28 Malkajgiri bravehearts get their due on I-Day
Till today, not many knew that the Devinagar Residents’ Welfare Association in Malkajgiri was home to 28 fearless retired and serving - defence personnel who played a significant role in India’s Independence movement and various other wars.
Flight Lieutenant (Rtd) Colaco—one of seniormost citizens of the Colony had joined the British Royal Army and became a Flight Lieutenant, after the Indian Independence, in the Indian Air Force, explained his fight at the warfront with China, Pakistan (Bangladesh liberation) and also the Police Action in 1948 in the Nizam-ruled state.
At the flag-hoisting ceremony on Tuesday, Sergeant M. Laxminarayana narrated his role in developing the latest technologies like the army radar systems that our country was currently using. This year the ceremony at Devinagar proved to be different with 28 men in uniform recalling their acts of bravery.
Out of the 28 defense personnel, two of them Naik G. Rama Rao and Naik K. Balramudun are presently in service. The retired personnel had played a role in the Kargil war, Blue Star Operation, India—China War, IndiaPakistan War and in Natural calamities.
Major V. Ayodhya who fought in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation, said, “I spent 11 years in Kashmir and was part of the 1999 Kargil war , my services were recognised and I was awarded the Rashtrapati Prasansa Certificate. It is disturbing to see the Chinese intruding the Indian border. If there is a war-like situation and if given a chance, I am willing to join the force to face the intruders at the border front.”
Junior Wing officer M. Suryanarayana had taken part in different army operations while working with the Indian Air Force.
On the same day, two other colonies namely Radha Krishna nagar Malkajgir, and Ramakrishnapuram basthi— Neerdmet honoured the defence personnel living in their colonies.
These narratives and war experiences of the defence personnel infused a love for the nation and inspired the mind and hearts of every young child who attended the program.