Islamabad: Two officers of the Pakistan Army belonging to the Hindu community have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, first in country’s history. Both the officers belong to Sindh.
Although Lt Col Dr Kelash Kumar and Lt Dr Aneel Kumar, are from the Medical Corps, yet the news of their promotion is doing the rounds on social media and the netizens as well as civil society, all terming these promotions the real signs of change.
Lt Col Dr Kelash Kumar was born in 1981, Lt Col Dr Kelash Kumar hails from Tharparkar, Sindh. He got commission in the Pakistan Army in 2008.
Before his promotion as Lt Colonel, Major Dr Kelash was posted in the Ministry of Defence. During the promotion boards, Kumar’s rank was raised from major to lieutenant colonel.
He graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy and was assigned to the army’s medical corps. Kumar completed his MBBS at Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS) Jamshoro in Hyderabad and was then commissioned in the Pakistan Army. He was awarded the medal for spending 36 days at the world’s highest post in the Baltoro sector near K-2 Mountain, at an elevation of roughly 22,000 feet.
Lt Col Dr Aneel Kumar was born in 1982. He too, is a resident of Sindh (Badin). Lt Col Dr Aneel Kumar got commission in the Pakistan Army in 2007 and during his services, performed services in various civil and medical missions. He helped civilians through free medical camps in the remote areas of Sindh and across Pakistan.
History in the making
Kapil Dev, a Human Rights (HR) activist and social worker from Mithi, Sindh, welcomed the promotion of Major Dr Kelash Kumar to the rank of lieutenant colonels, and said this is ‘history in making.’
In another tweet he congratulated Major Dr Aneel Kumar also on this promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and reacted to the news in the following words: “What a day to share such rare and good news.”
Founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhmmad Ali Jinnah had also dreamt of such a country where everyone would be free to practice his religion, faith and views and by these promotions, we see Pakistan taking shape according to his vision.
“Unfortunately, even after 75 years of independence, such promotions, which should have been seen as a routine matter, are making headlines. Still it is quite reassuring and positive development,” said Kapil.
Both the officers are currently working in the Medical Corps, yet we hope similar promotions will be made in the regular army, as the Hindus are neither less patriot nor less competent than other communities living in Pakistan, he said.
Five other Hindu officers are also part of Army
Kapil drew the attention to the fact these are not the only these two Hindu officers in the Pakistan army. There are five other officers working as Major in the Pakistan army. They are: Maj Ramesh Kumar, Maj Kelash Garvada, Maj Raja Nand, Maj Jeevraj Parmar, and Maj Danish Dhanani.
Merit-based equal opportunities
Reacting to the development, Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) chief Dr Ramesh Kumar also extended his heartiest congratulations to the two Hindu officers on their promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Pakistan Army, he said provided merit-based equal opportunities to all citizens.
First Hindu police officer
This is not the first time that Pakistani Hindus have achieved distinction. In the past too, the members of the community, particularly those hailing from Sindh have made their mark by acquiring key posts in provincial and federal departments.
Earlier this month, 22-year old Raja Rajender from Badin’s backward area passed the competitive examination Central Superior Services (CSS) for 2021 and became Pakistan’s first Hindu Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
Hindu women judges, ASI
Hindu women hailing from Sindh province are also setting an example for their Muslim counterparts as they are excelling in various fields including politics, bureaucracy, education, medicine — and now judiciary.
Suman Kumari of Qambar-Shahdadkot and Daina Kumari, from Jacobabad District were selected to the post of civil judge in by qualifying civil judge-cum-judicial-magistrate exam in January 2019 and joined the subordinate judiciary of the Sindh High Court.
Later in September, the same year, another Hindu girl Pushpa Kolhi became first police officer Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) in Sindh after passing the provincial exam for the post.
