Liberation of Ladakh : A Flim by Serbjeet Singh This is a documentary shot on location of in battles for liberation of Ladakh by that maverick Serbjeet Singh , film maker and painter who participated in the first flight to Leh (24 May, 1948). Watch the history-making exploits of the Stuart Tanks of 7 Cavalry beyond Zoji La and all other engagements culminating with the capture of Kargil, on 23 November, 1948. Unfortunately the 16 mm cine film of the J&K Battles shot on location by SS, between May 1948 and January 1949 is not available to us. Fortunately, Karamjit Singh (the son of SS), had retrieved some footage from the original Film and supplementing it with appropriate recent aerial photography, created an impressive DVD titled “THE LIBERATION OF LADAKH”. This DVD has some vintage visuals and voice recordings of Lieut General K M Cariappa, OBE, exhorting his Commanders during a visit to the battle-field, and of Major General K S Thimayya, DSO, whose voice validates the actions as they unfold with gems such as “this is supreme vindication of upright manhood” following the break-out from Zoji La, and Lieut Colonel R S “Sparrow” (among others), briefing their subordinate commanders at various stages of the war, and all of it seen to the soothing back-ground music provided by Mrs. Shanta SS. How did Serbjeet Singh got into the thick of battle in 1948 ? It had its beginnings on the lawns of the Civil Lines Club, Jullander, on a balmy winters evening in February, 1948. SS was screening his 16 mm film on “Life In The Himalayas”, especially for Dr Gopi Chand Bhargava, the Chief Minister of the then Punjab State. Within minutes of commencement, “in strode a tall man who was received by the Chief Minister. That gentleman was Major General K S Thimayya, DSO, GOC Jullander Area.”* Evidently the General was so impressed by the film that he decided to encourage SS to document the combat actions of India’s fledgling Army in J&K, with the offer to SS and his younger brother thus, “If you boys are prepared to make a film on the war in Kashmir, I will send a signal to the GOC-in-C Western Command to help you. Come to my office tomorrow, in the Cantonment.” Shortly, Gen Thimayya was appointed to command the newly raised Sri Division (later 19 Div) and on encountering SS in his ADC’s room, the General said, “I have been posted to Srinagar. Now there is no problem. Get ready to go!” By early May 1948, the General and his protégé, loaded with the paraphernalia of film-makers and artists, had arrived in Srinagar. And what followed is best summed up by SS:“Thimayya sent us all over the front in Kashmir, starting from establishing a piquet at 16,000 ft, above Zoji La on the Bodh Kulan Ganj cliffs, to the battle in the Gurais Valley and the operations in the Uri Sector. The finale came with the historic battle of Zoji La.” https://youtube/watch?v=M5nf8wWTcPM#t=862
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 04:34:37 +0000
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