India is a young civilisation. Its history is galore with examples of several people who, at a young age, have given their all to the country, keeping its interests foremost in several fields.
The contribution of marginalised communities is no less, be it the first freedom struggle in 1857 or several wars in India’s history, such as the one in 1971 between India and Pakistan, which remains one of India’s resilient histories. If Tirot Sing did it against the Britishers in the Northeast, Albert Ekka was no less against Pakistan in the 1971 war.
This is not to say India is a war-mongering state, but when it comes to upholding ‘dharma’ (righteousness) and acting in accordance with it, the people have been at the forefront of defending their motherland against any violent and coercive conquests.
The war of 1971 came to be known as a landmark in the history of warfare. In a matter of 12 days, operating over one of the world’s most difficult riverine terrains, the Indian Army brought a formidable Pakistani army to its knees. It took 93,000 Pakistani soldiers as prisoners and gave 75 million tormented people in Bangladesh their independence.
But this article isn’t about warfare or discussing the ways of war. It is about recognising incredible stories about those who fought for their country with grit and determination.
Humble beginnings did not deter them from staying steadfast towards their life mission. Proactive pursuance of passion has ensured they are all examples to emulate in all walks of life. One such tribal hero from the 1971 India-Pakistan war is Albert Ekka.
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The Oraon tradition
Born in today’s Jharkhand on December 27, 1942, Albert Ekka belonged to the Oraon tribal community. He learned the required skills from his community brethren and earned the right to join the Indian Army. The book Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle, written by Ian Cardozo, states that Ekka was adept at tracking and hunting with a bow and arrow. He also liked to play games, and his skills in jungle adventures made him a proven soldier.
In 1962, Ekka joined the Bihar Regiment, which nurtured and helped him to further his dreams. After six years or so with the Bihar regiment, he joined the 14th Battalion of the Brigade of the Guards. During his training for the war, he proved his ability in various activities and sports, such as hockey. He was soon promoted to the rank of Lance Naik.
One of the moving tributes to Ekka is by Col. Sajjad Zahir from Bangladesh, who was part of the liberation war and has also researched the war. He has been awarded the Padma Shri.
“(Ekka) was a man whose sense of duty and courage was unparalleled. He had a kind heart and took great pride in being an Oraon and a soldier; it was something he talked about all the time whenever he visited his family on leave,” he writes.
Ekka took pride in coming from a tribe long known for its people’s valour on battlefields. The Oraon has a glorious tradition of bravery in battles in Rohtasgarh, in the battles of Chota Nagpur against the oppressive Zamindars, and against the British as well. “It was a legacy that Ekka carried with him till his death.”
Zahir further records his experience of visiting Ekka’s home and interacting with his wife and son. He writes, “It was my fortune to be able to visit the home of Param Vir Albert Ekka and pay my respects to his family. Their sacrifice and Ekka’s unflinching sense of ultimate duty will be written in the history of my country’s Independence forever. I am proud to have taken part in the same war with Ekka, and to have fought for the same cause.”
The authors had the good fortune of interacting with Colonel Zahir and have invited him to a national seminar on the India-Pakistan War of 1971 under the aegis of India Foundation.
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Battle of Gangasagar
The name Albert Ekka is synonymous with the Battle of Gangasagar. According to the National War Memorial, Lance Naik Ekka was in the forward support company of 14th Guards in the Indo-Pak War of 1971.
“On 4 December 1971, Ekka noticed an enemy Light Machine Gun (LMG) inflicting heavy casualties on his company. With complete disregard to his personal safety, he charged the enemy bunker, bayoneted two enemy soldiers, and silenced the LMG. Suddenly, another Medium Machine Gun (MMG) opened up from a building. Despite being grievously injured, he crawled forward and lobbed a grenade, killing one soldier. As the MMG continued firing, he displayed the utmost bravery, entered the bunker and silenced the enemy, thereby ensuring the success of the attack.”
The Battle of Gangasagar is recorded as one of the finest battles in Indian military history. It is regarded as an ‘impossible mission’ that saw the Indian soldiers give their best and win the battle in their favour.
As per some further writings on Ekka, in 2012, the Bangladesh government invited Albert’s wife, Balamdina Ekka, to honour them as ‘Friends of Bangladesh.’ She stood at the site where her husband had made his supreme sacrifice.
For his heroics and unwavering bravery at the famous Battle of Gangasagar, Ekka was posthumously awarded India’s highest wartime gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra.
In 2000, on the occasion of 50th Republic Day, the Government of India issued a postal stamp in his memory. Monuments and places are named after him in Jharkhand and Tripura.
Recently, Bangladesh has displayed her soft touch by giving scholarships to Indian students for classes 10 and 12 who are the descendants and family members of Indian soldiers who fought in the 1971 war. Anuj Ekka, Albert’s grandson, was one of its recipients.
Ekka’s wife Balamdina (89) passed away in 2021. In October 2022, India’s first tribal president, Droupadi Murmu, visited and paid tribute at the Albert Ekka War Memorial in Tripura. Schools and colleges in India would do well to take their students on exposure tours to Ekka’s hometown and the memorial in Tripura. This could be an ideal time to reflect on the lessons of this stalwart’s life.
Albert Ekka is an important and singular example of the country’s marginalised communities, who played a vital role in the making of the civilisational nation-state. It is due to the relentless sacrifices of such towering individuals that India is strident in enabling cohesion and fraternity.
At a time when rooted stories like Kantara that call for protecting India’s ethos, be it forests or lands, are echoing among citizens, it is time to recall and remember the story of Ekka, who displayed tremendous bravery with sheer presence of mind, leaving an indelible impact for times to come.
Guru Prakash Paswan is BJP national spokesperson and Sudarshan Ramabadran is an author and researcher currently studying at the University of Southern California. Both are writers of the book Makers of Modern Dalit History. Views are personal.
(Edited by Tarannum Khan)