A TRIBUTE TO LATE, LT GEN NEEL RATTAN KHANNA, PVSM
Lt Gen Neel Rattan Khanna, one of the original resident of Ram Vihar (d-615) left for his heavenly abode on the 19th November 2021, after a brief hospitalisation of 6 days in Kailash Hospital. He has been the elderly figure of the residents, much concerned about every one and liked by all.
CHAUTHA AND UTHIALA CEREMONY.
1. The prayer meeting for the departed soul was held in the Arya Samaj Mandir in Sector-29 on the 4th day on the 22 Nov and was attended by large number of of near and dear ones of Gen Khanna.
His son Mr Ambreesh was also there who had come from USA two days before Gen Khanna expired .
VIDEO RECORDING. Please open the following link to watch the complete video recording of the prayers :-
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LINK - https://youtu.be/D8poy41Vuq8
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| OBITUARY PUBLISHED IN TIMES OF INDIA |
Gen. Khanna was very fond of playing golf in the morning and bridge
after lunch. This was a regular feature before the corona and the lockdown series
set in. We would see Gen. Khanna rushing towards his car early morning, aptly
dressed in white and wearing his golf cap. We would be having our morning walks
and from distance he would wish us.
Many times I saw Gen Khanna playing Sudoku in ECHS while waiting to see
the Dr. I am also very fond of Sudoku. I learnt how not to get bored while
waiting and utilize my time profitably.
Myself and my husband along with Gen and Mrs. Khanna had the same slot,
so we took the Covishield vaccination together. There also, there used to be
some waiting time. Gen Khanna recited verses from our ‘Holy Book Gita’. I was
surprised to hear and was impressed with his photographic memory. He would
recite Hanuman Chalisa and say his prayers without disturbance and then have
his breakfast.
It is a very tragic moment. Good people are wanted here on this earth as
well as above, in the heaven. God takes away those he loves the most and we are
left with no choice.
Mrs. Khanna please don’t think you are alone. We are always with you and
shall always be with you. You are like our elder sister. Children are far away,
but your neighbours, friends and relatives are always with you.
In the end a humble request to all. Please join your hands and close
your eyes while I narrate a short prayer.
Dear Lord, Father of all, we pray to you for Gen. Khanna, whom we love
so much but see no longer. Gen Khanna is always in our heart though physically
he may not be amongst us. Dear Lord, grant Gen. Khanna’s soul eternal rest, peace
and happiness.
May God be with Amreesh, Deepa, Divya, Meera, Bela and Karan. Amen.
2. A TRIBUTE TO GEN KHANNA - BY BRIG NK DHAND
It was way back in 1996-97
that a Sapper Officer by the name which
I may recall Col Bedi, walked into my office
at HQ M&G Area Bombay, to
seek help for Engineers Sailing Expedition, which was to boat through the
Indian Ocean and Arabian Aea and landing
at Gateway of India.
The class of Army Communication Equipment
with the Indian Army at that point in time and the logistics so involved were
way off in supporting the expedition. The only way I could suggest was to hire costly
help from the only International Satellite Communicator, M/S Intelsat.
To
my utter surprise, I received a call from none other than the E in C himself in
the evening. The very first word he spoke was Hello Narinder I am Gen Khanna,
hope I have not disturbed you, we have not known each other but can I take this
liberty of calling you Nindi. His
affectionate voice, the mannerism in addressing a two ranks junior officer carried
some special vibes and bonding force instantly winning me over. He continued, “I know that this is not part of
your charter, but we would depend on you for comns with the sailing boat, the
way the way you think could be made possible irrespective of the Finances. There
was something very special and extra ordinary in General that made me accept
this herculean task on my own-self.
We managed to get a satellite set for the
boat with adequate batteries and a solar charger from M/S Intelsat International,
the only organisation running the civil satellite communications services in
the world at that time.
The expedition was a great success, I met Gen
Khanna first time during the Welcoming Ceremony of the expedition held at
Gateway of India Bombay with much fanfare, where he hugged me in public with
such brotherly affection, as if, we had some thing among us from our previous
Janama.
It was divine blessing to learn that post
retirement we would be just one meter away from each other in Ram Vihar. We
have been living as such for the last 21 years. The greatness in General has fostered
family bondage. He has been a great Elder not only to us in the family but also
for entire Ram Vihar.
It will take me hours to describe this
noble soul in addition to what has already been mentioned. I shall finish here
by fondly saluting the greatness in him with these words with my heavy heart,
that by his going it’s been a personal loss for myself leaving a deep VOID in
my life.
We will miss you SIR forever and will always
feel your presence near us.
God bless you sir in your heavenly abode.
I met Gen Neel Rattan Khanna first time in November 1971. He was our Brigade
Major of the Infantry Brigade. Some time 18-19 November 1971 after the operational briefing on the Battle of Garibpur, he called some of the officers to his
office. Late Major Narang, MVC, Capt Harbans Sehgal- senor FOO, Infantry
company commander and me. After the final briefing, he asked me, (I had less
than 3 years of service) Kya shoot le le ga, Yes Sir, moka milna chahiya. He launched us
before first light. The battle of Garibpur led to capture of Jessore and the
back of Pakistan Army was broken. Major Narang, was awarded MVC. Thereafter, in
the fog of war and in service we did not meet.
I met him next, some time in June/ July 2002. I was coming
down the lift in 'D' block in Ram Vihar. We were three of us Major Rai, Gen
Khanna and self. After we reached the ground floor, I asked Major Rai, bhai ye
kaun hain?. He said he is Gen Khanna, retired as Engineer in Chief, per banda
bahut changa hai. Now how do I qualify this. He was such a noble, down to
earth and very caring person. I shall give a few examples.
1.
We have a common friend Col Choudhary, then
living in Ram Vihar, B block. Mrs Choudhry had gas failure and she came to our
flat to take a filled cylinder. Nishi, my wife, and Mrs Chaudhary dragged the
cylinder to the lift. She went down and was looking for help on opening of the
lift door. Whom did she find?. This gentleman. He assisted her in moving the filled
cylinder to B block. Half way down, they got some help. If any one of us was
there he would have called for help and said KOI HAI.
2.
This year in March/ April Nishi and me were down
with COVID. For three weeks he prayed for us. At number of occasion, he would
recite the paragraphs from Gutka, on his mobile phone. This can only be done by
Gen Neel Khanna.
3.
I was in the managing committee of Ram Vihar EC.
There was a minor increment given to the staff in our yearly AGM. He would come
next day to the office and ask me to increase a bit more. He would say, Do
hazar men kya banta hai.
He cared for each one of us in Ram Vihar, be it residents,
domestic help or the support staff of Ram Vihar.
He was a very noble and a very caring person. Look at the
way and on what date he left us.
Brig Atray and self-moved him to hospital on 13 November. In
spite of being unwell he told Nishi, my wife to be with Veena. Mrs Maini aap
upper jao, Veena akhlei hai.
He chose to leave us on 19 November. 19 November was the
celebrations of Gurpurab, birthday of Guru Nanak. He decided to join his Guru
on this auspicious day
Mrs Khanna, we were with you, we are with you, and we shall
remain with you for ever. Just dial 514.
PUBLICATION IN AVIATION- DEFENCE WEB JOURNAL
FORMER E IN C LT GEN NR KHANNA IS NO MORE
https://www.aviation-defence-universe.com/former-e-in-c-lieutenant-general-nr-khanna-pvsm-retd-is-no-more/
Former E-in-C Lieutenant General NR Khanna ,PVSM. (Retd.) is no more
Hits 17,813
- Indian Army loses a great commander & the Corps of Engineers a leader
- ADU mourns the loss of it’s advisor
By Sangeeta Saxen
Lieutenant General NR Khanna ,PVSM.(Retd.)
New Delhi. 19 November 2021. Sad day for Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army as it looses it’s very popular and extremely respected former Engineer-in-Chief, Lt. General Neel Rattan Khanna, PVSM (Retd) to destiny. As the Corps was celebrating it’s raising day yesterday General Khanna was admitted post a sudden deterioration in health.
For us at Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU) it was a personal loss as he was our first advisor to enter the board and gave his blessings whole heartedly to a venture started by a Sapper Officer’s wife.
He was commissioned into the Indian Army in June 1958 and retired in January 1997 as Engineer-in-Chief of the Army. In this appointment he was responsible for combat engineer support to the Indian Army and was also Head of the Military Engineering Service which caters for all construction works for Army, Navy, Airforce and other organisations under the Ministry of Defence.
General Khanna was an alumni of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and Institute of Defence Managment. His qualifications included MSc (Defence Studies) and Fellow of the Intitution of Engineers which is equivalent to Master of Engineering. He was also a Fellow of the Indian council of arbitrators, Fellow of the Indian council of surveyors and member of the Panel of Arbitrators for FICCI. He was also member of the Senate of IIT Rookree from 1998 to 2000.
During his tenure General Khanna held various staff and instructional appointments such as instructor in College of Combat, Cheif Engineer of Border Roads Organisation and major general in charge of operational logistics of an army command. He was awarded the Param Vishist Sewa Medal in 1996.
After his retirement, General Khanna worked as an Arbitrator for National Highway Authority of India and New Dehli Muncipal Council .
God bless the departed soul with eternal peace. ADU stands with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.
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ईश्वर उनकी नेक और पवित्र आत्मा को उनके स्वर्गीय निवास में शांति प्रदान करें
Brig Narinder Dhand,
Founder & Convener
Veteran's Web Portals.
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ReplyDeleteREST IN PEACE GENERAL, WE MISS YOU SIR
THE VOID SO CREATED IS SADDENING AND PAINFUL,
BRIG NARINDER DHAND (D-616)
This tribute is very touching and as his son, I’m so proud that he made good friends like all of you. And I can rest assured that mom has all the support she needs.
ReplyDeleteVery well compiled proceedings of our loving & reverred General' sudden demise .Thank you NAtinder .God bless you .
ReplyDeleteNarinder
ReplyDeleteRIP Gen Khanna.
ReplyDeleteRIP Gen Khanna
ReplyDeleteCol Malwinder Singh Guron
When I heard the news of the untimely demise of our dear General Neel Khanna, I was taken by a deep sense of shock and disbelief that our mentor in Ram Vihar was no more. It was a double shock for me because it was the same day that I lost a very close relative and was deeply involved with the rituals which also kept me away from the Chautha ceremony which I was so keen to attend and pay my respects.
ReplyDeleteGen Khanna was a man of great stature among us all in Ram Vihar.Inspired by a profound commitment for the continued association among us all and with a sense of altruism and deep rooted pragmatism, he led a life unlike any other. Walking between family traditions and affection for his roots, Gen Khanna was a man of mettle, grit and determination, with a vision to transforming the lives of many.
He continued to fill the schism between the twain during the pivotal period when he gave everything he had to get all all in Ram Vihar as one family together in the twilight years of our life.He guided us during this metamorphic stage by practicing values of humanity.He has been greatly instrumental in inculcating a deep bond of friendship and association in all of us. As Sectetary of Ram Vihar Association, when he was the mentor and being so close he always made me feel distinguished. What now remains eternal are fond memories and good feelings.Those who knew him will always be touched by his graciousness and outlook in life as a humane and benevolent person
Though his presence amongst us will be deeply missed, we draw some comfort in the realization that the wayfarer is finally bound for his true abode in Heaven. His eventful, Courageous, fulfilling and inspiring life will forever remain- an unforgettable story.It is a heart breaking loss of a dynamic soldier, but we pray to the Gods to bless his soul with peace in its heavenly abode and provide courage and sustenance to his family in his absence.
May he rest in peace
Col RK Dargan
B-508