The high altitude sapped the life out of him

ALL FOR VALOUR

After his death, I got a phone call from his officers that he lost his life. I received his body five days after his death. I was at my mother’s home at that time. Initially the officers asked me to come and collect his body, but since my boy was very small and I was a housewifeand had never ventured out of the house on any work, I did not know the procedures. I asked them to hand over his body to us at Tawang. His friends and his officers from the battalion came to hand over the body to us.

Sipahi Manoj Tamang of 1^st Arunachal Scouts died on 1^st August 2014 on duty, when he was engaged in patrolling duty at a high-altitude location at the border. He died when his oxygen level became zero which led to brain haemorrhage and high blood pressure. He was posted at Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Arunachal Scouts is an Infantry regiment of Indian Army based in Arunachal Pradesh and specialising in mountain warfare. The regiment was established with the purpose of defending the Indian-Chinese border in Arunachal Pradesh. Manoj Tamang’s wife Bina Tamang shares with melange memories of her late husband.

Sipahi Manoj Tamang left behind his wife and one year old son when he lost his life while on duty. Bina Tamang was at her mother’s home in Tawang when she heard the news of her husband’s demise.

Bina Tamang recalls, “I had not spoken with my husband for a long time. I think it was around July 20, I cannot recall the exact date now, that he left for duty at a high altitude location.After his death, I got a phone call from his officers that he lost his life. I received his body five days after his death. I was at my mother’s home at that time. Initially the officers asked me to come and collect his body, but since my boy was very small and I was a housewifeand had never ventured out of the house on any work,I did not know the procedures. I asked them to hand over his body to us at Tawang. His friends and his officers from the battalion came to hand over the body to us. They helped me with all the works related to his funeral. We are Buddhists, so we have different rituals for completing the last rites. They helped me out with everything and I am thankful to them till date.”

According to Bina Tamang her husband last came home for his vacations and left for duty on May 23, 2014. They used to speak regularly on phone.

She says, “After he left for his job in May, we used to speak regularly on phone. But when he went for his duty at the high-altitude area, we did not speak over the phone. Before going he told me that his patrolling duty would continue for 10 to 12 days. He was also supposed to get promoted to Second Arunachal Scout, and take me and our son to Bomdilla. That was the last phone call. He asked me not to worry about him and that he would return safe and sound. Who knew that he would never return to us. I was devasted, but I had to be strong for my son.”

She further adds, “My husband was loved by everyone. Before our child was born, he loved to spend time with me and my family. He did not get vacations for a long period, so whenever he was home, he would spend his time with us. He was specially very close with my mother. His mother was no more and his father also lived very far away, and that is why he loved to spend time with my family. He was very close to his sister and his nephew. He was a very family-oriented person. My husband and me were schooltime friends. We married after being lovers, and so he had a very close bonding with my family. He loved to spend time with my brothers and treated them as his own. He also loved to spend time with our school friends.”

Bina Tamang now lives at Charduar in Sonitpur district of Assam with her son. She receives her dependent pension and is running her family with it. According to her, the Army helped her to avail all the benefits that she was entitled to.

She says, “I am very thankful to the Indian Army. I got their help in receiving his insurance which was to be equally distributed among his parents, his child and his wife. I handed over the rightful amount to his father. My son’s share I kept as fixed deposit and my share I have used according to my provisions. And an Army jawan who loses his life at high altitudes also receives ex-gratia from the army, I received that also. Whenever I was in any problem, the army people used to help me. Whenever a new battalion comes there, they always respect the ex-servicemen. Even after shifting to Sonitpur, they have helped me a lot.”

She goes on, “In Tawang the Army cannot give a permanent job,especially to ladies. When I was in Tawang, I got to work at the contingency contract. I also worked with NEP when they had a project for making a helipad. I worked there for two years. I also got to work at the station headquarter for around 3 years. I had bought a land here at Tezpur long time ago, so I came back here as I had to build a house for my son. At present I am not doing anything. Once my housework is settled than I will try to work.”

Sipahi Manoj Tamang was loved by everyone in Tawang. According to his wife, there was no one who did not know about Manoj Tamang. Everybody loved him, his friends, his colleagues. He had a very cordial and friendly relations with everyone.

Bina Tamang says, “Now also whenever I go to Tawang, everyone comes to visit me and reminiscesabout him . When they see my son, they say that he is definitely Manoj Tamang’s son, as my son is the exact replica of his father. They do not want to hurt me, so they do not speak much now about him. But he lives in everyone’s heart. We cannot say what is in our fate. Maybe his journey with us was till here only.”

Bina Tamang further says, “We have not built a memorial in his name. I wanted to make a memorial in his name at the graveyard, but as there was no place, I could not build it. I am planning now to build a memorial in his name once my house is complete.”

As a martyr’s wife she is invited to the various programmes and rallies organised by the Army. She says, “When I was in Tawang I used to participate in all the meetings organised in honour of ex-servicemen. I also took part in organising the events. Even after coming back here toAssam I have participated in various programmes. I went to Guwahati too and very recently to Balipara here.”

The Late Sipahi Manoj Tamang still remains in the memory of his wife, his family and his friends. He continues to receive acclaim for his bravery and love for his nation. They hold him in high regard and use him as an example for everyone. He was the first martyr from their area.