Major SN Tandon

Maj Surinder Nath Tandon hailed from, Jullunder district (village Shankar, Tehsil Nakodar)in Punjab and was born in Meerut, on 31st Aug 1928.  Son of Shri Balwant Raj Tandon(ICS and Jesus College, Oxford, U.K) and Smt Shakuntala Tandon, Maj Tandon early on studied at Welham Boys School Dehradun. Thereafter he studied at Aitchson College, Lahore, also known as Chiefs College Lahore from October 1940 to  December 1945. Maj SN Tandon left Aitchison College, Lahore after completing his senior Cambridge. He belonged to a very well educated and respected family, his father was as an ICS officer. His brother late Shri Naresh C Tandon studied in Doon School, Dehradun. Maj Tandon joined the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, (3rd batch), in January 1947, and was commissioned into the Central India Horse of the Armoured Corps on 12^th September 1948.

By 1965, Maj Tandon had put in about 17 years of service and had developed into a committed soldier and a fine officer. He had gathered vast experience serving in various operational theatres, both in India and with the UN in Congo, Africa, in challenging work environments. Maj SN Tandan was the B Squadron commander of an armoured regiment, of the Central India Horse, that operated Sherman tanks, which played a significant role in the “Battle of Barki” in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

Battle of Barki: 10/11 Sep 1965

During the 1965 war, Maj Tandon’s Central India Horse was deployed in Ferozepur sector of Punjab, with the aim of securing the East Bank of the Icchogil Canal. It was operating under the command of 7 Infantry Division which also included 48 Infantry Brigade and 65 Infantry Brigade. As part of ongoing operations, 7 Infantry Division had drawn up plans to attack and occupy the town of Barki, which was located astride the Icchogil Canal, a small Pakistani town, 9.5 Km from the International Border, and 24 Kms south-east of Lahore. As per the plan, the attack was to commence on 06 Sep 1965 with 4 Sikh (65 Infantry Brigade) and 6/8 GR (48 Infantry Brigade) crossing the border and occupying Pakistan’s border outposts and holding a safe firm base. After that 48 Infantry Brigade was supposed to clear the area up to Barki.

However, during the actual operations, Maj Tandon’s B Squadron of The Central India Horse had to face a peculiar situation. Halfway to the town of Barki, there was an old drain called Hudiara where a village of the same name was situated. Pre-empting the Indian attack the enemy blew up the key bridge over the drain and the advance of the Sherman tanks was stopped. The engineers were then called, who constructed the bridge over 50 ft drain along with the help of two companies of 4 Sikh. But it was found that the span was not sufficient for the tanks to cross over. In that situation, Maj Tandon led by his Commanding Officer Lt Col S C Joshi went to the demolished bridge, asked the men to fill up the gaps and crossed over the bridge. By 08 Sep, the tanks of Maj Tandon’s B Squadron, Central India Horse were on the other side of the Hudiara drain.

The final attack on Barki town was planned in two phases and was to commence on 10 Sep 1965. As per the plan the troops of 4 Sikh were to attack and capture the village in the night of the first phase. The Sherman tanks of Maj Tandon’s Central India Horse were to lead the attack in an unorthodox manner with all lights on and all weapons firing on the target. The 4 Sikh battalion was to follow and capture Barki town physically. Finally, Barki was captured by 7 Infantry Division forces with Central India Horse losing six tanks during the operation. The Commanding Officer of CIH, Lt Col S C Joshi and B Squadron Commander Maj SN Tandon were together blown up by an anti-tank mine on 11^th September 1965, a few hours before the capture of Barki. The Commanding Officer, Lt Col S.C. Joshi was evacuated but succumbed to his injuries and was martyred a few days later. Maj Sandon was shifted to the military hospital but he too succumbed to his injuries on 3 Mar 1966.

Major SN Tandon was a gallant soldier and an officer par excellence, who led his soldiers from the front like a good military leader. Displaying courage, leadership, and camaraderie of a very high order Maj Tandon laid down his life in the service of the nation following the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

Major SN Tandon is survived by his wife Nilika Tandon, daughters, Gita & Mala, and son Sanjiv.