On 16 December 2026, during the solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Quarterguard, I had the privilege of meeting Mrs. VK Lalitha, the younger sister of Gunner (Driver) VK Premachandran, who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

Her presence at the regimental function was no accident. It was the result of painstaking efforts by Colonel AK Singh, the Commanding Officer, and Honorary Captain M Sreedharan, who traced Mrs. Lalitha and ensured she could attend the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of our Regiment. In doing so, they bridged decades of separation and brought a family’s sacrifice back into the collective memory of our Regiment.

Meeting his sister, Mrs. Lalitha, after all these years, was a moment of profound connection. In her eyes, I saw the reflection of that young soldier who rode into history, trusting his motorcycle and his destiny. And in her presence at our Diamond Jubilee, I witnessed the unbroken chain of gratitude that binds a regiment to the families of those who gave everything.

“I was only 15 when my brother passed away at 23. We had lost our father years earlier, so our brother had become our guardian. After his death, our mother received a lifelong pension, and the Government of Kerala honoured his sacrifice by employing me in the Education Department,” she shared, memories flickering in her eyes.

Our Regiment fulfilled a long-cherished resolve. A bust of Gunner Premachandran was installed at the Smriti Sthal of our War Memorial – a tribute that many jawans had quietly voiced during previous Raising Day gatherings. They felt deeply that the young Despatch Rider, who had carried the Fire Plan through relentless shellfire, deserved a permanent place among the Regiment’s honoured fallen.

When the bust was unveiled, it was more than stone and metal – it was the Regiment’s promise kept. A solemn affirmation that his name and his spirit will stand guard with us for all time.

As the veil was drawn back, Mrs Lalitha stepped forward and laid the first wreath. In that moment, the bond between a family’s sacrifice and a Regiment’s gratitude was sealed forever. Gunner Premachandran’s story is not just a memory – it is a legacy. And as long as the 75 Medium Regiment (Basantar River) marches, that legacy will march with us.

The Act of the Sacrifice

Let me now turn the clock back and dig deep into my own memory of Gunner Premachandran – a soldier whose name is etched not only in official citations but in the hearts of all who knew his story.

In 1985, Late Brigadier KN Thadani and his wife, Mrs. Sneh Thadani, took up residence in the Officers’ Mess of our Regiment, then stationed in Gurgaon. He had retired from the Army a few months earlier, but his connection to the Regiment ran deep.

The Thadanis were constructing their home in Gurgaon, and it was only natural that they move into the Mess during this interim period. That was my first encounter with this remarkable couple – an encounter that left an indelible mark on me.

In the hierarchical world of the Army, it is exceedingly rare for a young subaltern to interact closely with a Brigadier, retired or serving. I, then a Lieutenant and the sole bachelor officer, was the only regular dining-in member of the Mess. As messmates, I had the privilege of spending considerable time with Brigadier Thadani and his gracious wife, Sneh. Their presence transformed the Mess into a home, and their stories became my window into the Regiment’s glorious past.

Years before, in 1971, as a Lieutenant Colonel, he had led our Regiment into the crucible of war. It was under his command that our Regiment provided critical artillery fire support to the legendary 17 Horse – The Poona Horse – during the famous Battle of Shakargarh – a battle forever remembered for the supreme sacrifice of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal, Param Vir Chakra.

Basantar Day: A Time to Remember

16 December 1985 – Basantar Day – arrived, a day we annually commemorate to honour the Regiment’s achievements during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. It is a day of pride and reflection, a time when the sacrifices of our brethren are remembered with reverence. Among those sacrifices was that of Captain Satish Chandra Sehgal, who made the ultimate sacrifice and was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.

Lieutenant Colonel KN Thadani served as the Artillery Advisor to Brigadier AS Vaidya, Maha Vir Chakra (who later rose to become General and Chief of the Army Staff), Commander of the 16 Independent Armoured Brigade. In this pivotal role, he demonstrated exceptional professional acumen in planning and executing artillery fire support during critical operations. His strategic foresight, coupled with unwavering courage and exemplary leadership under fire, proved instrumental to the brigade’s success. For his distinguished contributions, Lieutenant Colonel KN Thadani was awarded the Visishta Seva Medal – a recognition of his invaluable service and the high esteem in which he was held by his commanders.

That evening, Brigadier Thadani shared a memory that had clearly stayed with him – a story of trust, choice, and loss.

Gunner Premachandran and His Motorcycle

He spoke of Gunner VK Premachandran, his Despatch Rider during the war. In those days, radio communications were not advanced enough to transmit lengthy documents. The Despatch Rider was the vital link between the Commanding Officer and the Fire Direction Centre, carrying critical Fire Plan documents on his motorcycle through shell-torn terrain.

On the day of the battle in support of The Poona Horse, Brigadier Thadani handed Premachandran the Fire Plan documents. Enemy shelling was intense. Concerned for his safety, he instructed the young Gunner to load his motorcycle onto a truck and travel that way to the Fire Direction Centre.

Premachandran looked at his Commanding Officer and said, “Sir, I trust my motorcycle. It will not betray me. All these days, through heavy shelling, I have ridden it and completed every task entrusted to me. I will ride my motorcycle.”

Brigadier Thadani paused, his eyes moistening as he recalled the moment. “Had I insisted that he go in a truck...” His voice trailed off. Then, quietly, he added, “I was too carried away by his trust in his machine.”

Gunner Premachandran rode his motorcycle that day and completed the task entrusted to him. He did not return.

The Weight of Memory

That evening in 1985, I understood something profound about leadership and its burdens. Brigadier Thadani carried the weight of that decision – not as guilt, but as a memory that time could not erase. He had honoured a soldier’s faith in his machine, in his own ability. And yet, the cost was immeasurable.

Years later, I often think of that conversation. It taught me that leadership is not always about giving orders; sometimes it is about respecting the spirit of those who serve. Gunner Premachandran’s trust in his motorcycle was not naivety – it was the essence of a soldier’s resolve. And Brigadier Thadani’s willingness to share that story, with tears in his eyes, was a testament to the bond that connects a Commanding Officer to every man he leads.

Today, as we remember the valour of 1971, let us also remember Gunner Premachandran – who rode his motorcycle into history, trusting his machine, his Commanding Officer, and his destiny. And let us remember Brigadier Thadani, a leader who carried that trust in his heart to his grave.

Kerala Media

We are deeply grateful to the media in Kerala – both print and visual – for covering the event in such detail. Their thoughtful reportage ensured that the stories of sacrifice and valour reached every corner of the state.