Siachen Pudding

“Happy Diwali Sirjee” an enthusiastic 24-year-old voice echoed in a small glass fibre tent set on on the World’s Highest Battlefield as Captain Ajit entered with a smiling face. People often talk about their very loved one’s as their Happy Places, but on a white battlefield span across hundreds of kilometres and mercury levels hitting the lowest possible marks, the brave soldiers often find one Happy Place. A person that makes everyone feel secure and gives strength to thrive in most dangerous conditions to survive; A Medical Assistant or a Doctor. The strong 24 year voice was none other than Sepoy SV Suryavanshi. “Happy Diwali Jawan, Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai” exclaimed Captain Ajit to this young lad who hailed from a small village in Satara District of Maharashtra. Both exchanged smiles as Captain Ajit laid down on the makeshift bed prepared over the stocked supplies. There is no place for proper beds and no matter how high ranked the officer is, he has to make optimum use of the available resources. Captain Ajit had not been feeling well and so he had come down to visit Sepoy Sunil Suryavanshi. After a routine checkup and a shot of a regular injection, Captain Ajit woke up and asked Sunil about the Diwali celebrations back home. Like a kid, Sunil started explaining a traditional Maharashtrian Diwali. Being a Farmer’s chid himself, his Diwali started with Vasubaras, a festival where Cow is worshipped as she is considered to be one of the deities in Hindu mythology. “You know what the best part is Sir. We try to recreate and feel the Shivaji Maharaj era by making miniature forts. The fun part is about collecting all the resources that are required for the same; Mud, stones, plants, rucksacks and then put in our heart & soul into the preparations” Captain Ajit patiently listened as Sunil continued. He then explained about the mouth-watering Diwali delicacies prepared in every Maharashtrian household. family gatherings & the sweet sound of crackers, the bond of brotherhood celebrated during Bhaubeej and umpteen other things. Sunil went on and on as if he was waiting for this question. But when he took a long pause in this conversation, Capt. Ajit exactly knew what was happening with Sunil. 

 He was thousands of kilometres away from home and all that he was talking about seemed like a fantasy at the Siachen Glacier. There were hardly any animals apart from the snow dogs. Forget about busting crackers, lighting a kerosene stove would take hours at around -50 Degree Celcius. Food would freeze and had to be cracked by hammer and then cooked; Canned food and juices were the only meals throughout the posting. Everyone was allowed just one call a week back home and that too depended on the weather; at times soldiers would have to stay without contacting their families for weeks. Life was at standstill and Diwali was a routine day for everyone posted along with him. Capt. Ajit broke the silence understanding the state of mind of this 24-year-old soldier and invited him and his colleagues over to his tent. The three of them geared up with 20 kilograms of clothes and ropes tied to each other as they moved towards the fourth tent where a group of another 10 soldiers had gathered to celebrate Diwali. 13 people cramped in a small tent was a regular sight at the Post as they often used to gather to be safe together from extreme climatic conditions. As Sunil and his friends walked in, they were handed over a paper dish with something that sounded unfamiliar to Sunil in the early days of his post. “The land is so barren and the passes so high, that only the fiercest of enemies and the best of friends want to visit us ” quoted Capt. Ajit referring to the slogan written at their post. “And my boys, you should be proud that you are celebrating the biggest festival, doing the bravest job, at the highest battlefield and with utmost patriotism. Happy Diwali”. The room echoed with Happy Diwali from all 13 soldiers and they rose a toast with their paper plates. Plates with Siachen Pudding, the only delicacy prepared on the base by mixing all the sweet items like chocolates, sugar, milk, biscuits and everything possible. That was the only celebration Sunil had that Diwali. That Diwali, which was his last. 

After 3 months of extreme survival when he was geared up to head home, nature turned ferocious. These brave men are prepared to take on the worst situations, but when nature is at its worst its humanly impossible to stop it. “White-out” with a heavy avalanche swiped out half the base at Siachen Glacier. The mortal remains of Sepoy Sunil Suryawanshi and 5 others were found after a week of search operations. He was about to celebrate his 25th Birthday in a fortnight, he had promised his mother and a wife to celebrate next Diwali with them. He did go back to his family but was wrapped in Tricolor and no one could even see his face. Not even the one-year-old daughter with whom he had hardly spent any time.

As we celebrate this grand festival, I want to dedicate it to thousands of others like Sepoy Sunil for whom patriotism and call of duty are above everything else. A big salute to all those who protect us in spite of going through severe hardships and extreme climate. Amidst this, there is a constant danger of what our stupid neighbour country might do. We celebrate all our festivals, because of their sacrifices. Let’s remember them today as we set out in our fancy attire every festival as they face the worst.