core sector communique

INDONESIAN ARMY OFFICER NAMES SON ASHWATHAMA AHEAD

OF EX-CHAKRAVYUH WITH INDIAN TROOPS IN INDIA

New Delhi: Phalguna 12,1933

Friday, Mar 02 , 2012

'Dharamaputra' is the motto emblazoned on the insignia of the 25 KOSTRAD (Indonesian Army’s Strategic Reserve Command) soldiers who participated in the just-concluded Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare (CIJW) joint training exercise 'Garuda Shakti' with Indian troops at CIJW School, Vairengte in Mizoram. For these Indonesian soldiers who mostly follow the Islamic faith, names such as 'Chakravyuh' drawn from Indian epic Mahabharata are not too unfamiliar.

But when young Kostrad officer, Captain Toni Oki Priyono of the 13th Infantry Brigade announced that he had named his newly born son, Ashwathama, soldiers on both sides congratulated him. In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Ashwathama was the son of Guru Dronacharya. Captain Toni's son was born on February 27, the day he set out on 'Exercise Chakravyuh' in the Lushai Hills for a three-day and two-night mission.

The decision to name his son Ashwathama by Captain Priyono was his way of acknowledging the role of the Indian Army Instructors at the CIJW School, Vairengte, he says. "It was Col Y Sangwan who suggested the name when I approached him to suggest an apt name for my son," said Captain Priyono. Col Sangwan is the Commanding Officer of the 19 Madras Infantry Battalion whose troops took part in this first joint training drill with Indonesia.

"Captain Priyono wanted an Indian name for his son. But since a great deal was being spoken of Mahabharata, and he took the name of Dronacharya several times, I suggested Ashwathama," says Col Sangwan. But it was not as if the decision was Captain Priyono's alone. His wife too endorsed the name and was happy. Captain Priyono's elder daughter has a traditional Islamic name.

"It was very nice of the Colonel to put me through to my wife in Indonesia and I could take her approval," the amiable Indonesian officer said. The Indonesian troops arrived at CIJW School, Vairengte on February 19.