Partition Horrors-A pictorial remembrance

KALABURAGI;  Horrors witnessed during the partition of India and Pakistan was presented in a pictorial format at the Sharnbasva University and the students of the Godutai Womens Engineering College explained to the guests the horrors presented through the nostalgic pictures appeared in the newspapers during the worst days of partition.

Presidential Sena Medal Awardee Subedar Shantayya Swamy who exhibited exception bravery during a commando operation during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971 who went around the exhibition of the heart-wrenching photographs of the horrific partition sought the details of each and every photograph from the students. Subedar Shantayya Swamy was accompanied by another guest Subedar Major Phool Chand Sharma of the 32 Karnataka Batallian NCC, Kalaburagi.

Later, addressing the students, Subedar Shantayya Swamy recalled  his exploits as the leader of the commando group which ambushed a team of Pakistan soldiers during the 1971 Indo Pakistan war asked the students to come forward to join the Indian armed forces for a bright future and also get a chance to serve the nation.

He said even during his school days he was enamored by the exploits of the armed forces and had joined the NCC when he was studying 8 and 9th standards and with those NCC certificates he joined the Madras Regiment in 1961. With just 50 paise in his pocket he had travelled to Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh to join the armed forces.

After his six months training at Madras Regiment in Wellington at Ootacamund (Udhagamandalam) he was posted at the Indo-China Border. After his participation in the Indo-China War in 1961, Subedar was transferred to several other forward areas and participated in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Pakistan 1971 war in which Bangladesh was created.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof V D Mytri, Registrar Dr Anilkumar Bidve, and other senior officials of the university and NCC and NSS wings were present.