By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 14 Nov: The proud history and heritage of Bengal Sappers dates back to 1803, when Captain T Wood raised the Corps of Bengal Sappers at Kanpur to provide parties for breaching of forts and scaling walls for the Bengal Presidency. Since its raising, the Bengal Sappers have participated in various military operations earning more than 80 Battle Honours, 11 Theatre Honours, 117 Indian Orders of Merit, 11 Victoria Crosses, 65 Military Crosses, 1 Padma Bhushan, 22 Param Vishisht Medals, 4 Kirti Chakras, 2 Padma Shris, 45 Ati Vishisht Medals, 3 Vir Chakras, 21 Shaurya Chakras, 5 Yudh Sewa Medals, 121 Sena Medals, 99 Vishisht Seva Medals, 11 Arjuna Awards and many other honours and awards.
The Bengal Sappers have been in action in all the operations after independence from the Jammu and Kashmir operations in 1948 to OP PRAKARAM. Among the many notable achievements are the construction of an airfield at Daulat Beg Oldi at an altitude of 17,300 feet in 1962, the Hajipir Road during the 1965 operations, the Madhumati Bridge in 1971 war and the engineering support for the nuclear test at Pokhran in 1998. The 1384 feet Madhumati bridge constructed by the Bengal Sappers was the longest bridge built by Sappers anywhere after the second world war.
On 6 November 1953, Major General Sir Harold William, Col Commandant Bengal Sappers, laid the foundation stone of the Pavilion. Precisely 6 years later, on the 156th raising day of Bengal Sappers, Major Gen Sir Harold William inaugurated this pavilion. Since then, the pavilion has produced prominent sportsmen for Bengal Sappers.
In recognition of the rich history in service to the Nation, R Venkataraman, then President of India, presented the Bengal Engineer Group Regimental Colours at Roorkee on 12 January, 1989. Since then, the Regimental colours occupies its unique and important place of pride during the ceremonial Group Day parades.
The spirited Ex-Serviceman contingent of the Bengal Sappers marches symbolising the motto ‘Forever We Serve’.
Heritage of BEG and Centre Roorkee
- Faujeshwar Nath Temple.
This temple has a historical and sentimental attachment for the Bengal Sappers as it commemorates the shifting of the Regimental Headquarters from Ludhiana to Roorkee in 1853. The temple was constructed in 1853. In 1895, an image of Lord Shiva-Sarvagya was installed and a small mandir constructed at the site in 1952. Its present form took shape between July-November 1969 and renovation was carried out into 2002. The evening bells waft sweet sound from this holy spot to this day.
- War Memorial of Bengal Sappers
This is a rare piece of Oriental Islamic architecture. Since the original idea came from Afghanistan, the tower has an onion shaped dome on top, similar to those seen in other Islamic towers of the Mughal period in India. The lower part of the tower has a shape similar to the Ghazni Tower with an octagonal, pyramid section, while the upper portion has tapering cylindrical shape. The tower is made of rich sandstone on which the engraving in black letters stands out handsomely. The War Memorial was constructed in 1907.
This year, Bengal Sappers celebrated the 221th Group Day and 55th Reunion which was organised under the aegis of Brig Rajesh Bhat, Commandant, Bengal Engineer Group and Centre Roorkee (BEG and Centre), where many dignitaries participated. BRO Chief Lt General Raghu Srinivasan, Colonel Commandant, Bengal Sappers, was the Chief Guest. Other participants included Major General Vinayak Saini and all COs & OCs of Regiments along with Doon Valley’s Lt General MC Badhani (Retd), Lt General Vijay Sharma (Retd), Brig KG Behl (Retd), Col BM Thapa (Retd) and many others.
The BRO Chief and Commandant, Bengal Engineer Group and Centre, released books on the Bhagavad Gita, Subhash Chandra Bose and ‘Glimpses from Survey of India’, all written by Brigadier KG Behl, as also a detailed directory of Central Government, UK Government officials and fraternity of Ex- Servicemen of Doon Valley by Col BM Thapa. All functions were celebrated from 4 to 8 November as per the great past traditions of Bengal Sappers.
Main functions were wreath laying by the Chief Guest, Band Symphony, (the Jazz Band was raised by Col BM Thapa in 1982 when he was posted in BEG and Centre Roorkee), and a conference of the All India Ex-Servicemen Executive Committee of Bengal Sapper Officers’ Association and other events.
Caption: At the release of books (L to R) BRO Chief Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, Brig KG Behl, Lt Col BM Thapa, Maj Gen Vinayak Saini and Brig Rajesh Bhat.
