Col. Narendra Kumar - a soldier, a mountaineer.
Famously called 'Bull' for taking on a bigger opponent in a boxing match.
"Nothing stopped the man, nothing was ever impossible" - Dilshad Master, Daughter-In-Law.
Bull was an officer in the Kumaon Regiment. His colleague Major Ramon Chibb of Kumaon Rifles says "When you are training you realise there are a few people who are special. This man was special."
While serving at Darjeeling's HMI institute he befriended Tenzing Norgay, a man who would have a deep impact on the course of Bull's life. In 1960, Col. Narinder Kumar led the first Indian team up Everest. The mission was not successful.
Years later when his daughter-in-law asked him if he ever regretted not reaching the top of Everest, he replied "Beta, if I had summited Everest I would have never gone to do the other things I did."
Bull went on to climb Trishul, Kanchenjunga, Nanda Devi.
There are two military instances that show what this man was made off.
In the early 60's, trouble was brewing at the Chinese border. Their troops were stationed in Indian territory and Bull was given 10 days to assemble a team and resources to head off to the mission.
The terrain was so treacherous that porters had to keep leaving ration behind to decrease the amount of weight they were carrying. When they ran out of food, they ate rat meat.
A plane carrying supplies for the team crashed. When Bull heard the news he set off to the site without hesitation. 9 patrol teams had failed to find the crash site but Bull knew where to look. Not only did he find the wreckage he gave every victim the last rites and brought their ashes back.
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While commanding at HAWS, Gulmarg he came across a map that showed the entire Kumaon Range including Siachen part of Pakistan territory. The map was made in US and was in the hands of his German explorer friend. This got him all riled up. He immediately took the map to his commander and a 'reconnaissance' / 'training' mission was commissioned.
To not get detected by radars, the soldiers trekked on foot. They scaled upto 7462m to Tekam Kangri, one of the highest points in Siachen.
"On the way they found cigarette butts, japanese film rolls, things that made it obvious that there was more than the Pakistan army in the glacier". The Pakistan government had been authorising foreign expeditions in the region, a way of laying formal claim to all of Siachen.
According to Bull, the Army Headquarters was slow to respond. He almost quit. But then he got the green light.
In 1981, when Bull was 48 years young he headed back to Siachen. This time to map the entire Glacier. Thousands of kilometers. This mapping is what gave the then Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi the confidence to launch Operation Meghdoot and seize control of Siachen Glacier.
According to his daughter-in-law, Bull's proudest moment came when he was awarded the Mcgregor Medal in 2010. A recognition of his contribution to the country by all three Chiefs of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
Bull secured Siachen for India without shedding a drop of blood.
I wish I had found out about him earlier to touch his feet and seek his blessings. He left us on 31st December 2020.
Jai Hind.
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This article is part of a series on Indian Army's adventurous history. Read previous articles here:
Indian Army's Affair With The Majestic Mountains
