Book Review

The Bene Legend

In reviewing the unimaginable real adventure narrative from the pen of an illustrious war hero, Air Cmde Prashant Dikshit ( retd) brings to light the phenomenon of Late Air Commodore Ramesh Benegal

This is an unimaginable narrative of the ordeals and tribulations endured by Late Air Commodore Ramesh S Benegal MVC AVSM, a patriot to the core, who kept it very close to his heart and penned it down in hand, only after he had laid down his office. We are immensely grateful to Mrs Meera Benegal, his wife for endeavouring to publish it as a war memoir; six years after the illustrious military hero had passed away.

Ramesh Benegal was born in 1926 in Rangoon in Burma to migrant Indian parents and his recall commences when he was only fifteen. He witnessed the the exodus after the Japanese Air Force pulverized the Royal Air Force and eventually went on to capture Rangoon in March, 1942. His family had however, lingered on despite the warnings and had to face this experience.

The story unravels unprecedented adventure during which he survived a 23 days Death Railway journey through the jungles of Burma and Thailand; escaped unscathed from a torpedoed ship in the south China Sea; withstood the blaze of day and night bombings in the American attacks over Japan; endured a 28 days incarceration on a starvation diet in the British manned infamous Stanley Prison in Hongkong with seven days in solitary confinement and his personal belongings stolen by the British prison guards; an arduous voyage as prisoners on the HMS Glenhearn to Manila , Singapore and Madras, to be imprisoned again, now in his own country.

The process of resurrection of his youthful dream commenced only after India gained independence in 1947, foundations of which were laid after his induction in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose led Azad Hind Army (INA) and his flying training as a “Tokyo Cadet” under the Imperial Japanese Air Force. The picture on the cover of the book, designed by widely known journalist Shiv Aroor, very adroitly portrays that persona of determined Ramesh Benegal.

His undaunting nationalism and aspirations of an independent India would make a lasting impression on the readers when he verbatim recalls Netaji’s words addressed to him and his small motley group “You have been chosen to go to Japan for military training, as that country has better facilities than we can afford at this time. I would like you to remember that you are going there as foreign cadets, as members of a free nation- Azad Hind. At no time must you act servile or feel inferior to any one there”. Ramesh remembered these words and revered Netaji. This sentiment had percolated in the psyche of his nephew, the eminent Indian film maker Shyam Benegal, who went on to make a film Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero . Shyam idolized Ramesh. But Ramesh’s association with the Indian National Army did cause him to lose three priceless years of his adulthood, when his application to join the Indian Air Force of independent India in 1947 was summarily rejected by the British officers at the helm of affairs in the air force. It was only in 1950, when free thinking officialdom of the service recognized his value and ensuresd his joining the service. Even at that stage, vestiges of the British Raj had reared its ugly head when an Indian squadron leader had raked an unpleasant interlude about his association with the “Infamous Indian National Army”.

It is now time to bring home the “Legend of Bene”, as he was affectionately called, in the backdrop of the afterword to the book by retired Air Marshal GCS Rajwar. Like Rajwar, I was also one of the navigators in No 106 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron of the IAF during 1968-72 commanded by Wing Commander Benegal. Rajwar’s lifelike account limits itself to the period of only the fourteen day war, when he narrates the historical missions to Khunjareb Pass and Gwadar Bay and the coverage of Tezgaon and Kurmitola airfields in East Pakistan.

But the larger truth is that under Bene’s tutelage, the Canberra PR7s of the squadron used to rule the skies of the regions surrounding the subcontinent with verve, craft and impunity on photo missions and reach where ever its range took it to. It was quiet and discreet work. I recall compiling a diary of our activities which in no time was declared a “Top Secret” document and taken away. This is perhaps, one of the reasons why his phenomenal contribution was initially acknowledged with a meritorious service AVSM in January 1971, although, normally awarded to the ranks of Air Commodore and above. The real recognition for gallantry, during supra high risk assignments came with his MVC in December, 1971.

To gauge Bene’s professionalism by a standard yardstick is myopia. His professional stature was such that when this wing commander spoke, the chief and the commanders quietly listened. Because, they knew that only a person of his caliber can take an unarmed plane across the borders and bring the results back with certainty. Wisdom and knowledge had made him fearless.

His forceful advice in favour of the tactical photo coverage of the approaches to Dhaka as against a time consuming survey of the region, sought by the military leaders, was acceded to with grace.

Bene, with his humility and in the interest of team play had done away with the “aloof existence” practiced by his predecessors. The regret is that he could not grow in the IAF as the “age to rank” policy came in his way. He was older; already 24 years of age when he had received his commission.

Burma to Japan with Azad Hind A War Memoir( 1941-45) Air Commodore Ramesh S Benegal MVC AVSM © Meera R Benegal, 2009 . Lancers Publishers & Distributors