75 Days Surrounded: How 233 Indian Soldiers Escaped from Africa | Maj Gen Rajpal Punia Episode 64

Major General Rajpal Punia (Retd.), YSM | Operation Khukri, Indian Army & 38 Years of Service Operation Khukri is remembered as one of the Indian Army’s significant international military operations. But beyond the history lies a story of courage, uncertainty, sacrifice, and the enormous responsibility of command. In this exclusive episode 64 of The Slade Show, Major General Rajpal Punia (Retd.) takes us inside the mind of a military commander—from the 75-day ordeal in Kailahun, Sierra Leone, to the complex decisions that define leadership during a crisis. What does a commander think when his soldiers are surrounded? Does a military leader feel fear? What happens when duty demands difficult decisions? And how do destiny, karma, and experience shape a person's life? 🎖️ ABOUT THE GUEST — MAJ GEN RAJPAL PUNIA (RETD.), YSM Major General Rajpal Punia is a retired Indian Army officer and recipient of the Yudh Seva Medal (YSM), awarded by the President of India in 2002 for his service associated with Operation Khukri. His military career spanned approximately 38 years. An alumnus of Sainik School, Chittorgarh, he was selected for the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, at the age of 16. He was commissioned into the Indian Army on 9 June 1984. Throughout his military career, he served in operational, command, and leadership appointments in India and abroad. 🇮🇳 MAJOR MILITARY OPERATIONS, COMMANDS & ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Operation Khukri — Sierra Leone, West Africa (2000) 2. United Nations Peacekeeping Mission 3. Command Along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) 4. Command of 23 Punjab 5. Armoured Division, Hisar 6. Jat Agitation, Haryana (2017) 7. Dera Sacha Sauda Complex, Sirsa (2017) 📚 BOOKS BY MAJ GEN RAJPAL PUNIA 1. Operation Khukri 2. A Soldier Speaks: Dil Se — published in 2022. 3. Rejoice in Adversity, Triumph in War Through his writing, he shares experiences from his military career, including the realities of command, the challenges of military operations, and the lessons learned over decades of service. This is not simply a conversation about military operations or achievements. It is an exploration of the person behind the uniform, the decisions that define a commander, and the responsibilities that often remain unseen. 🇮🇳 ABOUT THE SLADE SHOW Hosted by Bhavesh Singh, The Slade Show brings together conversations with people from defence, sports, politics, entertainment, and other fields to explore their experiences, challenges, decisions, and life lessons. Our goal is to go beyond the obvious and uncover the human stories behind extraordinary journeys. If you want to understand the Indian Army beyond the battlefield, this conversation is for you. 👍 Like the video 💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway 📲 Share this episode with someone interested in the Indian Army 🔔 Subscribe to The Slade Show for more meaningful conversations. ⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 02:04 – Operation Khukri: The Moment Everything Changed 06:15 – 75 Days in Kailahun: The Psychological Toll on Soldiers 11:57 – The Untold Reality of Operation Khukri 14:27 – The Uniform, the Indian Flag & Duty 16:14 – The Letter Written Before Operation Khukri 17:12 – Does a Military Commander Feel Fear? 18:30 – Destiny, Belief & Karma 22:02 – Operation Khukri vs LAC: Two Different Battlefields 27:40 – Armoured Division: Decision-Making Under Pressure 30:19 – War vs Internal Security: The Challenges of Command 31:54 – Jat Agitation: Leadership During a Crisis 35:07 – Dera Sacha Sauda: Command, Emotions & Law and Order 37:42 – How Is a Military Operation Planned? 41:32 – From Young Officer to General: How Command Changes You 43:47 – Three Turning Points in a 38-Year Military Career 49:47 – What Would General Punia Tell His Younger Self? 50:47 – One Life Lesson for the Next Generation 53:24 - BEHIND THE SCENE #MajorGeneralRajpalPunia #OperationKhukri #IndianArmy #TheSladeShow #MilitaryHistory #MilitaryLeadership #YudhSevaMedal #ArmyVeterans #Kailahun #IndianMilitary #leadership EPISODE 64 717 subscribers