Talk:Digendra Kumar
Digendra Kumar article on Wikipedia was discussed onn Bharat Rakshak - Consortium of Indian Defence Websites - http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=114&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=320
This discussion may help to improve this article as well. Here are the excerpts from above site:
Raja Bose - Post subject: Re: Profiles in Heroism: Archive Posted: 18 Jan 2009 07:52 pm
A wiki article on Naik Digendra Kumar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digendra_Kumar The article is very badly written (in terms of grammar) but contains a lot of 1st person details (unverified though). It claims there was an incident where a large number of 10 Para Cdo men were captured by LTTE. This is the first time I am hearing of any such incident. Can anybody confirm if this took place or not?
Jagan - Post subject: Re: Posted: 18 Jan 2009 07:59 pm
Raja, the wiki seems to base it on this book Ranwa, Mansukh (2008). Mahvir Chakradhari Digendra Kumar. Jaipur: Kalpana Publication, Nahargarh Road. p. 21. ISBN 81-89681-09-5. Probably worth checking out. Could be in Hindi.
Raja Bose - Post subject: Re: 18 Jan 2009 08:16 pm
Yes the book is in Hindi - that is not a problem. Unfortunately seems like a local publishing effort so may not be available in mainstream bookstores. Is there any jingo in India in Jaipur area who can get a copy perhaps?
Probably it was published after getting a first person account from Naik Singh after he retired. It is bound to have a ton of interesting anecdotes and first person accounts about Op.Pawan and Kargil. If this was amirkhan....such a soldier's book would be available in every Borders, Barnes&Noble and Books-a-million.
sum - Post subject: Re 19 Jan 2009 04:57 pm
In his pic put up on wiki, is he wearing the black uniform of the NSG or do the para SF also wear black uniforms?
Raja Bose - Post subject: Re: 20 Jan 2009 07:02 am
I was thinking the same thing....looks like NSG uniform coz it seems he did not serve in Para (SF).
k prasad - Post subject: Re: 20 Jan 2009 12:47 pm
The badge on the left sleeve says "Commando". Can some expert identify the other unit badges plz...
Surya - Post subject: Re: 20 Jan 2009 02:26 pm
The Wiki write up has all the hyperboles one can think of!! but it would interesting to get the book. Let me also run it by my SF friends - and see whether this is any truth in this??
HariC - Post subject: Re: 20 Jan 2009 02:34 pm
That looks like a straight lift out of the book. The book is in vernacular - and it is common to 'exaggerate' in that media because very little of it actually goes out of the country (maybe even the state) to withstand scrutiny. so no surprise there. digendra singh may have done a stint in the NSG - so whats the surprise at all the badges?
rohitvats - Post subject: Re: 20 Jan 2009 03:33 pm
Id of the badges:
Right breast pocket (of the person): Balidan and the NSG Badge (lower and the higher ones respectively). So the person did serve with Para(SF) and NSG.
Over the Left Breast pocket: Combat Divers Badge. I've no idea on the badge on the left breast pocket. The location is quite strange. And finally, the black dress is not unique to NSG.
Rishi - Post subject: Re: 20 Jan 2009 03:39 pm
What is this "power injection" they mention?
Post subject: Re: 20 Jan 2009 04:32 pm
Hopefully not the same stuff used by Kasab and his buddies
The contents of the wiki page seem to be written by someone from Rajasthan/Haryana with barebone English skills, who has done a literal translation from the book (maybe it is the book's author himself, he has a wiki page on himself too - check it out). You can notice some of the typical stuff like "I the Digendra Kumar" and repetition of sentences like "best commando in Indian Army"
If there can be some verification/validation of the incidents that one sees mentioned on the wiki page, that would be great. I am esp. intrigued by the Para SF capture incident (IPKF) that is mentioned coz to my knowledge only 2 PoW incidents took place - 1 involving Sep. Gora Singh of Sikh LI and the other involving about dozen or two soldiers of Mahar(?) who got surrounded - Ray Sir also talked about this on B-R long while back.
HariC - Post subject: Re: 20 Jan 2009 04:44 pm
Probably not the author. the page was created by LRBurdak ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:LRBurdak )
Jagan - Post subject: Re 21 Jan 2009 05:25 am
Raja, there was a third incident when an IPKF soldier was taken POW. There was a truce when he was released. a Photo was published in frontline mag that showed the IPKF and LTTE together. the name of the solder returned was published but not the regiment or the circumstances.
Besides Gora Singh, there were 18 Mahar soldiers who were taken Prisoners after their convoy got lost. Shyam Tekwani photographed them in LTTE custody and thesame were printed in the India Today issue which had the 'behind enemy lines' photos. All 19 were released pretty some time later.
Raja Bose - Post subject: Re 21 Jan 2009 06:04 am
Besides Gora Singh, there were 18 Mahar soldiers who were taken Prisoners after their convoy got lost. Shyam Tekwani photographed them in LTTE custody and thesame were printed in the India Today issue which had the 'behind enemy lines' photos. All 19 were released pretty some time later. Jagan, Yes I know of the Gora Singh and Mahar incidents. The third incident you mention was not known to me.
Anybody has still that India Today issue?? I remember the gory pic on the cover as a kid but it gave a hitherto unseen account from the LTTE side which nobody else provided. I tried once getting that issue from India Today but they said they cant do it. If anybody has it and scan it, it will be most appreciated (in case you are in the Bay Area then a six-pack of beer of your choice!).