Induvidual soldier's salary

Recently one Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) of Territorial Army asked me what was the monthly salary of Indian Army of Second Lieutant in 1974? I replied, it was 1000 per month. We had to submit Income Tax return by physical mode.

Now NCO draw about 40,000 pm. He has to submit Tax Return. I was rembering in 1974 a soldier draw his salary when he will be going on leave. The amount accumulated in his salary account which was not getting any interest. Now the salary is credited in his Bank account, the family member can withdraw from their home town. The minium education for a General Duty Soldier was class VIII, now is Madhyamik. 

My memory of Gallentary Awardees

Brigader A P Dutta, Vir Chakra (R) was my Weapon Training Officer of Officers Training Academy ( 1973-74), Chennai. He was Group Commander of Territorial Army Group, Eastern Command. He and Mrs. Dutta are regular attendees of the Vijay Diwas memorial function at Eastern Command.

I had my first meeting with Col SS Parmar Vr C ( R) and Major General MS Duggal VR C (R), They were posted an Artillery Regiment where I was posted between 1974 to 1978.

Col Parmar setteled at New Delhi. He was a very jovial person. I had requested him to visit Kolkata during the Vijay Diwas program on 16th December. I have posted the visuals of this event.

In 1969, I went to 20th Maratha Light Infantry for attachment with the Regular Army at Binaguri from NCC.It was 21 days training.

I had attained Regiment of Artillery Reunion in 2000. It was held School of Artillery, Deolali, and Regiment Arty Center Nashik, where I had to meet Maj Gen M S Dugal.

I had served the State Bank of India. Lt  Suvesh Kumar  Mitra (ex-Indian Navy), Vir Chakra. Lt  Mitra had served SBI, he was posted to Local Head Office Kolkata. 

I was associated with Army Exhibition at Kolkata, which was in May 1984. There were two themes West Bengal's contribution to Indian Independence and Indian Armed Forces. The first them was arranged by the Government of West Bengal. The next theme was projected by the Territorial Army Group, Eastern Command. We identified 44 awarded who are from West Bengal. Lt  Mitra was one of them.

The Wion TV has telecasted on the Indian Navy's team in 1971 operation, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdb0fqofddg

Updating from T K Sanyal of Kolkata at what's up a group of 5/1/2022

Lt  Mitra's interview has been included.

⚓⚓With profound grief & heavy heart, regret to inform the sad demise of Naval Veteran 00723-T, Lt Suvesh Kumar Mitter, VrC (Retd), age 76 years, at Kolkata today 04 Jan 2022, leaving behind many to mourn his transit to higher realms.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                     

A 1971 War Hero, he had played a Key Role in the War's eventual outcome. He was loved and cherished by all who knew him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

   On behalf of the President and all the members of NFKC, we offer our deepest sympathy and heartfelt Condolences to Mrs Manjira Mitter and son (living in the USA) and their grieving family members and pray that they find the strength to face the irreplaceable loss.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Address: 10/D, Puddapukur Road, Kolkata - 700020.    The residence of Lt Suvesh Kumar Mitra (R)Vr                                                                        

Being a Covid-19 related death, funeral and last rites are being planned and will be intimated separately.

                                                       Condole

Wion link on Indo Bangladesh

Gallantry Awards Ministry of Defence

Territorial Army Day celebration at Lebong, Darjeeling, West Bengal

It was in October1983, I was recommissioned in TA, I was posted 107 infantry Battalion and undergoing Annual Training Camp at Lebong. The highest race course, helipad, sports and training ground all in one this ground. 

I was the parade commander of TA Day parade, the VIP for the parade was the District Magistrate of Darjeeling. It was cloudy weather with dense fog. I could not see the saluting base. On hearing some sound at the saluting base, I started the parade. I could see the VIP when I went to report. 

Aajkal, a Bengali daily paper had published an article on TA which I had contributed. To collect a copy of this paper I went to Darjeeling Railway station to procure that.

We had Dushere festival in a big way, it was great scope for boosting. The liquor was diluted before opening the cap, may be by injecting through syringe.

It gave me to understand the protection system of Farakka Barrage. 

The Bengdubi a cantonment where we had camped was infected with elephants. We had to arranged special protection 24x7. The PW camp was in this forest which was used during 1971 for the Pakistani soldiers.

Army as a career

The Young Explorers'Institute for Social Service (TYEISS) TYEISS    a civil society, registered under West Bengal Societies Act 1961 had arranged a programme on Army as a career for the students of Rabindra Bharati University of  Kolkata in 2012.Prgramme . At present this TYEISS are planning to organise the same in different educational Institutes and libraries in the state of West Bengal.

Army as a career slides

The duration about one hour.

We will be thankful to hear your opinion on this issue.

On line forms have been created, kindly download ppt and videos sl no 1 to 8 for projection to the students.

Awareness program for Indian Army, form to fill up by the organiser

Details of students participation

Participation feedback

Details of students want o visit Fort William, subject to sanctioned by the HQ Bengal Area

1.       On line application of Indian Army Official web site

2.       Indian Army as a career

3.       Video on Service Selection Board

4.       Indian Military Academy, Dehradun

5.       Officers Training School, Chennai

6.       Indian Army Corps of Engineers

7.       Indian Army Corps of Signals

8.       Indian Army Electronics and Mechanical

Good Memories with an Unit of a Regiment of Artillery

I served a Regiment of Artillery for about 2 years. I left that unit 38 years back. The unit was located near Kolkata when I got married. It was a good luck for me the unit officers and wives were present during my marriage reception at Kolkata. I had the scope to visit unit personnel when they were near Kolkata. I have a memory when I left unit location for my return journey to Kolkata, the Officiating Commanding Officer Major ( Later Brigadier) B P Singh was much worried about my resettlement, the pack food for my train journey was as much I could not for get that.

I could not attain the Silver Jubilee celebration of the unit in  1990. I took a chance after the event, I reached the unit location without informing them they were some where in the western India. I got surprised when I reached the unit had moved from that location. I mate two of our unit officers who were posted in the city of Kolkata. Few years back I received a telephone Col Ajite VC was admitted in the Command Hospital, Kolkata, I went there to meet him.

The unit celebrated Golden Jubilee in 2015, we were invited to attain, the invitation was received  before 2 yrs. 

We the serving  personnel and veterans  from India and abroad attained few days gala event. 

Pic Officers at the Regimental Quarter Guard

 It was an occasion when we could see, meet the stalwarts, A printed publication from which we can learn how was the situation when the unit was raised. Col Rana Pratap Singh (Retd) who had raised the unit, he kept  in full touch with the unit. His physical condition was not well for which he could not attained the event. I had the opportunity to speak to him over phone. Mrs Singh with her daughter and his son in law were present in the event. We could meet the stalwart of 1971 Bangladesh operation. 16 visuals on this operation were included in the publication. 

Senior most veteran Major General S B Singh releasing publication ‘Saga of 50 Glorious years and Col Navneet Kumar, the CO  when Golden Jubilee celebration was held.

I received a letter from Col Navneet Kumar the Commanding Officer and his team who had took pain to organize the event, it was wrote in June 2017. I came to know his joining Higher Air Command Course at Secunderbad. One day he contacted me that he will be coming Kolkata as a part of his course. On 8^{th November 2017.}  I received a phone call from him that he will land on the same day. After reaching the place where he stayed at this city, we rushed to the Vijay Smark, at Kolkata, India Radio Operator Shiv Kumar laid down his life for the Country while performing his duties in Bangladesh Operation. His name is written on the smark.

A memorial service is held every year on 16^th December in the morning.

The captured Pakistani Artillery Gun 

The Plaque of Pakistani Naval base