Tribute to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan on his birthday

Today is ‘Ides of March’ ~  a day on the Roman calendar that corresponds to March 15.  In the original Roman calendar, March was the first month of the year.

I am not a votary of celebrating Birthdays of people who have died… but today, perhaps we can recall the heroic deed and martyrdom of a great person, on what would have been his 36th birth day -~ yes he died young……. But has done enough for the country. 

On this day in 1977 was born Sandeep Unnikrishnan who rose to become a Major in the Indian Army serving in the elite Special Action Group of the National Security Guards (NSG).  The wounds of Bombay carnage is slowly dying off for rest of the Nation [would ever remain a scar for the Nationalists and those who have had personal loss] – the valiant Major gave his life fighting  terrorists in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.

His bravery was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peace time gallantry award, on 26 January 2009. “Do not come up, I will handle them”, were the last words which Major Unnikrishnan told his men as he was hit by bullets while engaging terrorists inside the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower during Operation Black Tornado, according to NSG officials.

It would remain the carnage, the coordinated shooting not only killing 173 Indians but causing irreparable damage to  the Indian economy and psyche in its trail. The investigations revealed that the attackers had travelled by sea from Karachi, Pakistan across the Arabian Sea, hijacked the Indian fishing trawler 'Kuber', killing the crew, and then entered Mumbai on a rubber dinghy. Due to the sacrifice of Omble, a terrorist was captured alive, but for which many would have floated different theories and versions of the incident.  There were many heroes who sacrified their life. Hemant Karkare to many other police men.

We may never be able to console or offer the right compensation to the father of the Major – but it is our duty to eternally remember the great martyrs of the Army, whom Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan represents.

Long live the heroes

Now, the Ides of March is  marked by several religious observances, and is notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE.  In the year 44BC, on this day, Julius Caesar, dictator of the Roman Republic, was stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus, Decimus Junius Brutus and several other Roman senators.  Many are experiencing stabbing from the back, though may not be fatal but more brutal !!

The Roman King, Caesar is credited with many things; he played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. He  extended Rome's territory to the English Channel and the Rhine. Caesar became the first Roman general to cross both when he built a bridge across the Rhine and conducted the first invasion of Britain.  An invader of a country that invaded us – would that give us some poetic pleasure !!!

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

15th Mar 2013.