Patna: Bihar Regiment Centre (BRC) marked the 44th foundation day of its 21st battalion at a function held on its ground in Danapur cantonment near Patna on Sunday. The 21st battalion of the Bihar Regiment was raised on July 20, 1981, under Lt Col. Mohd Mansoor Mallick. From its inception, the battalion bore the motto ‘karam hi dharma hai’ (duty is our religion), a creed it upheld across decades of challenging service, said BRC commandant Brig Kamal Deep Jaspal. The foundation day event began with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the BRC war memorial by Brigadier Jaspal. Several retired officers and serving soldiers of the battalion had gathered to pay rich tributes to the martyrs. Brig Jaspal, while addressing the gathering, recalling the battalion’s distinguished service record. “From the cold heights of Himachal to the hostile terrains of Uri, the 21st battalion has carried the flag of the Bihar Regiment high. Their resilience, valour and loyalty to the nation are an inspiration to every soldier,” he said. The journey of the 21st battalion has been storied since its early years — from 1982 to 1985, it was in the mountainous terrains of Himachal Pradesh, honing skills and building camaraderie that would become the bedrock of its operational success. In 1990 during the height of insurgency in the northern theatre, the battalion was deployed for Operation Bajrang, a mission that required not just firepower but strategic restraint and deep engagement with local population. Their success earned widespread acclaim, the BRC commandant said. In addition the battalion’s most intense years came during Operation Rakshak in Uri from 1999 to 2003, a volatile period marked by frequent encounters, infiltration attempts and extreme weather conditions. Yet the bravehearts of the 21st battalion never faltered, and neutralised numerous threats working closely with intelligence units to dismantle insurgent networks, the BRC officer said, adding in Sept 2014 they were once again called during Operation Alert, a high-stakes mission involving counter-insurgency and civil assistance during flood and internal disturbances.
