Known as Viru Swarup, a former Commandant of the Roaring Fours’, the 44 Armored Regiment, former Director Planning, QMG’s (Quartermaster General’s) Branch, Army Headquarters, former Colonel Administration, Mountain Corps and Colonel Military Secretary of a desert Corps, of the great Indian Army, India is leading an active retired life traveling between India and the United States of America.The sudden outbreak of the Sino-Indian war in 1962 fired the patriotic zeal in many young men to volunteer to serve in the armed forces. Viru to his friends opted for a commission in the Indian Army. He was selected and sent to the most prestigious Indian Military Academy. From here he passed out as a Second Lieutenant and posted to the country’s most highly decorated tank regiment – the Poona Horse in August, 1964. He participated in both the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. In the 1965 war, he was a tank troop leader. In one of the fiercest tank engagements in Phillaura, Pakistan, his tank was hit. His operator-cum-loader was killed on the spot and he himself was severely wounded losing his right eye and had earned apart from many war medals, a wound medal (Purple Heart). Notwithstanding this serious disability he followed his profession with resilience, grit, positive attitude he never looked back and forged ahead fighting all the odds for a good twenty eight years and risen to the rank of Colonel. He was not destined to command the regiment into which he was first posted (a cherished desire of all officers).
He, however, commanded a new outfit – 44 Armored Regiment – with the raising of which he was associated as its Second-in-Command. In 1992, he lost the other eye while still in harness in one of the freak accident and, was rendered blind, thus, medically boarded out of military service.
Viru was not the one to sit idle in his retirement, the loss of sights has propelled him to fight his severe disabilities to incorporate an ex-servicemen Coal Transport Company undertaking transportation of coal from coal mine face to the railway siding in one of the collieries in India braving through different kind of experience. This experience, however, proved to be a gross disappointment as people took undue advantage of his disability. This led him to involve his wife Sabita to join him as one of the active Director in the company, the only women perhaps in the industry. Together, they worked hard to bail themselves out of the loosing venture honorably.
He traveled extensively both in India and abroad including the Republic of South Africa and with his keen eye (the inner one), savored the culture of this beautiful world.
He has two children, daughter and the son, both physicians and five grand children, Nikhita, 10 years’ old, Somya, Shray, both 4 years’, Ayush and Akshay, both just 20 months’ old.
He is author of a unique true story "The Memoir of a War Veteran Across Seven Seas", and is currently busy writing yet another book, this time a fiction, about “A Mysterious Woman”. He stays with his family most of his time in Arizona, USA.
This is the amazing life story of a remarkable man, who despite the loss of one eye in battle still rose to the rank of Colonel in the Indian Army before becoming totally blinded with the loss of his second eye. His story is told against the historic backdrop of the partition of India, the creation of Pakistan, the Indo-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971 that created new countries out of pre-independence India. Colonel Virendra Swarup, fondly known as Viru to his friends and family, won the Wound Medal (equivalent to the US Purple Heart), commanded two saber squadrons of most famous regiment the Poona Horse (17th Queen Victoria’s Own Cavalry) and the Roaring Fours (The Forty-Four Armored Regiment), and witnessed the creation of a new world. His is a poignant and courageous story and a celebration of life. This is not just a book for those interested in military history, the history of India and of the British role abroad but for anyone who applauds survival against the odds.
Melissa Lumley, London, UK
First, let me say what an incredible life you’ve led. Sounds like a blockbuster movie with love, tragedy, war, passion, and overcoming obstacles.” Encouraging indeed...
Debbie, USA
I am excited by your book; you have a natural talent for telling a story and you have many to tell in here.
Ed Munson, Canada
This is the story of a down-to-earth soldier of the Indian Army, who on learning of the outbreak of war, cuts short his leave and hotfoots it to join his regiment; barely escaping death in action loses an eye; attains professional competence to command an armored regiment; while still in service loses his second eye. How with a never-say-die attitude, he tackled life’s problems and even indulged in playing golf. He traveled all over the world and finally reached the US; his exposure to the American way of life is interesting. - Worth reading by active and enterprising persons.
Colonel (Retired) Devinder Singh Grewal
No comments:
Post a Comment