All the Children from the senior classes, the brothers and close relations of the hero and a number of retired generals and veterans from their Regiment were present at the function.
This is the sixth graphic novel in a series that honors our PVC and AC winners and other military heroes and martyrs.
What can you say about a tall handsome young man who was only 21 when he was killed? That he died like a tiger, fighting off an attack by a Brigade worth of Pakistani Patton tanks. 48 Pakistani tanks were destroyed in this battle. Arun personally destroyed 5 Patton tanks in this grin engagement.
His tank Famagusta, a British MKII Centurion was hit and caught fire. He was ordered to abandon his tank and save himself. In a steely voice he refused. “My gun is still firing” he said and wounded and profusely bleeding Arun went on to destroy two more Pakistani tanks. Arun was killed in this exchange of shots but the Pakistani tanks were forced to break contact and flee.
They lost a staggering 48 tanks in this epic battle. The hero of the battle was undoubtedly the young and intrepid 2Lt Arun Khetarpal,PVC, who had laid down his life but stopped the enemy tank charge dead in its track and thereby saved the infantry who had established the bridge head across the Basantar River.
A unique feature of the book launch was an audio visual presentation on the life and exploits of @Lt Arun Khetrarpal, PVC by the author. Mr Samir Jain of Bodha Guru learning Pvt Ltd presented the interactive application of the Graphic war novel in a digitized format-for viewing on laptops/Ipads/digital tablets.
Indian war comics collaborated closely with Bodha Guru in delivering their latest book as an interactive app, which will shortly be released on Android and Apple iOs based mobile platform. This interactive app for a comic book is a first in India (in fact Marvel comics of the USA have started this trend)
