Celina Jaitly recalls father’s gut-wrenching 1971 Indo-Pak war story: ‘In a pool of my blood for 72 hours’

Actress Celina Jaitly, known for films like ‘No Entry’, ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’ and ‘Golmaal Returns’, is going through one of the most emotionally challenging phases of her life. She has been trying to get in touch with her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, who has been detained in the UAE since September 2024.

The Delhi High Court recently heard the plea and directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to help facilitate communication between the siblings. Amid this emotional turmoil, Celina turned to memory, courage and honour.

Actress honours father after Vijay Diwas

A day after Vijay Diwas, Celina took to social media to remember her late father, Colonel VK Jaitly (SM). Along with photographs of him, she shared a deeply moving note that reflected both personal grief and national pride. “An Untold Story of a Late Soldier on Vijay Diwas, Through a Kumaon regiment Daughter’s Eyes.. Vijay Diwas ���� Battle of Bhaduria, 1971.” Through her words, Celina brought to life a chapter of history that her father had once shared with her.

Celina Jaitly recalls father’s gut-wrenching story

Celina revealed that her father had once narrated a gut-wrenching scene from one of the fiercest engagements of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. She wrote, “My late father Colonel VK Jaitly (SM) once narrated a gut wrenching scene from one of the fiercest engagements of the 1971 war : “As I lay in a pool of my blood for 72 hours before evacuation, around me was a field of death. Many of my brothers lay moaning in excruciating agony, ripped into pieces. Even though my whole body was full of sharpnels and leg ripped by bullets my own injuries seemed futile. I lay crying seeing my brothers moan in agony as I crept to a critically injured soldier and administered him the last of my pain killer. The only thing common among all of us who lay dying on the battlefield was the word “Ma”. In that pain, in that last dying breath “Ma” was the only word that seemed to give us comfort. “Ma” the one who gave us birth is what remained on our lips as we died.. as we succumbed to valour.”

Memories described as lived battlefield truth

Celina clarified that her father’s words were not meant to be poetic, “These words are not literature. They are lived truth. This photograph was taken just before my father walked into into one of the bloodiest chapters of the 1971 Indo Pak war. “The Battle of Bhaduria”. A battle he lived through. A battle he carried in his body & soul for the rest of his life. The Battle of Bhaduria was fought by the phenomenal “man eaters” of 17 #kumaon Regiment. Securing the Bhaduria crossroads in the Bogra sector broke enemy defenses. It earned the regiment the name Bhaduria Paltan. A decisive step toward the liberation of Bangladesh. My father was commissioned in 1970 SS 9 Gadar Course 17 Kumaon. Critically wounded at just 21. Bullet injuries, Shrapnel injuries. Injuries that stayed with him for life. Yet he returned to duty Served with pride & honour Eventually commanding 16 Kumaon. Yesterday was #vijaydiwas , in its honour I repeat my father’s words: If you want to honour a soldier, be an Indian worth dying for.”

She ended her tribute with respect

She concluded with, “I bow my head in honour of our #armedforces. Kalika Mata ki Jai. Jai Hind ����.”

Celina Jaitly penned a heartfelt note for her brother

While remembering her father, Celina is also living through the pain. Just a day earlier, she had shared an emotional birthday note for her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly. She wrote, “Happy Birthday, Bhai… I do not know how to reach you, my baby brother, but I will keep trying. I will not give up on you.”

Calling him her “dearest baby,” Celina wrote with deep emotion, “You will always be my baby brother, Dumpy, not Major Vikrant Kumar Jaitly. The best Mama in the world. Not having you as a part of my life right now is one of the most distressing experiences of my existence.”

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