parsiana and not for belit­tling anyone.

I have known at least three Parsi officers holding high ranks rarely given to Indians by the British. I do not wish to give their names without the permission of their families. One of them rose to be a major. He had left his college studies in commerce at a very young age and joined the Army. He was in the Kumonese Regi­ment and fighting under the British in the North West Frontier Province near Fort Sandeman with Afghan Snipers raining bullets on them, sleeping at night in the open with revolvers locked to their wrists. Due to injuries he was invalidated from the army on a meagre pension. The other one, a colonel (hardly seven to eight under the British rule), was sent to Hiroshima, fought heroically but due to atomic radiation his thyroid gland got affected and he was invalidated.

The third, a Lt Col in the Tank Regiment, kept on fighting for several days with the Small Indian Tank, was seriously injured three times, but refused to quit. He kept his command and led the tanks but the fourth shell proved fatal.

Any account of such Parsi officers would have inspired the present generation of Parsi boys to join the army. Through inves­tigative journalism, you should find out such persons and give them the honor they deserve.

KERSASP FRAMJI DALAL

Ahmedabad

The Editor replies

The Field Marshal did not ask for the function to be held or to have his photograph on the cover of Parsiana. The publicity has been given by those who take pride in the fact that a Zoroastrian was the first Field Marshal of independant India.

This in no way belittles the gallantry of other Parsis who have served their country honorably. As a matter of fact it is a tribute to all Zoroastrians in the armed forces. It is just that the Field Marshal is the most prominent.