By Neha Mhatre
The Amazon Prime OTT “The Last Full Measure” dwells on veteran angst over down gradation of award to a colleague killed in Vietnam War. Despite saving over 60 American soldiers during the Vietnam War Airman William H Pitsenbarger is denied the Medal of Honor. Thirty-two years after his death, a staff of the Pentagon investigates it and redeems itself.
Operation Pawan was a pivotal military mission undertaken by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). Tasked with disarming the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and restoring peace, the IPKF faced numerous politico military constraints in a hostile environment but largely succeeded in its rapidly evolving mission/ aims.
It was also the longest post-independence joint services military operation conducted by India overseas. The valour, sacrifices, and humanitarian efforts of the IPKF soldiers, IAF and IN, during Operation Pawan remain largely unacknowledged by an indifferent establishment.
Background
1980s – a period that was tumultuous for both India and Sri Lanka. India grappled with the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 and the subsequent appointment of her son Rajiv Gandhi as successor. Aside military operations like Op Checkerboard, Falcon, Brass Tracks and Meghdoot, in that decade of military experiments and forays where more than two fronts were activated, with two of our traditional belligerent neighbours among others.
Fig 1. The IPKF Deployment in Sri Lanka
The island nation of Sri Lanka faced the rise of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and anti-Tamil riots by Sinhalese, leading to severe internal strife and bloodshed. India extended relief measures to its neighbour, Sri Lanka -with Op Poomalai an airdrop of supplies. This culminated in the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord on 29 July 1987, to resolve the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Sri Lankan government/Sinhalas and the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. Under this accord, the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) was deployed in the Northern (Jaffna, Point Pedro and Vavuniya) and Eastern (Batticaloa and Trincomalee) Provinces of Sri Lanka, to restore peace.
The Daunting Challenges
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka (Image source: SL Army)
The LTTE did not honour the terms of the Accord and resorted to violence seeking Eelam (independent state) instead of limited devolution of powers / autonomy. The LTTE cadres knew the complexities and nuances of the terrain and used it to their full advantage aggravated by Indian Army’s lack of maps and poor intelligence. The IPKF troops encountered fierce resistance from LTTE fighters who had entrenched themselves in the Jaffna city but cleared it in a few weeks amidst challenges of limiting the collateral damage . The IPKF’s mission was not just a military endeavour but also a politically charged operation. The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, faced immense pressure to balance diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka while addressing domestic concerns in Tamil Nadu where there was groundswell of support for the Tamils of Sri Lanka given the ethnic linkages. This delicate balancing act often resulted in unclear directives and constraints to the IPKF’s operations who fought with their hands tied behind their backs.
Despite the challenges and intense operations, the IPKF achieved overall successes in their mission and generated significant goodwill and a conducive atmosphere was provided to the frightened local population as the LTTE was ring fenced in the jungles by relentless operations undertaken by the IPKF in the four key sectors of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. Both Prime Minister and President level elections were conducted with impartial oversight by the IPKF. During Operation Pawan, the Indian Navy also played a crucial role, providing logistical support, troop transportation, vehicle transportation, refugee transportation, army stores transportation, cutting off LTTE supply lines, enforcing blockades and conducting extensive patrols to and from Sri Lanka.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) too provided essential air support, including troop transport, aerial reconnaissance, and close air support during anti militant operations. On August 23, 1988, the Air Force carried out the largest operational troop induction ever using Mi-8 helicopters during Operation Checkmate. Thus, OP PAWAN was truly a joint service operation undertaken by the Defence Forces at short notice. Today, India and Sri Lanka continue to engage in diplomatic, economic, and security collaborations, reflecting a commitment to regional stability and mutual respect in the backdrop of increased Chinese military activity in our backyard.
The Unacknowledged Valour
The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was deployed in Sri Lanka, comprising over 80,000 troops from various units. The IPKF, along with the personnel of the Indian Navy and Air Force, displayed extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. By March 1990, the IPKF was withdrawn from Sri Lanka, leaving behind a legacy of sacrifice and bravery. It was awarded 1 PVC ,6 MVCs and 98 VrC.
While in conversation with Lt Col Atul Kochhar (Veteran) opined that “thirty-seven years had passed, and it’s time to come to terms with the realities of life …and death to bring closure to the families of the braves who gave their lives and were wounded in battle”. India lost 1171 soldiers in this war with 3,500 troops severely injured. It is crucial to reflect upon why we treat this operation and their braves who made the supreme sacrifice with diffidence.
Northern Province, Sri Lanka
(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
The Veterans of OP Pawan have taken on the task of convincing the establishment to acknowledge the role of the IPKF in OP PAWAN. An RTI in Aug 2021 seeking details of casualty and information regarding commemoration of IPKF/OP Pawan was met with an unsatisfactory and sketchy reply by the Service HQs with respect to details of casualties sustained by IPKF and related issues. Subsequently a letter seeking official commemoration of IPKF dt Feb 22 to the Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Narvane himself a former IPKF Veteran drew assurances but no tangible result. A letter to RM in 2022 seeking intervention for commemorating Op Pawan was also in vain. Reply dated 14 Sep 23 by Colonel CW to the veteran’s letter addressed to RM narrated that the “matter is under consideration at highest level”. Interaction with DG CW in 2022 on two different occasions to appraise him of the case for commemoration was also fruitless. Interaction with AG Branch of the Army HQ in 2023 by IPKF Veterans seeking commemoration of OP Pawan drew a nought except for a suggestion to review the veteran-initiated date of commemoration to 24 Mar instead of 29 Jul (the former date in 1987 was the date of conclusion of Indo SL Accord). Various books have been published by OP PAWAN veterans highlighting the angst of veterans with operational highlights to sensitise the public at large about this forgotten joint service operation with a view to arouse public interest in an era of theatre commands and fresh challenges.
It is now left to the veterans to commemorate privately the remembrance of the braves of OP PAWAN in 2021,22,23 and 24 at NWM Delhi. AG Branch has consistently denied the veterans bugle performance at the NWM, New Delhi for the ceremony insisting it be held in “silent” mode which is nothing but sheer humiliation. No serving officer attends the wreath laying as if the IPKF were “warriors of a lesser god”. Neither are the veterans given a standing slot in the AG Branch calendar for performing a known activity entirely on their own heft, which is now a regular affair. Sanction to commemorate invariably is given at the last moment which makes coordination difficult and dulls attendance as veterans advance in age. Letter by veterans to former COAS Gen Manoj Pande in Aug 23 seeking commemoration has not produced any impact except that “matter is under consideration”.
It may be noted that IAF Southern Command commemorated OP PAWAN officially in 2023.Ironically every Indian dignitary who visits Sri Lanka does mandatory wreath laying at the Battarmulla War Memorial near Colombo which is dedicated to the IPKF. Former COAS Gen VP Malik in a recent tweet also expressed his support for the commemoration of IPKF Veterans even as the nation honours the Kargil braves. Fed up with intransigence of the establishment the veterans recently approached the Defence Advisor to MOD Lt Gen Khandare Principal Adviser – MoD who accorded a fair hearing.
It is time now to extend the “Last Full measure” by recognising the valour of the braves and commemorating them annually/ officially to bring closure to the kin of the braves who made the supreme sacrifice in OP PAWAN.
Ms. Neha Mhatre, a doctoral candidate at the University of Mumbai is conducting research on the role played by the Indian Armed Forces during the Sri Lankan Ethnic conflict. She is also the Founder of Mirāsy Heritage Management, an organisation dedicated to archival research, heritage, legacy management and curation.