Lt Gen Raj Sujlana (Retd)

What a life! Marked as it was with perseverance, dedication, positivity, a smile fixed at all times, this and much more was Col Subhash Bali during his nearly four decades of life in the Army. Young in mind and heart (despite a bypass surgery), his golf swing was one to envy, and a friendly round with him was preferred rather than a challenge.

Determined to be an Army officer, he joined the ranks in the technical cadre, soon to be commissioned as a Specialist List Officer. His short stint with 2 Sikh fructified into a life-long love for the Sikh Regiment. I once told him, ‘Sir, to me you are half-Mohyal and half-Sikh.” No, he replied, “I must correct you, more Sikh, less Mohyal!”

On joining 9 Sikh in Jammu and Kashmir, Captain Bali was the first officer I met, his welcoming smile putting me at ease. Little did I know that this association would continue for five decades. He was our unit Quarter Master; I dare say, I haven’t come across someone more diligent than him in this department. Administration was his forte, and we experienced his appreciable traits during the 1971 war.

Subhash Bali served in different units of the Army but given an option, he returned to the Sikh Regiment. For his last posting, as a Colonel, he was back at the Sikh Regimental Centre (SRC) at Ramgarh in Jharkhand and decided to spend his twilight years at Meerut. The reason was not difficult to guess. Soon after superannuation, he volunteered to take care of the Sikh Regiment Heritage Gurdwara at Meerut, the erstwhile location of the SRC.

I was privileged to accept his offer and reached Meerut to discuss the matter, and there he was with his trademark smile, “Welcome Sir!” I requested him not to ‘Sir’ me, I was years junior in seniority and age, but the soldier and gentleman replied, “Sir, Army protocol cannot be forgotten, you are a General and the seniormost serving officer of our regiment, I would be embarrassed to call you by your name, Sir!” My pleadings failed and we spent over a decade ‘Siring’ each other.

His ‘seva’ and devotion to the regimental gurdwara had a missionary zeal attached; after the initial financial help, it was just his conscientiousness that made the difference. As General Khorana remarked, “He earned the iconic respect of all.” The gurdwara regained its glory, the marble façade glittered, fans, ACs were installed, there was a carpeted floor, two new structures for ‘langar’ and other needs were added. Religious functions became regular, the sangat came in large numbers. The gurdwara became a part of him, a daily pilgrimage. The day started and ended by paying obeisance there.

During our last conversation, he energetically spoke of how he was organising the Baisakhi Day function amid the pandemic. That was to be our last conversation. His normal feedback never came, and soon thereafter, Col Bali’s innings ended after 87 wonderful years. This time, the Colonel would not stick to his protocol.

Rest in peace, Sir!