Securing Border Drive - A Salute To Martyrs.

‘To travel a hundred miles is equal to acquiring the knowledge of a thousand books’

- An old Chinese saying.

The spirit of adventure and the quest to explore the lesser known and lesser travelled paths made us embark on this unique and exemplary  expedition titled ‘ Securing Borders- Drive’. The expedition began on the 15^thrd of September. Though the original plan of the expedition, to reach Leh via Kargil and Drass had to be altered in light of the national disaster that happened in Leh, the last minute change of plan to drive along the important border posts of the International Border (IB) with Pakistan, did offer enough challenges of its own. The experience of driving through the marshy Rann of Kutch, the desert of Rajasthan & textile players of Punjab was as stunning as it was extent. To have complete the expedition over 20 days covering more than 6000 kms through various terrain across 6 states has been one of the inimitable experience of or all of us.

The Prelude

The expedition involved exhaustive planning, hours of discussions and deliberations that finally crystallized into a clear plan of action with which the expedition leader Lt Cdr (Dr) Pravin Deosthalee approached FIAT India Ltd. After adequate deliberation FIAT India Ltd finally agreed to sponsor this unique expedition by providing two ‘FIAT Punto Grande 90 bhp’ cars and funds to cover for the expenses to be incurred.

The two cars  MH12 GF 0923 and MH12 GF 1162 were handed over to the team on the 13^th of Aug for trials and stickering. The sheer power offered by the car was a matter of awe for all the drivers.  The crew had been briefed and trained on a regular basis and the time for performance was almost there.  Star Maaza covered the expedition, by interviewing all the crew members and the leaders in their programme ‘College Katta’ on the eve of the expedition.  The excitement was building and the team was roaring to go.

The Team Comprosied of Lt. Cdr. Dr. Pravin Deosthalee and Prof. ShivaPrasad M. and 8 students from Chetana's HS College BMS Center and NCC unit. The Student team comprised of,

1. Shiv Yadav.
2. Swakit Katkar.
3. Ankit Choudhary.
4. Abhijit Gavli. (1st Leg)
5. Aniket.(1st Leg)
6. Rahul.(1st Leg)
7. Abhiskek.(2nd Leg)
8. Rahul Mane(2nd Leg)
9. Amit.(2nd Leg)

Mumbai - Vadodra

The expedition was flagged of from Chetana College premises at Mumbai on the 15^th of August 2010, The original expedition to Leh was initially to be flagged off on the 1^st of August bus was latter changed to the 15^th August as it seemed to be an ideal occasion to start an expedition whose primary objective was to pay tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending our country.  Now in after thought, the decision seems to be not only appropriate, but also providential, because, if we would have started for Leh on the 1^st of Aug, we could have been among the casualties there.  We were definitely saved the horror and had enough time to alter our plan though not without a slight disappointment.  But nonetheless we had decided to go ahead with the expedition after all and make it equally challenging.

The flag-off was a special moment for all. All the preparations were in place and it was time to bid farewell to all for the next twenty odd days.  Parents, friends, colleagues and well-wishers were present to bid the team farewell and wishing them a safe and happy journey. Mr. Shirish M. Chaudhary, the Vice President of Chetana Education Trust and Mr.  Marias D’Lima the Head of Corporate Communications- FAIPL flagged off the expedition from the college premises, after the flag hoisting ceremony.

The first and second cars were commanded by Lt Cdr (Dr) Deosthalee (Expedition Leader) and Prof. Shivaprasad M. (Expedition Co-ordinator ) respectively. The destination for the first day was the city of Vadodra, known for its dairy industry. The drive was pleasant as the condition of roads was very good. The cars were very comfortable and performed flawlessly. The landscape seemed to be covered in a carpet of greenery in the monsoons. We saw some really spectacular sights along the way. A few remnants of accidents that we crossed by made us realize how important it was for us to be extremely cautious and alert on the road. We had breakfast on the road somewhere between Virar and Palgarh. The rest of the day was by and large uneventfull. We had lunch on the outskirts of Surat and reached Vadodra  before sunset. The first task on Vadodra was to find a suitable accommodation. Later the students busied themselves in attending to the cars and the EL and EC were engaged in arranging for the flag off the next day. The District Forest Officer of Vadodra Mr Jain agreed to flag of the expedition towards Bhuj on the second day. We retired to bed early, hoping to start early on the next day.

Vadodra- Bhuj

The second day journey began with the flag off from Vadodra at the hands of the District Forest Officer Mr Jain.  He was accompanied by the Additional Collector of Mehsana. The event got adequate coverage in the local media, both electronic and print. Many Journalists from news papers like Gujarat Samachar and News Anchors from channels like JCBL had gathered to cover the event.  The team gave out media bytes to all the media personnal who seemed excited about the whole idea of the expedition.  The journey towards Bhuj involved driving on the Vadodra – Ahmadabad Express way at top speed. In the latter part of the day, the drive was on the single lane state highway. The team enjoyed local cuisines during breakfast and lunch and also used every opportunity to interact with the local populace. The drive across the ‘Small Rann of Kutch’ was a thrilling experience that put one and all in the exact frame of mind required for such an expedition. The sight of vast salt pans was really captivating.

The state of Gujarat seems to be very advance industrially with excellent road infrastructure, power lines, wind mills & large industrial units along the route. We saw lines an lines of wind-mills. Surely the state of Gujarat has made excellent investment in this eco-friendly source of power. We halted at a village for tea and took the opportunity to meet people there. We reached Bhuj just before sunset. We were really amazed to see how well Bhuj had recovered after the devastating earthquake ten years age. There was virtually no trace of the tragedy except for the memorials at different places.  We also found a large number of cattle on the roads which hampered traffic and were a hazard

 

The first half of next day was spent in mainly interacting with the local populace and obtaining permission for the visit to India Bridge and the Border Observation Post (BOP) at Vighakot from the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters. The DIG of the Border Security Force not only granted us the permissions but also agreed to flag off the expedition on its fourth day as a mark of recognition. Once the arrangements for the next day were in place, the team spent the second half of day visiting the various handicraft units in and around Bhuj. We were really tongue tied to see the various artifacts skillfully made by the craftsmen.  We visited units which produced articles like garments, leather goods, souvenirs etc. The villagers also spoke to the team about how they were affected by the earthquake ten years ago and how they have recovered from the tragedy, to put life back on track. 

One of the highlights of the third day was the interaction the team had with Mr. Vankar Bhimji, a national award winning craftsman from Bhuj. Mr Vankar showed to the team the shawl that he had woven, that had won him a national award for craftsmanship from none other than the Honorable President of our country.  It was indeed a special occasion for the team. The team also utilized the opportunity to interact with the small entrepreneurs and craftsmen working in the small units.  

The students even got an opportunity to actually work on some of the looms laid out for weaving fabric.  The craftsmen were very happy to share with the students their knowledge about their skills.  The entrepreuners shared their valuable experience about the managerial and commercial issues in the handicraft business. One of the important things that really amazed us was the adaptation of new techniques by these craftsmen, without losing the traditional flavor.  It was felt by one and all in the team that a lot more needs to be done to ensure that the native skills and art of these craftsmen that have been handed down across generations are not lost in the era of technology.  The team later visited the Swami Narayan temple in Bhuj.

Bhuj- Vigakhot- Bhuj

The fourth day started with the flagging off ceremony at the hands of the DIG Border Security Force, Bhuj. The DIG and the entire battalion under his charge with all officers were present for the occasion. He addressed the team and spoke to them about various issues about the border and the Border Security Force.  He also appreciated the initiative undertaken by the team to pay tributes to the martyrs and understand the conditions in which our jawans of the Border Security Force guard our frontiers.

 

After the flag-off, the expedition travelled to the Border Security Force BOP at Vigakhot by crossing the India Bridge. The drive across the Rann was a thrilling experience with just plain uninhabited marshy land on both sides of the road. We saw quite a few nomadic camps and interacted with them. We saw many camel carts and locally fabricated three-wheelers called chagdas. The drive on India Bridge was an experience; very few civilians would have got in their lives. This is the last post where one gets to meet civilians, before the border.   The area between India Bridge and the Border is fully manned by the Border Security Force and the army.

The BOP of Vigakhot was about 100 km from India Bridge. The drive across the Rann through some really harsh terrain with no humans within sight was as thrilling as it was spooky. Here we were, in the middle of nowhere with no one to call upon for help.

There seemed to be no trace of any flora or fauna within sight for as far as the eyes could see. But the team did have a few encounters with spring bucks and turtles. We were received by the officer in-charge of BOP Vigakhot who took us to the border.  This was the first experience that the team had at the border fence. The team members were also shown the Pakistani-ranger posts across the border and also the border pillar in the No-mans-land.

To see how our jawans of the Border Security Force stand guard for every inch of our land in such inhospitable conditions was a very humbling experience. Jawans from all corners of the country stand vigilant day and night when we let petty issues and differences get the better of us. We wished every Indian could get to see what we got, as it would definitely be a humbling experience that would remind one and all about how much we owe to our jawans for our freedom. 

From Vigakhot the team drove to the Kala Dongri, a high altitude area that offer a magnificient view of the Rann. The wide expanse of the Rann visible from the height at Kala dongri really left us spell-bound. The drive to Kala Dongri was a very narrow with serpentine curves and steep inclines.  These features put to test both, the capabilities of the cars and the skills of the drivers.  We were really that both cars and the drivers came out with flying colours in this test of ability and skill. En-route we also interacted with villagers.  One of the villagers was even hospitable enough to invite us into his traditionally made thatched hut and we made the most of the opportunity.  The team also visited one of the local schools in the area.  The little schools kids were thrilled to know about our expedition and felt elated to have us in their midst. It was really a very exciting moment for us to interact with the tiny – tots and end the day amidst shrieks and squeals. 

Bhuj - Dholavira

On the fifth day the Additional Collector of Bhuj Mr. Vaghela flagged off the team towards Dholavira. The flagging-off ceremony was covered in detail by ETV Gujarati. Dholavira is one of the sites where the ancient Indus Valley Civilization settlements have been excavated. Though many sites having remnants of the ancient Indus valley settlements had been excavated in the past, not many are presently in India as most of the sites of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa fell in the territory of Pakistan after partition.  Dholavira is one of the rare sites that were discovered in India after independence. The site is noted to have some special features, like an elaborate water management system, precise town planning and evidences of trade with civilizations of Mesopotamia and Greece. The to visit Dholavira was a inimitable experience for the team, as the site is a piece of history, preserved for eternity.

The drive from Bhuj to Dhilavira was again exciting as the team drove some beautiful scrub forests.  The team saw many wild animals like springbucks, sambhars, peacocks and a variety of reptiles. The rains had resulted in many pools of water on the road and it was fun to drive on these small pools of water. The terrain was very uneven, resulting in a roller coaster like ride. One thing that is worth noting is the quality of roads in Gujarat. Even in the remotest of places the roads did not have any potholes. Reaching Dholavira once again involved driving across the Rann where we saw large locks of flamingos feeding. 

The team reached the site at Dholavira after lunch. To see the excavated side that was one of the oldest settlements in recorded history was a great experience. The team was given a guided tour of the main areas of the site by the resident care taker. The team toured the entire site from one structure to another, and was amazed by the ingenuity of those who had built those structures in those historic times. The water tanks, gates, town planning, rainwater harvesting techniques which had been put in place hundreds of years before Christ left the entire team astonished. The museum provided valuable insights into the heritage value and historical importance of the site. From Dholavira the team left for the Jaisalmer and  camped for the night at Radhanpur.

Jaisalmer.

The team reached Jaisalmer from Radhanpur via Barmer on the sixth day. The team crossed over to the state of Rajasthan, before lunch and had lunch at Barmer. Rows of camel carts and camel caravans confirmed the fact that we were in Rajasthan. The roads went through some very beautiful terrain.

The expedition was received at the secretariat by the Collector of Jaisalmer Mr Meena and the Additional District Magistrate. The Collector also granted the necessary permissions to the team for visiting the border posts in the Jaisalmer sector on the next day. The team camped at the Saink Aramgarh during the stay at Jaisalme, where the students got a unique opportunity to interact with serving jawans and ex-servicemen.

 

On the seventh day the Collector Mr Meena and Tehsildar of Jaisalmer Mr Shaithansingh Rajpurohit. flagged off the expedition to Tanot & Longewala. The event was enthusiastically covered by the local press.

The drive across the desert towards Tanot was exhilarating. The sand dunes adjoining the road at times were taller than multi-storey buildings. In some places the roads were covered with sand and in some places the road had caved in due to shifting of the sand beneath. In spite of this the roads were in very good condition most of the time. The team offered prayers at the Ghantiyali Mata temple before reaching the Tanot Mata temple.

Tanot

Tanot  was one of the most significant places covered in the course of the expedition.  Legend has it, that in the Indo-pak war of 1965, the Pakistani army had invaded and seized control of the Indian territory around Tanot. A very small group of BSF jawans, whose post was overrun by the invading Pakistan army had taken refuge in the temple of Tanot Mata.  It is to this day considered a miracle that though the Pakistani troops had conducted a thorough search of the temple premises, they did not find a single Indian jawan there.  Not only that, each one of the artillery shells fired by the invaders that landed in the temple premises, failed to explode.  It is believed to this day that it was Tanot Mata who stopped the Pakistani army in its tracks and enabled the Indian soldiers to regain control of the territory, captured by the enemy. A slightly distorted version of this legend is presented in the movie ’Border’.  Whether this was a miracle by the deity of a case of coincidence may be debated, but the jawans of the BSF posted at Tanot surely believe it to a miracle of the deity.  Tanot Mata is considered to be the guardian of all the sons of the motherland who are posted in this sector.  Every jawan and officer, who joins for duty in this sector, irrespective of whichever religion he belongs to, first  pays respects at this holy shrine.  Even the management of the temple is done by the BSF and its jawans.  After offering prayers at the Tanot Mata temple, the team proceeded to the designated BOP to be visited. 

The day was significant as it was the birthday of the expedition leader Lt Cdr (Dr) P. G. Deosthalee and the whole team and the jawans celebrated his birthday right on the border. Surely a birthday party that, the expedition leader would never forget. The team also saw the Pakistan Ranger Posts across the border. The interaction was eye opening in more ways than one. The temperature even during the monsoons was about 45 degree Celsius and to even imagine what it would be like in the summer was terrifying. In spite of all this, our brave soldiers

stand guard at the cost limb and life so that we live in peace.

 

Longewala and Maujewala

From Tanot the team reached the Longewala post the site of the historic battle between Pakistani armour and the Indian Air Force and Army. The movie ‘Border’ has made Longewala a household name. The team paid respects to the valiant soldiers who fought there on that historic day. They visited the martyr’s memorial and also climbed on the war trophy kept on display there. They also interacted with the jawans and officers stationed there. The team was touched by the hospitality extended out to them by the jawans even in those harsh conditions. The officers and jawans appreciated the effort of the team in organizing an expedition of this type. They were so pleased during the interaction with the team that they gave us special permission to visit the actual BOP at Maujewala, that was at a distance about 30 km over extremely difficult and unstable terrain. Since it was unrealistic to expect the expedition cars to negotiate such extreme terrain, the army unit helped us by providing us with a 2 ½ tonner 4x4 vehicle to reach Maujewala BOP. The 45 minute drive in the army 4x4 was a ride of a lifetime.  The team experienced the thrill of a desert safari, courtesy the Indian Army.   

At Maujewala, the students were once again shown the border and also the Pakistani positions. The officer in-charge also briefed the team about their activities and the challenges faced by them. The team returned to Jaisalmer after sunset. The drive through the desert at dusk was exciting. The eight day was spent on interacting with locals both in and around Jaisalmer. The team visited the shifting sand dunes at Khudi village where they interacted with locals and also the Sarpanch. The team met an Italian couple at Khudi,  who were really impressed upon seeing the fiat cars as part of such a unique expedition. The team experienced the thrill of riding camels on the desert and had fun on the sands before driving to camp for the night.

Air Force Station-Jaisalmer

On the nineth day the expedition reached Air Force Station-Jaisalmer. It was this place from where the aircraft in the battle of Longewala were launched. Since this base played a momentous role in the battle of Longewala it was a place the expedition could not afford to miss. The team was received by the Station Commander, Group Captain Rajiv Ranjan VSM. The team was given an awe-inspiring tour of the base. The students were first taken to the surface to air missile battery and briefed about the working of the SAMs.  Later they were also taken to see the latest entrants in the world of aviation, the UAVs, which they got to see and touch first hand.  The station commander had even offered to let the team to see the Mirage-2000 aircraft, which were to arrive on the base in the afternoon. The Mirage-2000,which is also called the Vajra is one of the most advanced multi-role combat aircraft in the Indian Air Force. This French manufactured aircraft proved its mettle during the Kargil war by laser-bombing the Pakistani positions. The whole team was exhilarated at the prospect of seeing, touching and perhaps even getting an opportunity to sit in the cockpit of the Vajra. The jubilation was short-lived though because, the arrival of the Mirage-2000s had been delayed and we had to start for Jodhpur before dusk.  Lunch was served to the team at the base, in the officers’ mess. The team gave test rides of the punto to officers on the base, before being flagged off towards Jodhpur. The team flagged off from the base by the Commanding Officer, Group Captain Rajeev Ranjan  towards Jodhpur.

Jodhpur- Ferozpur.

The expedition reached Jodhpur in the evening of the nineth day. Four new team members joined the expedition on the tenth day. The cars were thoroughly checked & serviced at the FIAT service center where Mr. Sethi, the Marketing manager gave a pep-talk to the team. From Jodhpur, the team started for Ferozpur in Punjab. The Rajasthan Leg of the expedition had received prominent news coverage, in newspapers like Rajasthan Patrika, Dainik Bhaskar etc. After leaving Jodhpur, the team crossed Bikaner and camped at Suratgarh, on the way.

 

Ferozepur–Hussainiwala Border.

The team reached Ferozepur from Suratgarh on the eleventh day. Enroute the team got a unique opportunity to interact with NCC Cadets, who were attending their ATC near Srigananagar. Once in Punjab, the land of the five rivers, the team saw endless lines of tractors and the indigenous juggads. The weather being pleasant, the drive was enjoyable. The drive was through much greener terrain once we reached Punjab. The team arrived at Ferozepur at noon. The team first visited the war memorial at Ferozepur, to pay respects to the martyrs who had laid down their lives in defence of the motherland.The local media there gave good coverage to the visit of the team. The team’s visit was given coverage in many newspapers like Punjab Kesri, Dainik Jagran etc. In the evening the team visited the Hussainiwala Border post. Though not as well known as its northern counterpart, Wagha, this post nonetheless is an important post to witness the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony. The team members were allowed to witness the entire parade from the VIP enclosure.  The parade by the Border Security Force jawans and their counter parts from the Pakistani Rangers was spectacular. The synchronization and posturing at this ceremony has become legendary not just in India but also across the world, with many foreign tourists thronging to witness this spectacle. The team later interacted with the jawans and officers of the Border Security Force.

Amritsar- Wagah. 

On the twelveth day the expedition reached its final destination- Amritsar. Amritsar the religious center of the sikhs is also a towering symbol of India’s secularism. The world famous Golden temple received patronage from not only Hindu & Sikh kings but was also patronized by Akbar the Great. The expedition was received by Shri. Gurbachan Singh, Chief Information Officer of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) on the premises of the Golden Temple. The SGPC was also kind enough to provide accommodation to the team during the stay in Amritsar. The cars were handed over to service center at Amritsar for checks and servicing.  The team visited the Golden temple in the evening and was spellbound by its serenity.

On the thirteenth day Shri. Shirishbhai Chaudhary Vice- President of Chetana Education Trust joined the expedition team at Amritsar for one day. His presence was a great motivation for the team. The team was flagged off to Border Security Force post at Attari, by the officials of SGPC. At Attari Border Security Force post, which is better known as Wagha border, the team was received by the officers and jawans of the Border Security Force.  Once again the team witnessed the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony,’ from the VIP enclosure. After the parade the team interacted with the jawans and officers at the post and handed over a trophy and soveniers. The visit to Wagha marked the culmination of the expedition. Amritsar was the farthest the expedition had planned to reach and there after the journey was only back home.

Delhi.

The team drove from Amritsar to New Delhi on the fourteenth day. The drive was a relatively slow on due to traffic. The team drove through Jalandhar, Ludhiana One of the highlights of the day was the chase of the Delhi-Lahore- Delhi bus by the second car commanded by the expedition co-ordinator in the out skirts of New Delhi. It was really a great photo opportunity. The rest of the day was more or less un- eventful. The prestigious Delhi University arranged for accommodation for the team. On the fifteenth day, the team was flagged off from Delhi University by its Vice Chancellor Dr Paintal. The Proctor of Delhi University Dr Gurmeet and other staff members had assembled for the occasion. Aaj-Tak channel did an exclusive coverage of the event. The team visited the India Gate before proceeding towards Jaipur.

Jaipur.

The team reached Jaipur on the evening of the fifteenth day & were received by Rajasthan University. The drive had been pleasant and uneventful. The team spent the evening shopping at the Jaipur market. On the morning 16^th day the team was flagged off from Rajasthan University by the Pro- Vice- Chancellor. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor addressed the team and felicitated the entire team with bouquets. The local media like Rajasthan Patrika, ETV Rajasthan etc had covered the flagging off function. The drive that day was eventful with the rain gods opening up.  It was challenging to drive in the rains when visibility was reduced to only a few meters. The rains slowed down the pace of the expedition.  Later the skies cleared up and the team was able to make up for lost time. The team reached Udaipur before sunset on that day and drove across towards Vadodra.  The team camped at a place near Himmatnagar for the night.

Udaipur- Vadodra

he team reached Vadodra from Himmatnagar on the 17^th day and had to stay there for two additional days due to bad weather. The time available was utilized in getting the cars checked and serviced at the service station at Vadodra. The team left Vadodra for Surat on the 19^th day late in the evening and reached safely in time for dinner.

Surat-Mumbai (Flagging In). 

The team reached Mumbai on the The team reached Mumbai on the The team reached Mumbai on the twentieth day & was flagged in at the Chetana College premises amid much fanfare by dignitaries from Chetana, Fiat & the Director General of Civil Aviation Capt Karve. The radiance of victory & successful accomplishment of the mission was evident on the faces of all the team members. The team received a heroe’s welcome during the flag- in. The team was felicitated and honored by the dignitaries.  The Expedition Leader and Expedition Coordinator, shared their wonderful experience with all those who had assembled to receive them. The whole event was euphoric and electrifying. The home coming was indeed a proud and equally emotional moment. 

The expedition was a one of a kind initative under the able leadership of Lt. Cdr. (Dr) Pravin Deosthalee & Prof. Shivaprasad .M and the robust support of FIAT. It was a sterling example of teamwork, discipline and adventure, in an activity undertaken by any college. The cooperation given to the expedition by the various district authorities, military establishments, academic and religious institution at various places played a critical role in ensuring the success of this expedition. Various news-papers like Mumbai Mirror, Gujarat Samachar, Dainik Bhaskar, Rajasthan Patrika, Punjab Kesri, Dainik Jagran, Samna, etc and news channels like Star Maaza, ETV Gujarati, JCBL, AajTak, Headlines Today, ETV Rajasthan etc gave prominent coverage to the expedition. The team is really grateful for coverage provided by the print and electronic media at almost all the places. It is important to note that the cars provided by FIAT performed flawlessly during the entire course of the expedition. The support provided to the expedition by the staff of various service stations of FIAT throughout the journey was immensely laudable.  The success of this first expedition has given us immense confidence in organizing many such similar expeditions in the future. Hopefully ‘Securing Borders- Drive’ would serve as a first step towards a long lasting relationship between Chetana College & FAIPL for many such expeditions in the future.