War veteran living a miserable life, waiting for the army to help him for last 40 years

Amid the hype of various welfare schemes for soldiers and their kith and kin announced by respective governments, the story of Captain Vijendra Gurung (Retd), a Prisoner of War (POW) and a short service commission officer during the Indo-Pak war of 1971 is heart rending.

For past forty years, he has been forced to work as a labourer or do menial jobs.  Sitting in his dilapidated room lit by a candle on a cold rainy day in Johri village on the outskirts of Dehradun, Captain Vijendra Gurung (Retd) has been eagerly waiting for some help from the army. As per rules, the Short Service Commission officers do not get any pension benefits.

Capt Vijendra Gurung, who has grown old and a bit delusional with age alleges that he was tortured during his incarceration in Pakistan. He distinctly remembers the war and his capture after getting injured.

“After getting Short Service Commission in 3rd battalion of Assam Regiment, I was posted at Chamb Jaurian sector in Jammu and Kashmir and soon the war started. My platoon with 32 jawans was overrun by Pakistanis but despite being injured, I managed to send my troops to safety but I was captured,” he recalled.

Capt Vijendra Gurung was released after 13 months as POW by Pakistan and rejoined his regiment but being a short commission officer, he was discharged soon after. Since then, he has been living a miserable life with no financial support from the state government or the army. When enquired about his family, he said that his wife deserted him long back and he had no children.

For last four years, he has been regularly getting help from his school mates who have pooled in their resources to at least provide for his daily needs. The school mates of Capt Vijendra Gurung, from Military school, Chail known as ‘Georgians’ have made arrangements for his ration from a nearby shop in Johri village.

Capt Suresh Pandey, who was his classmate in 1968, now settled in Dehradun was the first to know about his plight and gather others for his help. “ He was one of brightest boys in school. He was one of the best sportsmen and excelled in extra-curricular activities,” recalled Suresh Pandey.  Another school mate, Bhupendra Singh Khatri has stood by him in thick and thin all these years.

“He has limited needs which we try to manage through our network of school mates,” said Preetpal Singh Pundir, an alumni of Military School,Chail.

But Capt Vijendra Gurung (Retd) is hopeful that army will provide him with some help when he grows really old. “I was visited by an officer of the local sub-area who assured me that army would help in building a toilet and kitchen besides providing electricity connection and water supply to my room,” he said.

Uttarakhand government has recently decided to double the amount being given to war veterans and war widows but Short Commission officers are not entitled to it.

An Ex-servicemen organisation known as ‘T Sewa’ has also assured him of help.  Brigadier TS Rawat, President of Uttarakhand branch of ‘T Sewa’ has also assured him of a monthly help of ₹10,000.

Standing at the door of his dilapidated room with a rag as a curtain, Capt Vijendra Gurung (retd) was all praise for his school mates who have been a real support to him all these years. “They are like diamonds and diamonds are forever,” he said with a smile.