Air Marshal Cariappa, Pak POW in 1965, cheers release of pilot
Lawrence Milton | TNN | Mar 1, 2019, 08:48 IST
WAR HERO: Air Marshal (retd) KC CariappaMYSURU: Air Marshal (retd) KC Cariappa, son of Field Marshal KM Cariappa, the first commander-in-chief of the Indian Army, has expressed joy at Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s announcement that Pakistan would release wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman on Friday.
Recalling the four months he spent as a prisoner of war during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965, Cariappa on Thursday recalled the fear of the unknown that occupied every waking hour after his aircraft was shot down and Pakistani troops captured him.
“As a prisoner of war, I had no access to information,” he said. “We had no outside news, no updates about the war — whether it was still in progress or had ended, we had no clue.”
“I was flying at high speed when I was shot down on the last day of the war. I ejected at low height and landed directly amidst Pakistani army personnel,” he said.
“I was in solitary confinement for few weeks. The moment I was put with other prisoners — six others from the IAF and 51 from Indian Army — my morale improved. The war was underway and both the countries were signatories to the Geneva Convention. There was a hope that we would be repatriated but were unaware when that would take place.”
“I don’t think any of the 58 prisoners were badly treated by the Pakistani army,” said Cariappa, who was in his late 20s at the time. “We were interrogated for information but we were not tortured. It was up to each prisoner to decide how firm and strong he had to stay during the questioning.”
“I felt saddened for Abhinandan’s family and his colleagues when learnt that he had been captured,” he said.
‘Thank God there was no social media then’
“Thank God there was no social media in our time,” Cariappa said. “Social media can be damaging and defeating for the morale of family members of war prisoners.”
“It is saddening to see netizens uploading photos of wing commander Abhinandan being beaten up and blood oozing from his face,” he said. “Imagine how his family and parents must have felt and their pain.”
”Social media is insensitive to the situation. There is too much talk but little knowledge. It is full of rumours and gossip. Abhinandan himself refused to reveal personal details to queries by Pakistani army personnel, but netizens disclosed his identity and his family’s address. People should have some sense of responsibility,” Cariappa said.
Recalling the four months he spent as a prisoner of war during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965, Cariappa on Thursday recalled the fear of the unknown that occupied every waking hour after his aircraft was shot down and Pakistani troops captured him.
“As a prisoner of war, I had no access to information,” he said. “We had no outside news, no updates about the war — whether it was still in progress or had ended, we had no clue.”
“I was flying at high speed when I was shot down on the last day of the war. I ejected at low height and landed directly amidst Pakistani army personnel,” he said.
“I was in solitary confinement for few weeks. The moment I was put with other prisoners — six others from the IAF and 51 from Indian Army — my morale improved. The war was underway and both the countries were signatories to the Geneva Convention. There was a hope that we would be repatriated but were unaware when that would take place.”
“I don’t think any of the 58 prisoners were badly treated by the Pakistani army,” said Cariappa, who was in his late 20s at the time. “We were interrogated for information but we were not tortured. It was up to each prisoner to decide how firm and strong he had to stay during the questioning.”
“I felt saddened for Abhinandan’s family and his colleagues when learnt that he had been captured,” he said.
‘Thank God there was no social media then’
“Thank God there was no social media in our time,” Cariappa said. “Social media can be damaging and defeating for the morale of family members of war prisoners.”
“It is saddening to see netizens uploading photos of wing commander Abhinandan being beaten up and blood oozing from his face,” he said. “Imagine how his family and parents must have felt and their pain.”
”Social media is insensitive to the situation. There is too much talk but little knowledge. It is full of rumours and gossip. Abhinandan himself refused to reveal personal details to queries by Pakistani army personnel, but netizens disclosed his identity and his family’s address. People should have some sense of responsibility,” Cariappa said.
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