Who is Ranjoddas Pagi?

 

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Who is Ranjoddas Pagi?

Sam Manekshaw in his last days remembered this rustic old man called Pagi. In 2008, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was admitted to Wellington Hospital, Tamil Nadu. He often kept muttering a name Pagi-Pagi during the days of his ill-health and semi-conscious state. The doctors were baffled and one day asked, Sir, who is this Paagi?

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Who is Ranjoddas Pagi? An actor, sportsman, businessman or a politician. No, he is none of them. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw remembered him during his last days. Not many must have heard his name and those who have heard about him is mostly after a movie was made after him. Ranchoddas Pagi worked as a scout on behalf of the Indian Army. His story is featured in a 2021 film Bhuj: The Pride of India, where his character of an Indian Army Scout and R&AW agent is played by Sanjay Dutt. His story is quite unique and interesting.

Before the Indo-Pak border skirmishes had turned into a battlefield in 1965, many Pakistani incursions took place in the Rann of Kutch villages. During that time Pagi’s played a crucial role in the Indian Army in the fight against the enemy. His contribution was valuable for the Indian army to drive away and defeat the enemy.

Pagi was born in a family of Pathapur Gathras or Pithapur village (now Pakistan), a village near India-Pakistan Border. He migrated to India after Partition of India in 1947. Pagi means 'guide', the person who shows the way in the desert. Ranchoddas, was affectionately called 'Pagi' by General Sam Manekshaw. Ranchoddas Pagi's life changed when, aged 58, he was appointed the police guide by the Banaskantha Superintendent of Police, Vanraj Singh Jhala. He was recruited by the Indian Army as a scout.

In 1965, the Pakistani army in a sudden move captured many villages in the Kutch area just before the Indo-Pakistani War as a diversionary tactics. Pagi went into the captured areas to gather information from both villagers and his own relatives. These inputs greatly assisted the Indian army. In one of his most remarkable achievements, Ranchod Pagi traced the location of 1200 enemy soldiers hiding in the wilderness in full darkness. He also helped the Indian army capture several key posts during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. His efforts during the wars of 1965 and 1971 are said to have saved thousands of Indian soldiers.

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Sam Manekshaw in his last days remembered this rustic old man called Pagi. In 2008, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was admitted to Wellington Hospital, Tamil Nadu. He often kept muttering a name Pagi-Pagi during the days of his ill-health and semi-conscious state. The doctors, one day asked, Sir, who is this Paagi?

This story is based on what Field Marshal Sam Bahadur himself narrated. In 1971, India had won the war. General Manekshaw was in Dhaka and ordered that Pagi be invited for dinner that day. A chopper was sent. While boarding the chopper, a bag belonging to Pagi remained left on the ground and the chopper was turned back to pick it up. The officers opened the bag before placing it in the helicopter as per the rules and were stunned because it had two rotis, onions and a dish of gram flour (Gathiya). One half of the meal was eaten by Sam Manekshaw and the other by Pagi for dinner. This is the bonding they had, one a Field Marshal and the other a rustic old man from the desert.

The guide's skill was such that after seeing the footprints of the camel, he used to tell how many men are riding on it. By looking at the footprints of humans, he used to guess their weight, their age and how far they must have gone. His estimations had the exactness of a computer analyst. He had this special skill and talent after years of living in the desert areas. And this special skill helped the Indian army immensely.

In the beginning of 1965 war, in a surprise move Pakistan Army captured Vidhkot in Kutch border in Gujarat. In this encounter, about 100 Indian soldiers were killed. Later a 10,000 men Indian Army contingent was mobilized to neutralize the enemy, and had to reach Chharkot in three days. The need for Ranchoddas Pagi was felt for the first time by the army and his services were called for. Ranchordas Pagi took charge as a scout on behalf of the Indian Army.

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Due to his understanding of the desert paths, he guided the army to the destination 12 hours before the scheduled time. He was personally chosen by Sam Manekshaw to guide the army and a special post was created in the army, Pagi, meaning, the person with in-depth knowledge of the feet and to analyze foot marks.

The location and approximate number of 1200 Pakistani soldiers hiding in the Indian border was revealed based only by their footprints, and that was enough for the Indian Army to launch an assault and win that front. It is said that he also helped the forces during war at Harami nala at a Channel of Sir Creek which is a Heaven for infiltrators and Smugglers.

Along with the guidance of the army in the 1971 war, getting ammunition to the front was also part of Pagi's work. Pagi's role was important in the victory of the Indian forces in Palinagar town of Pakistan. Sam Manekshaw appreciated his services and himself gave a cash prize of ₹300 for his service.

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw died on 27 June 2008, and in 2009 aged 108 years, Pagi also took voluntary retirement from the army. Pagi died on 2013 at the age of 112 years. He had been honoured by both the police and the Border Security Force (BSF). A border post of Suigam in Banaskantha district of Gujarat, at the international border region of North Gujarat was named Ranchhoddas Post by BSF. First time that an army post was named after a common man and his statue installed at the place.

He received several awards including Sangram Medal, Police Medal and Samar Seva Star – for his role in the 1965 and 1971 wars. In 2007, He was congratulated by Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat in the Independence Day celebration held at Palanpur. And if Sam Manekshaw had great things to say about Ranchoddas Pagi even during his last days, then he surely deserves your attention. He was special. This a story of an ordinary Indian who did extraordinary things for his motherland.

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Adani Group acquires majority stake in news agency IANS

Adani had forayed into media business in March last year when it acquired Quintillion Business Media, which operates business and financial news digital media platform BQ Prime. Thereafter in December took nearly 65 per cent stake in broadcaster NDTV.

Billionaire Gautam Adani's group has acquired a majority stake in news agency IANS India Pvt Ltd for an undisclosed sum as the group expands its presence in the media space. In a regulatory filing, Adani Enterprises -- the firm that holds the group's media interest -- said its subsidiary AMG Media Networks Ltd has acquired a 50.50 per cent stake constituting equity shares of IANS India Pvt Ltd. The company did not disclose the acquisition price. Most in the media are not happy about this deal as Adani will have control on the news content. With already the main stream media under a cloud, it appears its likely to be under control.

Adani had forayed into media business in March last year when it acquired Quintillion Business Media, which operates business and financial news digital media platform BQ Prime. It thereafter in December took nearly 65 per cent stake in broadcaster NDTV.

AMNL was the vehicle for these acquisitions as well. In the filing, it said, AMNL has also signed a shareholders' agreement with IANS and Sandeep Bamzai, a shareholder of IANS, to record their inter-se rights with respect to IANS. IANS had a revenue of Rs 11.86 crore in the fiscal year 2022-23 (April 2022 to March 2023). All operational and management control of IANS will be with AMNL and AMNL will have the right to appoint all directors of IANS, the filing said.

Pursuant to the acquisition as set out above, IANS is now a subsidiary of AMNL. A first-generation entrepreneur, Adani started off as a commodities trader in 1988 and expanded his business interests to become India's largest private player in infrastructure, with 13 ports and eight airports. Over the years it diversified into producing coal, energy distribution, data centres and more recently into cement and copper. It even bid and acquired 5G telecom spectrum to set up a private network.

As per the procurement as set out above, IANS is currently an auxiliary of AMNL. An original business visionary, Adani got going as a products dealer in 1988 and extended his financial matters to turn into India's biggest confidential player in framework, with 13 ports and eight air terminals. Throughout the long term it enhanced into creating coal, energy appropriation, server farms and all the more as of late into concrete and copper. It even bid and obtained 5G telecom range to set up a confidential organization. 

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