This incident is of 1978 when my father was on duty in Pak Army. Father said once Col Akram gave order that today we will swim in this canal. Canal was 18 feet deep and 50 meter wide. All officers and soldiers swim with their life jackets. At the end Col said is there anyone who can compete me in swimming without jacket, 11 soldiers raised their hands, one of them was Mr. Ghulam Hussain he was fat, with long height and heavy weight. Col was astonished and asked him will you compete with me? Yes! Sir I will compelete you! Col said: ready and go…!!!
Father said Colonel and Ghlulam Hussain jumped in canal; Ghulam Hussain disappeared in water as soon as he went in, Col sahib ordered divers to find him, and he might get stuck in bushes. Col sahib was moving towards his target with speed, he was near but suddenly Ghulam Hussain came out of water at target point. Ghulam Hussain won the competition from Col sahib. Ghulam Hussain was very powerful and he was only man in unit who could eat 30 chapattis at a time, at that time Col. sahib ordered cook that as gift present 30 chapattis, one bowl full of Qorma, one water melon and 2 cups of tea to Ghulam Hussain. Father said Ghulam Hussain divded chapatti into 3 pieces and ate. Within 20 mins Ghuplam Hussain ate 30 chapattis, one bowl full of Qorma, one water melon of 8kg and 2 cups of tea, soldiers applauded him and shouted that is there anyone who can compete Ghulam Hussain of Pak Army?
It was 1976, father said there was a man who used to provide milk to our unit daily, one day he gave milk to unit, remaining was 5kg our little master Hawaldar Ibrahim who was apparently very weak. He said to milk man that if I drink all this milk in 3 breaths you will not take money from me. Milk man said: sir! You cannot drink 5kg milk..!! Hawaldar Sahib said give me milk, he drank 5kg milk in three breaths. Milk man got astonished. Milk man was leaving with sorrow he called him and asked about the cost of milk, milk man said 10 rupee. (In 1976 milk was 2 rupee per kg) Hawaldar gave him 10 rupee and said never say that solider of Pak army drank your milk and didn’t give you money. That milk man shouted long live Pak Army and went.
Father said in 1982 Indhra Gandhi threatened Pak Army that India is going to attack Pakistan at 1 am. Pak Army gets ready. Father said Col sahib ordered Subedar to order soldiers to immediately dig Barricades. Subedar said Indian planes are in the air and they have binoculars and they see us. So it is not good to dig barricades. Col sahib said what to do now. Subedar said: all soldiers should sit alert in canal which is on back side of our unit.
Colonial said in canal the dirty water, mud and different types of animals are there. Sobadar said for this country we will go to the canal if we have to go to fire we will go also. Father said our whole team (Army) move into the canal. It was 1:15 at night but the coward enemy did not do anything. Then Sobadar said that the army team will come out from the canal. Col said what are you doing? If the Indian army will attack then….. Sobadar said if they had to attack they had to attack at 1O’clock but now it is 1:15am they won’t do it they are coward they won’t attack now. They have to save their life. After the command of Sobadar still army team wait for one hour more on that dangerous muddy canal and defend the country but the coward enemy did not attack. In the morning 6 O’clock they heard the news that someone has killed Indhra Gandhi. In morning Col said to the Sobadar that you were right at night that they have to save their own life. Then Col make slogan “Anyone anyone who is brave to fight with the Pak Army”.
