Ravi Datt Mehta
 |
Ravi Datt Mehta | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. July 1954 – c. July 1955 |
| Died | (aged 53)[1] Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Service/ | Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1976–2008 |
Brigadier Ravi Datt Mehta (1954 / 1955 – 7 July 2008) was a brigadier in the Indian Army. He died in the suicide bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul while serving as India's Defence Attaché to Afghanistan on 7 July 2008.[2]
Early life and military career
[edit]The Indian Express states that he was a math wizard in his younger days.[3] He joined the Indian Army in 1976 and went on to become a highly rated officer.[4] His selection as defence attaché in Kabul is said to have followed an intensive screening process that shortlists the candidate pool to unofficially the "top three" officers of the Indian Army, prior to making the final selection for the job.[5]
He had proficiency in many languages, including Pashto, Mandarin and Tibetan.[6] His work as defence attaché in Kabul was praised in both Indian media and Pakistani media.[7] In the words of a columnist for Dawn, he was: "an affable defence attaché who was popular with Indian expatriates and local Afghans alike."[8][better source needed]
It is speculated that he was targeted, allegedly by the Taliban and its state-run de facto intelligence service, Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI),[9] due to his close monitoring of the re-established links between those two organizations, and due to his significant role in training the Afghan army.[2] He was said to have a "good relationship" with Afghan defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak. Brig. Mehta had earlier also served as the head of the Indian Army's Intelligence Corps in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Legacy and honours
[edit]A road in his hometown Shimla near his childhood home was posthumously renamed in his honour.[10] He was also slated to be posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra,[11][needs update] India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award. His funeral was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Suresh Mehta and Chief of the Air Staff Fali Homi Major.[12][citation needed]
Brigadier Mehta's wife was also working in Afghanistan for empowerment of women during his stay there. Brigadier Mehta has a son who was then serving in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Sengupta, Ananya (8 July 2008). "Families weep, refuse to crumble". The Telegraph. Kolkata. Archived from the original on 16 July 2008.
He smiled each time he remembered ... his 53-year-old father.
- ^ a b Pandit, Rajat (8 July 2008). "Brigadier targeted for role in training Afghan army". The Times of India. Times News Network. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
- ^ Verma, Hemlata (9 July 2008). "Shock would have been lesser had Ravi died saving his country". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 13 July 2008.
Brig Mehta was commissioned into the Indian Army in June 1976 when he was 20 years of age
- ^ Kumaraswami, Sridhar (7 July 2008). "Brig. Mehta martyr in terrorist attack: Army". The Asian Age. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008.
- ^ "Kabul Attack: Brigdier Mehta Cremated". The Times of India. Times News Network. 9 July 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Shimla Link". The Tribune. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Defence Attaches remember Brigadier Mehta in Kabul". NDTV.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Jawed Naqvi. How long will India continue to carry the White Man's burden?. Dawn. 14 July 2008. Karachi.
- ^ Bajoria, Jayshree; Kaplan, Eben (4 May 2011). "The ISI and Terrorism: Behind the Accusations". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ Department of Information & Public Relations (11 July 2008). "Communique" (Press release). Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Kirti Chakra recommended for Kabul blast victims". india-server.com. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011.
- ^ "[meaningless - is blank]". indianewscalling.com.[permanent dead link]