The Army Man Who Changed Lives In My Tehsil In Jammu And Kashmir

In 2014, I tried to lay the foundation of the youth wing in my tehsil, Rajgarh, which is one among many backward areas of District Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir. On the eve of August 15, I went to Higher Secondary School where students were celebrating Independence Day with great enthusiasm. Among many prominent personalities, I saw a young and dynamic person in army uniform sitting beside chief guest. I went closer to him and started a conversation with him, and meanwhile I shared the idea of forming a youth club in the tehsil.  He was quite impressed by the idea and asked another army man to note my phone number. Due to certain circumstances and lack of support by local authorities and administration I couldn’t start youth club.

The next year (2015), I joined a State Daily Urdu newspaper and started writing about issues of our tehsil and in November, when the army organised a Cricket Tournament in our tehsil, I was invited to the finals for press coverage. I was busy with my camera and pen when suddenly a member of the organising committee asked me to click some pictures of the chief guests. I went to the stage and saw that young man in the uniform again.

I had seen many army officers in uniform, but his style and attitude were different, and I noticed his smile while I was clicking pictures. It was a genuine smile. After the final match was over, he distributed rewards among players and went back to his post. Soon after he left, a person named Master Jeevan (a worker from the army man’s post) came to me and requested my phone number. Without any delay I gave it to him.

In the evening, when I was busy preparing a report and finding a perfect headline for the event, my phone rang, I received the call, and a bold voice struck my ear “Hello, I am Major Jai Kumar Mishra from 12RR“. Before that moment I never noticed the name of that dynamic personality.  We discussed certain things that evening, and he asked me politely to visit his post someday.

After a few days I went to his post located at a high altitude in the Kanabiti area of Ramban. The Major offered me a cup of tea and started discussing local political and social issues. He appreciated my views and thoughts. But it doesn’t matter at all because we people talk big and do very little. And when we talk big, we speak only to get appreciated. After that day I often visited the post and with the passage of time a strong bond of friendship developed between us. It was through his friendship and his attitude that I learned those things about society and human behaviour which even sociology couldn’t teach me.

We planned many events such as music competitions, quiz competitions, volleyball tournaments, and picnics for students. We had started doing something for the betterment of society.  I became an idea curator, and he started turning my ideas into a well-planned events.

We the people of Ramban are thankful to the Almighty for giving us a chance to work with such a great soul. I remember the day when a poor orphaned young man was so frustrated with the prospect of his sister getting married that he came to me and started crying. He was not financially able to make arrangements for the wedding. Without wasting his time, I discussed the whole matter with Major Mishra who agreed to help the young man, and did.

He is the man who always thinks about the betterment of society. He established a library and a computer lab for poor people who couldn’t afford the high fee at the usual places. He did his best to generate employment in the tehsil. He opened a sewing centre for women in Ramban. He helped a poor, unemployed person open a poultry farm. He organised many interviews with Tata Consultancy Services, and more than 50 students were selected who are now earning well for their families. Many times he invited government officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Employment Development Institute to conduct seminars. Besides these he also organised many tours for students. His fan following increased with each passing day, ultimately making him celebrity of our Tehsil.  He also used to give me packets of choco malt, and believe me it was so tasty that I became addicted to it!

Change is the law of Nature. But not every change is good for society.  The day came when I was informed about his transfer orders. He made a call to tell me about it. The next day, the Indian Army was organising a Musical Spell at Banihal, and I was invited for the event by Major Mishra. I went there with some frustration and anger. On my way, I was planning to do a Satyagraha, a hunger strike till death. I decided to discuss the matter with the Army officers present at the function with the hope that they might be able to stop his transfer. And if they didn’t, then I planned to announce my hunger strike as soon as the programme ended.

While listing singers at the Musical Spell, my phone vibrated. It was Major Mishra who asked me to meet him in the grounds outside the event. He told me that he was leaving. I requested him to stay there till the programme ended, but he didn’t. He had a cute smile on his face, and I guessed that he might have been happy with his transfer. Soon after he left the grounds, after saying “Bye Waqar” and giving me a little hug, I went to a corner and shed some tears. I lost myself completely. I was silent, but I could feel the sound of my silence which no one else could.

After a few minutes, I met Lt. Col. Rajesh ji who held my hand  and told me about the laws of Nature. I requested him to show me any way by which I could stop the Major’s transfer. But he said there wasn’t a way. The transfer order came from New Delhi. Saddened by the situation, I went back home.

A long time has passed already, but my heart is still not ready to accept the reality.

Years may pass, and everything may change, but I will find my friend again and will taste that choco malt!

We miss you, Sir.