Resilience Through Collective Will: A Miracle Before Dawn

By Group Captain Harvinder Singh (Retd) 

On 14th December 2001, the desert was silent but tense. The previous evening, the Indian Parliament had been attacked, and readiness orders were racing through the system. I had barely reached my Bravo Missile Battery Headquarters when my Commanding Officer arrived and said, “Harvinder, our flight also has to move out. The time starts now. By tomorrow morning I need you fully operational.” 

There was no pause, no time to think. My men had caught only three hours of rest after supporting Alpha Battery through the night. Yet, when I gathered them, their faces—tired but spirited—reflected the ethos of a missile unit: cheerful, motivated, no matter how tough the order. 

We moved into the desert scrubland, thick with thorny bushes after the monsoon. The location was barren, remote, and unforgiving. Vehicles rumbled out in a long convoy—launchers, radar cabins, antenna trucks, power plants. By noon, we began the gruelling task of shifting from travel to combat position. 

The Hunger Test
As hours passed, no lunch arrived. My men worked silently, hungry but unwavering. Not a single complaint, not a single slowdown. Their grit was remarkable. At 7:30 p.m., three exhausted figures emerged—the rear party had lost their way in the desert. In those days, there were no mobiles, no GPS—just trust and memory. 

When food finally came, I ensured every jawan ate before I did. That is the unspoken bond of command. 

Miracle by Dawn
Work continued through the night. Tents were pitched, kitchens set up, administration organised. At 3 a.m., after nearly 40 hours of fatigue and hunger, we reported:
“Bravo Missile Battery fully operational.” 

The sense of accomplishment was like a warm fire in the cold desert night. My young deputy, who had doubted the plan earlier, saluted sharply and said, “Sir, this is a miracle.” I placed a hand on his shoulder and replied, “When you create an environment of trust and a strong bond with your team, anything is possible.” 

That night became his first true lesson in command and faith—a lesson that shaped his career. 

Reflection
Leadership is not about orders; it is about trust. It is about turning hesitation into belief and creating unity that withstands storms. 

ABCEL Perspective
Stories like Group Captain Harvinder’s remind us that resilience is born from collective will. Leadership thrives not in comfort but in adversity—when hunger, fatigue, and uncertainty test the spirit. Veterans carry this ethos beyond the battlefield, building trust and inspiring teams to achieve the impossible.