Lizards And Lassi

Though they train almost throughout the day, the commandos of 10 Para (Special Forces) do have their moments of fun

If Guruji can do it, so can we.” That is the faith the commandos of the 10 Para (Special Forces) have in Subedar Major Prakash Narayan Ganguly. The 54 year old is the priest of the temple at the unit’s headquarters in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and a commando who can jump out of aircraft at 2,000 feet.

Every evening, he performs aarti at the temple, reads out scriptures and sings bhajans to the commandos who come to him after operations. “In this country, so many people don’t have work. So every day, I thank God that he has not only given all of us work, but also a chance to serve our nation,” he said.

Born in a religious family in the small town of Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, Ganguly always loved the Army. “I had an inclination towards religion and when I joined the Special Forces, I saw the confluence of faith and victory. I realised that it is belief and self-confidence that can make you win wars. Praying to God increases that self-confidence,” he said.

Though he is the keeper of faith in the unit, Ganguly has also become the goto person for commandos with personal problems. “When people have a family crisis, leave issues, or problems with their girlfriends, they come to me for advice,” he said. “I give them advice on how to approach their problems and, when they leave, they leave their stress behind.” Ganguly also spends hours with the families of martyrs who visit the headquarters.

Faith plays a crucial role at the headquarters of the unit, which is also called the ‘Home of the Quiet Professionals’. Suryadeep, an SF commando sitting at the temple altar, said Goddess Durga showed them the way when they faced a tough situation. “When there is darkness all around me and I don’t know what is going to happen, Durga takes over the mission and completes it,” he said.