Army duty is not for the faint-hearted, and one needs to have a very strong will.
Army duty is not for the faint-hearted, and one needs to have a very strong will.
Bharat Singh Jhala is a retired sub-inspector from the Border Security Force (BSF) of the central armed forces. He has served the nation by joining the army at a very young age in 1985. After serving the country for thirty years in the army, he retired and moved to his hometown, Udaipur.
From a young age, Bharat says he was inspired to join the military and serve on the border. Bharat was inspired by his brother, who was a soldier. Bharat’s father also encouraged him to pursue a career in the army. According to him, the hiring process took place in Jammu and Kashmir, a location far from his home. Since Bharat was from a region that is much lower in terms of height from sea level than the high-altitude region of Kashmir, he occasionally had breathing problems there. But thanks to his perseverance and determination, he passed the exam.
After passing this test, he went through rigorous army training to prepare him for border duty. His initial assignment was in Jammu and Kashmir, one of the most challenging areas of the nation.
His first assignment was in Jammu and Kashmir, which is also one of the most difficult regions of the country, both in terms of terrain and the political situation. Upon joining, he was stationed in a region that saw steady firing from the enemy side.
In order to survive in difficult circumstances, Bharat remembers how they used to have low rations and small wintertime food and fuel stocks. The weather conditions could prevent the troops from receiving assistance if the supply runs out. He says in those regions, one must stay extremely silent in the deep Himalayan region to avoid being heard by the enemy. Sneezing, coughing, using a torch, or doing anything else that would draw attention during the night are all prohibited. All army movements had to happen at night. Additionally, there was always a risk of wild creatures. He emphasizes that in order to endure and prevail in such a situation, one must be courageous and patient.
Bharat stresses the importance of patience, courage, flexibility, and willingness to deal with difficult situations in order to succeed in such scenarios. He also says that one should sweat as much as they can to avoid hardships in life. Bharat says that to be selected for the army, one needs physical fitness and has to clear physical training exams and screening.
If he ever gets a chance to go back in time, he will once again join the army to serve the nation because he loves his country and will always want to be an Indian Army soldier.
Bharat also highlights his father’s role in his army career. He says that his father was a disciplined man and taught this virtue to his children as well. Because of this, he says that to be successful in life, both education and experience are necessary. Especially in the army, where one needs to know about weapons and other tactics.
Bharat adds that to get selected for the Indian Army, one needs both education and experience. There are places where you need to have the right education to make the right call, and then there are times when you need to make a decision based on your experience.
Recalling his time in the armed forces, Bharat says that there’s a strict routine that helps you stay disciplined. Everyone wakes up early and, after physical training, goes on to their respective duties. There's a fixed time for lunch break, drills, and guardian duties.
While in the army, Bharat says that he was always truthful towards his comrades. He always went in first in the face of danger and protected his comrades from danger. He says that all of his colleagues remember him to this day and commend him for his sacrifices.