The brave soldier championed every odd that came his way to serve the nation with impeccable work ethics. Neither physical handicap nor threat from across the border could waver his passion to serve the nation
They say once a soldier, always a soldier. As a soldier Naik Jairam Singh fought enemies on the border and now after retirement like a true soldier he is waging a lone battle against illegal mining mafia in his area.
The recipient of Vir Chakra, the third highest war time gallantry award, Naik Jairam has taken the illegal mining mafia head-on.
A native of Dabla village of Neem Ka Thana tehsil of Sikar district, Naik Jairam as a panchayat samiti member from Patan Panchayat Samiti, who suffered 40 percent disability during the Kargil war, says that the fight against mining mafia is nothing compared to battles he has fought as a soldier.
Talking about the Kargil war, Naik Jairam, who was then rifleman with the 2 Rajputana Rifles, says he was part of the unit that successfully captured the Tololing hill. However, he could not celebrate the victory as his unit lost many soldiers. But just when Naik Jairam thought it was end of the war, his platoon was given another task.
“We had just about recouped from the previous attack when my platoon was tasked to recapture a post called Lone Hill in Drass from the Pakistanis but this attack was different from the last one. We had to infiltrate 4-5km behind the enemy and attack from the rear. Samne se attack possible hi nahin thha (A frontal attack was impossible),” says Naik Jairam. Commonly known as the attack by infiltration – where loss of surprise becomes synonymous with loss of life - the platoon managed to reach without being detected by the enemy.
The final climb was steep, the path was narrow, there were six or seven persons including the platoon commander Lieutenant Kengurasy, ahead of Rifleman Jairam. They were only a couple of yards short of the objective when they got detected. The enemy opened very heavy fire.
“A moment ago, I was thinking that the people ahead of me would finish the job and the very next moment I was the leader. Every one ahead of me, including my Platoon Commander Lt Kengurasy, were killed. It then dawned upon me that the outcome of this operation was dependent on me. I took cover and brought down aimed effective fire. The entire enemy was eliminated. Our boys did not even give them a chance to escape.”
After final capture, the post was handed over to fresh troops following in the wake and his party, remnant of it, walked back. Closer to the base, his knees buckled. Another colleague helped him walk to the nearest medical aid point where the doctor told him that he was shot and the bullet had gone through and through. “Till then I had no idea that I was shot. There was blood but I did not realise it was my own blood. I was covered in blood of my colleagues in any case.”
He was then evacuated and he slowly healed. The gun shot left him 40 percent disabled. His bravery was recognised by award of Vir Chakra. When asked what played up on his mind at that time, he says, “I have seen my brothers-in-arm laying down their lives for the country --- I am lucky to be alive and grateful to the Army and the Nation for honouring me with Vir Chakra. I have seen big wars — these small battles do not bother me.”
Once A Soldier, Always A Soldier
A native of Dabla village of Neem Ka Thana tehsil of Sikar district, Naik Jairam suffered 40 per cent disability during the Kargil War. He has taken the illegal mining mafia head-on, but believes that the fight against them is nothing compared to battles he has fought as a soldier.
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 "Naik Jairam Singh")
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