Write up by Ash
We had joined Fox together and went to Echo in our third term. I returned to Fox thereafter but Echo claimed ownership on him. He did brilliantly there and was the CSM of the Sqn while passing out.
In IMA, when I joined, I found Ram Bhaj yet again adorning the wrist band of being the CSM of Zojila company. When you are an appointment in IMA, the power of terror that comes with that, is not confined to the junior course only and is often used to even keep own course mates in line. Ram Bhaj was a soldier to the core and made sure that discipline wouldn’t ever be diluted in execution and was agnostic to any softness – and yet in that strict disciplinarian, I discovered a gentleness that was layered below that tough exterior. Ram Bhaj went on to be commissioned in to the elite 18 Cavalry, a Regiment whose distinction is well known to all. I followed a term later in to the same “Black Beret” community and the association that had commenced in January 1976 would continue on the same highway.
The passing out NDA journal catches the elementals of the no-nonsense person that Ram Bhaj was – “Bull headed Jat from Texas who murdered English every day and got away with it. Believed in the doctrine of shooting first and asking questions later. Academy Athletics Captain.”
And in the last sentence is displayed that complete sportsman that Ram Bhaj was – a lean and mean boxer, a runner with undiminished stamina, a person who could get on to any sports field with a familiarity that comes to the very few.
“The Emperor of all Maladies” written by Siddhartha Mukherjee is a book that has been written yet again by an Indo American, a seminal work on the dreadfulness of cancer. And that was what that came and claim, in his full prime, Ram Bhaj from all of us.
Krishna Suhag now lives in Gurgaon, and is a member of our Association. I admit that I don’t have the complete details of the children, which will be addressed very soon, but I do know that Krishna was in Canada with one and will be with the other at Singapore in the coming December and January.
Penned with memories a somewhat smaller account which will have more recollections going ahead.
🙏 May his soul rest in peace 🙏
Rambhaj Suhag was all that was said about him above when I joined 18Cav in Khasa near Attari border as oic 12 ARI looking after their Repair requirements.
His troops loved Suhag.
May god give his soul the peace he deserves.