A soldier few know, a record few can match: Brigadier Henry Bhaskar’s journey through two wars and beyond

Brigadier Henry Bhaskar is not a household name in India, not even in his home state of Tamil Nadu. Yet his record of service in the 1965 and 1971 wars speak volumes of his valour, grit and leadership that rarely seeks the spotlight.

Few would be aware that an Indian Army officer went on to become the first chairman of the strategically vital Chittagong Port Trust in newly liberated Bangladesh. That distinction belongs to Brigadier Bhaskar, who held the post as a Major in the Mahar Regiment, playing a crucial role in stabilising a key maritime gateway in the aftermath of the 1971 war.

He traces his roots to Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli and Thanjavur districts. “I come from a modest Tamil family. My father was a postal clerk. I studied in Chennai’s Thiagarajar College and even worked as a zoology demonstrator before an NCC officer told me, ‘You are wasting your time here. Join the Army.’ That changed my life,” he recalls.

The advice proved decisive. He cleared the examination for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, joined in 1962 and was commissioned two years later following rigorous training.

In an exclusive conversation, Brigadier Bhaskar speaks about his experiences in the 1965 and 1971 wars, his transition into civilian life as a banker and administrator, and his later roles in Hyderabad, including his stint as CEO of the colonial-era Secunderabad Club and administrator of the Nizam’s Trust.

A soldier baptised by fire

Living a content, peaceful retired life in his Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) home in Secunderabad, Brigadier Bhaskar has vivid memories of both wars. Just months after being commissioned, he found himself in the thick of action at the Khemkaran sector during the 1965 war. During an intense close‑quarter battle in pitch darkness, he confronted the towering Major Razvi of Pakistan’s 9 Baluch Regiment.

“In close‑quarter battle, there’s no silver medal — only gold or death. I fired a full carbine burst at point‑blank range and neutralised a Pakistani Major. It was a rare honour to face an enemy decorated for bravery,” he says.

A daring escape

Brigadier Bhaskar says his finest hour came during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. He recounts a chilling moment when he got separated from his troops, unarmed and exhausted, while being chased by Pakistani soldiers. “Bullets flew from both sides — Pakistanis behind me, Indians ahead of me. I took a chance and ran toward our own fire. Not a single round touched me. If your name isn’t written on a bullet, it won’t hit you,” he says.

He later led Indian troops, East Bengal Rifles and Mukti Bahini fighters in a vital manoeuvre to stop Pakistani soldiers from fleeing by sea. “Our task was simple: reach Chittagong before the Pakistanis could escape. My company was the first to reach the port.”

After securing the harbour, riots erupted between Bengali groups and pro‑Pakistan Bihari Muslims. “I restored order using minimum force,” he says.

Impressed by his leadership, local authorities urged him to take charge of the port. With India’s approval, he became chairman of Chittagong Port Trust for nearly six weeks, a rare honour recorded in Bangladesh’s Roll of Honour.

Career spanning continents, sectors

His counter‑terrorism expertise took him to sensitive assignments in Jammu & Kashmir and the north east. “I trained in Israel and Germany. Counter‑terror operations are like medical super‑specialisations — you learn precision,” he says. He also recalls standing “eyeball‑to‑eyeball with a Chinese soldier” in Arunachal Pradesh — a moment that, he says, “tests every nerve in your body”.

Though on track to become a Major General, family circumstances led him to retire early. He left the Army as Deputy GOC, Dakshin Bharat Area, Chennai.

Post-retirement, he served as general manager of Syndicate Bank, CEO of Secunderabad Club, and later secretary of Nizam’s Trust, where he helped revive 28 royal trusts. His security firm, Expert Group, grew into an ₹80‑crore international enterprise before he stepped aside after 12 years.

Final mission

A resident of AWHO since 1988, Brigadier Bhaskar lives with his wife Christine, an educationist and former Army school principal. Their son, Vinod, is a Colonel settled in Wellington, Tamil Nadu.

Now, the decorated soldier has taken up a new mission — securing a dignified resting place for Christian defence personnel by reclaiming the abandoned Commonwealth War Grave No. 5 in Trimulgherry.

After a lifetime defined by courage, discipline and service, Brigadier Bhaskar continues to fight — this time, for remembrance, dignity and honour.

Published – January 31, 2026 01:10 am IST