Republic Day Reminisce

[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” css_class=”boxed”]82-year-old Lt. Col. Jehanbux Siavaxa Bhadha (Retd.), currently residing in Los Angeles (USA), was the first and only Parsi to lead a Republic Day Parade Contingent (in 1961). He was also the first Indian soldier to be Para-dropped behind enemy lines during the 1971 War Operations, when he led the Para-drop in erstwhile East Pakistan, making him head and participate in pioneering the Para-deployment by Independent India. Parsi Times is privileged to share his Republic Day message with our readers – with a vote of thanks extended to Commodore Medioma Bhada (Retd.), who facilitated the same.[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

Lt. Col. Jehanbux Siavaxa Bhadha (Retd.) addresses our community on the occasion of India’s 68th Republic Day on 26th  January, 2017:

“This is a recall from the deep past brought forth from a memory which is slowly dimming with time.  I address this specially to our Parsi Zoroastrian youth with great admiration for the spirit and energy I find in them to remind them of some of the instances which may motivate them to press on, regardless.  And this is also to remind our present elders and those who consider themselves keepers of the community’s well-being, that there is still a lot of effort needed to bring back those days of old glory.

“Did you know that we had a Parsi Battalion comprising All Ranks from our community during the Second World War?”

I do this in all humility knowing that ours is a traditionally strong community, peopled by wonderful leaders in the fields of business, science and the arts.  But then what springs to mind is where are the adventurous ones, who, at one time were a major force in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force?  The Navy’s officer ranks were at one time dominated by our community to the highest levels, as was also the case with the Air Force and the Army!  We were a force to admire among the Generals, Air Marshals and Admirals, whom we fielded during ceremonial occasions.  In fact, some of the martial races of the country would hang their heads before the over whelming odds they faced from our miniscule lot!

Today, however, it is difficult to find a Parsi name among the ranks of these three hallowed services.  Why, is the question?  Have we turned into less adventurous, more desk-bound, computer-controlled money-making folks?  There is nothing wrong in that either, but then, shouldn’t we lace that drink with something stronger on the outdoor front.?

“We were a force to admire among the Generals, Air Marshals and Admirals, whom we fielded during ceremonial occasions.  In fact, some of the martial races of the country would hang their heads before the over whelming odds they faced from our miniscule lot!”

Did you know that we had a Parsi Battalion comprising All Ranks from our community during the Second World War?  There is a memorial in Khareghat Colony in Mumbai in honor of our community’s gallant Servicemen who gave their all in supreme sacrifice.  Those are names only of those that died in battle. But that is a fraction of the thousands who served and are today nameless.

I recall a time in the seventies, when all three battalions of the Indian Army’s Parachute Brigade were simultaneously commanded by Parsis!  The Third Battalion by Lt. Col. Jal Master the Fourth by yours truly and the Fifth by Lt. Col. Faroukh Mistry.  It was no small feat when I led the Republic Day Parade’s Maratha Light Infantry contingent when Her Royal Highness the Queen of England was the Chief Guest in 1961.  Life Magazine had a full page photo of the occasion too.

“I recall a time in the seventies, when all three battalions of the Indian Army’s Parachute Brigade were simultaneously commanded by Parsis!  The Third Battalion by Lt. Col. Jal Master, the Fourth by yours truly and the Fifth by Lt. Col. Faroukh Mistry.”

Starting off with our Field Marshal Maneckshaw, our community, as the smallest, miniscule one that it has been, has provided numerous senior officers and heroes, some of whose names are Poonawala, Satarawala, Irani, Thacker, Captain, Bawaadam, F N Billimoria, Adi M Sethna, Jal Cursetji, Rustam Gandhi, Aspi Engineer, Minoo Merwan Engineer, Fali Homi Major amongst others.”