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K. Ram Kumar

Mumbai, Nov. 30 The appreciation and awe was writ all over their faces. From kids, to teenage girls, to middle-aged men and women who flocked to the Gateway of India to catch a piece of the anti-terrorist action at the Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, were all besotted by the real life Commandos and Rambos — commandos from the National Security Guards (better known as Black Cats) and the Navy (Marine Commandos, better known as Marcos) as well as the well-armed Grenadiers of the Indian Army.

The macho image of the commando has been romanticised in Hollywood movies such as Commando (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and the First Blood (Sylvester Stallone) and in Bollywood by Prahaar (Nana Patekar).

On seeing the fierce-looking Black Cats, a bunch of giggling teenaged girls fished out their mobile phone cameras from their handbags and requested their friends to take a picture of them in the company of the commandos.

In all probability, they’ll save the picture for posterity.

Many parents brought their children along to the scene of action, showing the impressionable minds what battle-hardened soldiers looks like.

The presence of soldiers, in battle-fatigues, and armed to the teeth would no doubt inspire the young minds to take up a career in the defence.

Onlookers at the site chatted up the commandos and the Grenadiers about their latest “encounter” with the terrorists. The daredevilry of the valiant soldiers received encomiums from one and all.

Most of the soldiers assigned the task of flushing out terrorists at the Taj were veterans in dealing with terrorists, having served in Jammu & Kashmir.

Well, what better way to describe a commando than the words of the former Director General of the National Security Guards, Mr Nikhil Kumar, who once said:

“It (Black Cat) goes, strikes, achieves and quietly comes back, just like the mythological chakra which would behead the demons and return to the finger of Lord Krishna.”

More Stories on : Terrorism | Terrorism | Maharashtra

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