Blog Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla: Ultimate Braveheart

Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla: Ultimate Braveheart

Introduction

Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, whose name today resonates with the word ‘hero’ ‘martyr’ ‘patriotism’ is one of the significant figures to make a permanent place in the history of the Indian military.

The life he led in his early forties was one that should inspire courage and loyalty to duty throughout the generations.

So, this article would try to take a closer look at the life and times of Captain Mulla to understand his background, the highlights of his service, the occasions that truly captured his acts of bravado, and the legendary status that made him one of the revered spirits of the Indian armed forces and the country at large.

Early Life and Background

Mahendra Nath Mulla was born on October 26, in the year 1924, in a small village of Amritsar in the territory of Punjab) was born to middle class parents as their third child among all siblings.

Punjab was deeply rooted in his early years of his life, a state that accorded to a high standard of martial spirit and courage.

Born and raised in a family that gave premium to both education and discipline, Mulla began embracing hard work, integrity, and patriotism as important virtues that he held dearly.

His scholarly success, however, featured outstanding performance and he early on had the desire to join the military forces.

Due to the glamor linked to the formal dressing code, the push for order as well as the belief in a national call to serve a nation during times of strife became key motivators for his desire to gain a commission.

Completing his schooling with flying colors, Mulla decided to get a BSc so as to set the foundation for his coming progresses.

Joining the Indian Army

However, in 1943, when the second phase of World War II was in progress all around the world, the desire of Mahendra Nath Mulla to become a soldier in the Indian Army was awakened.

He was also fond of explaining the armed forces due to the narrations from his elders on the stories relating to brave hearted ness of the soldiers and the Indian soldiers’ great stories of fight and operations in Europe and Asia.

The training period at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun reveals Mulla as an excellent candidate, possessing not only physical strength, but also discipline, leadership qualities.

He also showed diligence to duty, and two years after passing the academy, he was promoted to be a Second Lieutenant.

Serving one’s own Indian Army that has a rich tradition as well as a vow of serving the country became the training ground, the molding ground and the determining factor of Mulla’s character.

The War of 1962

 When you’re bestowed with a name that has such a ring to it, it’s only fitting that you prove its worth from time to time.

The calendar year of 1962 remained a litmus test for Captain Mulla as well as Indian history.

Here arose the Sino-Indian War, having a blot with the borders of Arunachal Pradesh and the environment becoming tense and insecure.

When war only intensified Captain Mulla, though a newly commissioned officer whose future was so bright before the conflict, was in the line of fire.

Due to this reason and as a result of the difficult and mountainous terrain of the Northeast which enabled the enemy to sneak attack while at the same time posing a threat due to the unforgiving climate, Mulla rose to the occasion and displayed great strategic weapons.

Laying down his life for his Country Mulla and his men were placed on the defensive at the Namka Chu Valley in what used to be termed important positions

As a case, the ground was rough, the weather was also unfavorable and the number of forces was larger than that of the enemy.

However, the strong will power never left Mulla’s side, and he stood firm.

The Chinese attacks on the Indian positions began on 21 st October, 1962, which was a turning point in the war.

Mulla, the Captain though did not falter in his determination, stood head and shield and led his men through the remaining battle.

Although Mulla’s forces were significantly overwhelmed not only in terms of numbers but also equipment, his leadership could be described with the adjectives gallant and smart.

The commander motivated his men to maintain the defensive position they had in the region as well as not giving up any inch of the land they were assigned to defend.

You can read in depth about the Sino-Indian war here.

The Battle Of the Namka Chu Valley

The Namka Chu Valley again proved to be another strategic area for the fight when it became known as the Battle of the Namka Chu Valley.

The Namka Chu Valley became the platform where the young captain Mulla made his saving picture in the history of warfare.

Gunner Mulla and his platoon felt out of scale, surrounded and overwhelmed; they bravely went to war.

The fight was a spirited one and persisted throughout the night with the Kandakes fighting with knives and anything they could lay their hands on.

As expected, with a lot of numbers against him, Mulla was always strategic and led his team accordingly to perfection.

Mulla’s men waged the war with much enthusiasm due to the determination of their captain who stood strong amidst the fight.

Mulla himself, although injured, sustained the charge by oration and provision of tactical strategies to his men.

He did this by exhibiting extreme courage when he knew he was going to die and this in turn motivated his men to shun the fate that their captain had been met and continue fighting.

During the night of October 21st and the early morning of October 22nd, 1962, the Chinese attacked the Indian positions in a very ferocious and continuous manner nevertheless on October 22nd in the early hours of the day the Chinese could not penetrate through the Indian defenses and thus were forced to withdraw.

The courage shown by Captain Mulla and his men at Namka Chu Valley turned the war ugly side out to be a spitting image mirror of the Indian soldier.

Mulla’s spirited operation substantially delayed the advance of the enemy and, although being vastly outnumbered and outmatched, he managed to hold off the enemy long enough for support units to arrive.

Namka Chu Valley battle detailed.

The Prelude to War: Tensions in east Pakistan

Bitterness and hostility between the two wings developed during the war and relations afterwards remained tense.

The political and humanitarian issue in East Pakistan or what is part of Bangladesh today led to the breaking out of the 197 Indo-Pak War.

Civilian struggle for an independent Bangladesh came to be led by the Bengali population, particularly through the Awami League headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Pakistan military brutally crackdown against the Bengali population.

The result was another genocide and millions of refugees entering into India which formed a growing humanitarian crisis that could not be ignored.

In 1971, due to political instability and sectarian rioting, India accrued millions of refugees from East Pakistan, leading to crisis Under the PM Indira Gandhi India tried to resolve the problem diplomatically but it was not welcomed by the international community.

As the situation worsened to living standards, facilities and killings began within Bangladesh, India initiated the planning towards military action to liberate Bangladesh and restore stability to the region.

This section aims to identify the specific activities of the parties as well as the strategic significance of the agreed naval operations and programs.

India navy also saw action in the 1971 war major effort was put more to blockading the east Pakistani ports, interdict enemy’s ships and seal off the sea supply line.

The Western Naval Command consists of Vice Admiral S.N. Kohli was designed for the Arabian Sea and the operations of the Eastern Naval Command were entrusted to Vice Admiral N.Krishnan for the Bay of Bengal.

INS Khukri, headed by Commander Mahendra Nath Mulla, was a part of the 14th Frigate Squadron and had operation responsibilities of anti-submarine warfare.

They were required to conduct aerial surveillance to guard the Indian coastline with an eye on Pakistani submarine menace while at the same time aiding naval strike.

The events of the Night of december 9,1971

INS Khukri was part of the 14th Frigate Squadron; as on December 9, 1971, the INS Khukri ,the other ships of the squadron, was carrying our ASW patrol off the coast of Diu.

The Pakistani Navy had deployed its submarine PNS Hangor under the command of this particular commander Ahmed Tasnim so that it could attack and thus dismantle the operations of the Indian navy.

Around 20:00 hours being reached, PNS Hangor realized the Indian naval vessels were within range and moved to attack formation.

The task, as it would be realized, was not easy and the situation in submarines is even worse to imagine due to the fact that Hangor decided to launch a torpedo at INS Khukri.

The therein deployed torpedo hit the frigate by creating a huge blast and pointing a lot of damage.

Literally, seeing the impending great danger, Captain Mulla was very much on the ball and showed great leadership.

He raised his sailors and swimmers above water, telling them to swim and leaving the water for himself.

Even though there was an element of disarray and panic within the ship, mostly due to the impending danger, Mulla did not lose his cool and went out of his way to make sure many of the sailors could inflate the lifeboats and flee the ship.

Finally when the ship was capsized and about to sink, Captain Mulla sentimentally decided to stick to the ship and perished in it like a real naval officer.

His companions died for the country together with the 18 officers and 176 sailors who tragically lost their lives; this was one of the most sensational and heroic moments of the war.

Aftermath and Impact

The sinking of INS Khukri was a huge stigma for the Indian Navy and for the country.

Though this was painful it also helped to serve as a wake-up call for the Indian armed forces towards securing wins.

Captain Mulla’s heroic deeds coupled with his crew made the act as a ballad symbolic of the Indian Navy’s tenacity.

Consequently, as a testament to his bravery and ultimate sacrifice, the Indian Government honored Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla with the Maha Vir Chakra, which is the second highest military medal in the country.

It is still a source of pride and motivation to the generations of naval officers and sailors to this date as his heroic acts reflected the importance of counteracting the enemy’s advances despite the outcome.

Legacy and Martyrdom

The Battle of Namka Chu Valley, while having strategic significance turning out to be a military misfortune for India, enters the realm of folklore as one of the significant expeditions in the life of Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla.

Since the fighting his actions have been commended as being the best ,and epitomizing the spirit of the best soldier, and the importance of courage and bravery.

These actions of heroism did not come unnoticed to Captain Mulla, and the bayonet charge was a clear testament to his bravery, leadership, and personal sacrifices.

The sacrifices he made in the line of duty, he could not do anything and he gave up the most precious of life and his devotion was prized by the nation with the highest reward it could give him— Maha Vir Chakra, this is the second highest military decoration awarded to any member of the Indian military for conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Captain Mulla gave up the supreme sacrifices on the 22nd October 1962 and his heroic act remains deeply etched in the minds of the people.

Thus, though his death was a loss, it was a great loss but a great sacrifice that so many Indian soldiers gave up their lives for the country’s Sovereignty and integrity.

Even if Mulla was no more we have his legacy regarding the medals that he won, as well as the victories that were achieved by him, but most importantly are the honor and courage stories that still motivate generations of Indians.

Remembering the Braveheart

Right now, Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla is a brave figure, a powerful wall, a real son of the nation.

His tale is still heard in the conscience of every Indian, testimony of what it means to be a brave Indian armed force personnel.

Many legends have been devoted to him, sculptures, monuments, books, movies, etc are created to immortalize his heroic actions.

No one blew the flash of his glory as his alma mater the Indian Military Academy to date continues motivating the cadets, thereby enhancing the virtues of duty, honor, and sacrifice.

The odyssey of Captain Mulla continues on from the horizon of imagination into the past and across vast spaces of Earth, reminding us of the Indian soldier’s ethos.

There is no doubt that his life and actions remain an example and model of proper conduct for people who are serving the country faithfully and honestly.

Deathly afraid of water, Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla’s tale challenges even Nan’s notions of what makes a hero: a person who has the guts to stand tall, the intention to safeguard his country, and the readiness to give up his life for the sake of many.

Watch the full documentary here.

Conclusion

Main story depicts in fact the real life of the courageous captain Mahendra Nath Mulla whose life was full of sacrifices and promise to duty.

His story in the Battle of Namka Chu Valley remains a testament to the brave Indian soldier and has been written into the history books of the man of great courage.

And, as his life and the shape of his passing remind us, the immeasurable sum of courage and service, of sacrifice and persistence, held in trust by our armed forces and paid out in the steady interest of our sovereign freedoms – belongs to each of us, in one way or another.

As if today you see the legacy of Captain Mulla rise on and motivate us to be brave and have integrity as well as be a good Patriot in all that do.

This wondrous man is now a man who is for eternity immortal and still storms for justice, freedom, and human rights while igniting those who are still alive.

When we remember Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, we do not simply recall the lived history of a brave man, but we honor the spirit of a nation and the cause that they shared; freedom and justice.

Even today, his story is alive in annals of history of India and patriotism runs high among those who embrace pain and valor.

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