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LAMA FAUJ...STALKING THE ENEMY

Somewhere in the formidable landscape of Ladakh are an army of men whose valiant tales resonate across the dull soil. They have toiled for over 40 years now, to protect our fragile borders in perhaps the most inhospitable terrain. Fighting fit at over 11,000 feet, occasionally trudging to beyond 18,000 feet, these soldiers are quipped to be the 'eyes and ears' of the Indian Army - battling not just a hostile enemy but even harsh weather in the higher reaches of Ladakh. The Ladakh Scouts - indeed the pride of not just of the Indian Army but truly the entire nation - stand as one of the most decorated regiments. Tsering Samphel is a proud man. As he speaks of the year 1999, tears swell in his eyes. He gets emotionally involved while narrating a personal account of how the war affected them. His mules are now used by the army to lug ration to far off posts; this has meant a supplementary income for this poor farmer from Sanachey, a small village, on the Line of Control, near Batalik, district Kargil. Post Kargil, he was so impressed by the efficient response rendered by the Indian Army in general, he now has got his two sons enrolled into Ladakh Scouts. He is visibly proud of this act as he notes, "Ladakh Scouts drove the enemy off so furiously that the enemy left their boots and ran away in a hurry. But for our Ladakhi jawans, nobody else could have given the enemy an even fight."

Traveling across Ladakh, one realizes, this is not just Samphel's personal view, but a sentiment echoed by the entire population. The locals speak of their sons, husbands, and brothers and indeed Ladakh Scouts in general, in a feverish pitch as they gloat that they have always been the bravest and most able in the treacherous terrain on these high mountains in Ladakh. In fact I happen to meet so many Samphels on the way, that it got me so curious. Hence this small tribute. Kargil - and the word conjures up images of a war torn area. Fair enough, considering the extensive coverage Operation Vijay received way back in 1999. It was a tumultuous time for the nation. Pakistan's misadventure cost many lives. Five years now since the war has ended. But those horrifying images that television media captured for us come back to haunt many. Tiger Hill and Tololing became household names. Gallantry awards were given away, men were remembered, and regiments were commended for their brave effort. As time went by, quite naturally, the hoopla about war was also buried.

Amongst all the units that were rushed to counter the Pakistani intrusion was one force which stood apart for a variety of reasons. First, the war was an attack in their backyard; the intruders were close enough to enter their homes. Being 'sons of the soil', it punctured their pride first. Second, the terrain was familiar; this gave them a strategic advantage. The peaks and ridges in the line of fire had been their playground as young children. To put it simply, they were well versed in mountain warfare, and knew how to use the mountain to their advantage. Best acclimatized, best suited, most fit - the superlatives are indeed many. In time, they have established themselves to be the most affective infantry units to be deployed in the high altitude area. Ladakh Scouts or 'Lama Fauj' has etched a permanent place for itself in India's military history. Raised in 1963 in the wake of the 1962 debacle against the Chinese forces, the Ladakh Scouts is credited to be the first unit of the Indian Army to successfully launch the counter strike against Pakistani incursions during the 1999 Kargil War in the Batalik sector. Soon their battle-worthiness in the world's most brutal battlefields came to be respected and the force was split into small platoons to guide and lead other units in attack. In the process, the Ladakh Scouts as a unit slipped away from the media glare and till date not too many are aware of these ordinary heroes who gave India a critical advantage in the war. How did such a formidable force not get its due attention during the war?

As one of the Junior Commissioned Officer explains: "At the time of war we were not formed into individual battalions. We were two wings. We were given the most difficult tasks (like fixing ropes on steep ridges, guiding the other troops to the final assault etc.) yet our name was never mentioned after the successes. Since we weren't a battalion, we didn't have officers who could capitalize on our successes and project it to receive the deserved commendation." The Ladakh Scouts is credited with having participated in most number of attacks. While other units claimed credit for capturing individual features et al, here were troops wherein each soldier had participated in multiple attacks. The scouts were the backbone of the war. Be it opening routes along the tough rock faces, guiding fellow jawans from other infantry units, they donned the mantle with grace and performed to the best of their ability. Locally well-versed with the language, the people, here were troops who survived with frugal logistic support - food, water, ammunition; lack of it didn't dither them a wee bit. As Tsering Murup explains, "During the war, all supply lines were affected. Ration, water would not reach us for long time. But we had local sattu (barley porridge) which we used to mix it with water and carry on. I survived on sattu and water for three days." Sattu was so popular during the war that the Ladakh Buddhist Association organized for sattu packed from each home to reach these Ladakhi soldiers. It supplemented their ration needs at a critical time.

Hurling Stones!

Local ingenuity came handy for the Ladakhi soldiers; as Tsering Angchok elaborates, "I was part of the Chorbat La attack. At the end we didn't have ammunition left. We had reached the tallest point in the area from where we managed by hurling stones down on the enemy." The Chorbat La success requires a special mention. One of the first victories in Batalik sector, this one was special for the Ladakh Scouts as it was led by a Ladakhi officer, Major Sonam Wangchuk, who later was awarded with the Maha Vir Chakra for his gallant effort. Around Batalik, the local people are in awe of these soldiers.

Religious Lot

Governed by religion to a great extent, religious integrity some say, is the key to their success. "The Dalai lama had blessed us. He guarded us against the enemy. With his strength, we were an unbeatable force at those heights," swears Morup Chodol who has participated in four attacks on important features along the Line of Control in 1999. Simple, straightforward, resilient and loyal, 'nonu' (meaning younger brother in Ladakhi) as they dearly referred to, comes across as anything but fierce. And here lies their crucial weapon; the ability to give a well-planned and strategized response. As one of the officer reasons why nonus perform so well, "The best thing about them is that they don't panic in times of crisis. And I think that's their biggest strength - to stalk and strike." Having served as part of many such operations, these soldiers are war-hardy. The officer further adds, "I have seen other troops as well. But here are men who take all eventualities in their stride with a blink. You just need to give them a task and it's done. Like other troops, you don't need to explain technique/plan/strategy elaborately. Alternately, in fact the soldier can give you a tip or two while planning an attack, as he knows the area best."

Quiet, calm, and peace loving, interestingly, a Ladakhi comes across as a mild, non-aggressive solider incapable of a vicious attack. Contrary to this impression, one of the officer quips "This is his silent strength - the ability to conceal one's capability". Freezing mountains, an untrusting enemy, a lonely life, high altitude battlefields aren't for the faint hearted. This was proven so during the Kargil war. Acclimatization in these areas is a must for troops; for acute mountain sickness is very common. Here again these soldiers have an inborn advantage. "During the Kargil war, other soldiers suffered a lot due to altitude, but none of us would feel anything. We are used to mountains," explains Padma Namgyal beaming proudly. The war ended after a three-month long stand off. Ki Ki So So Lhargyalo (Victory to the Gods) - their battle cry echoed from almost every feature on the Line Of Control. Yet, the accolades, the praise, and of course limelight in the public eye evaded these soldiers. I am drawn to think that their valour surpassed all this. These soldiers didn't need praise to keep them going. They were motivated from within. And continue to be. A salute to the Ladakh Scouts!

GALLANTRY PERSONIFIED - THE SCOUTS OVER THE YEARS

The Ladakh Scouts' origin dates back to the 1947-48 skirmishes with Pakistan. Soon after independence, in order to save Ladakh from Qabalies (intruders) who came from across the border; the National Guards were formed out of local Ladakhi warriors. In 1952 they formed the erstwhile 7th Jammu & Kashmir Militia. The 14th Jammu & Kashmir Militia was subsequently raised in 1959 in Srinagar. On 01 June 1963, the Ladakh Scouts (I Border Scouts) was raised by the merger of the 7th & 14th Jammu & Kashmir Militia. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the Ladakh Scouts launched a brilliant attack in Turtok Sector and advanced 22 km into enemy territory in just 14 days, thereby liberating 804 sq km of area. In 1984, the Ladakh Scouts was the first unit to be inducted in Operation Meghdoot at Siachen. In 1999, a small force, the unit displayed several gallant acts and won quite a few gallantry awards, including a Maha Vir Chakra. The Chief of Army Staff made a special instant award 'Unit Citation' to the Ladakh Scouts for their meritorious and gallant performance. Post Operation Vijay, the Ladakh Scouts were formally organized into regular infantry battalions to enable more enrolment as their battle-worthiness was proven and time-tested. With this, the Ladakh Scouts now has the same status as any other regiment of the Indian Army.

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