Anup Pradhan was the younger sibling of his brothers in Oak Grove. He was a soft-spoken child with varied interests in hockey and squash. He excelled in squash at one time. Joining the 56th NDA, Kilo Squadron in Jun 1976, Anup regaled everyone with so many stories about his adventures during his Oak Grove school days and had a perpetual smile on his face. Many seniors were always irritated with that 'seemingly cynical twitch in his face'. He had to face the wrath of many of Squadron seniors due to this 'smile'. In those three years of Academy days, the five Juliets (Tuita, Mosa'ati, Anup, Katoch, and LM Singh) would always be looking forward to liberty trips and weekends – for a visit either to 'The Place' or the Gole Market's famous bakery. When they were broke, they would treat themselves with bananas and doughnuts. When they had a pool of money (courtesy Tuita or Anup), they would be feasting in 'The Place' (Beer & Sizzlers).

This guy was meant to be in Bollywood. His nemesis was always the barber, ruthless as ever with his hair. Amongst those who did not know him, he was a very tough soldier in spite of his image otherwise; Santosh Katoch spent one midterm break with Anup in Bombay staying in his brother's PG accommodation who was away on duty, and they polished off all the goodies thoughtfully left by his brother. A good athlete, he passed out successfully from the IMA, and was commissioned into Rajasthan Rifles.

Anup and LM were in the same group of Infantry School Commando Course. Every day they would be in the frontline of races/front-rolls all of which was done to make them better soldiers. The idea was that the 1st three who came in would be permitted by the instructor to rest for a while by doing side jumps or bend stretches! He would always beat LM in the race. LM would try to outrun him, later he realized, Anup had much longer legs than him, and so he gave up. However, Anup could never catch up with LM in front-rolls on those dirty streets of Belgaum, LM was probably more familiar with Kilo Squadron Staircase. So they were quits at the end of the day, cursing the world with choicest of words. A very good human being and a true friend, always ready with empathy and advice.

He somehow felt suffocated while in the Army. LM realized this later when they would interact once a while as young Captains. Katoch remembers him always wanting to migrate to the US where his brothers had settled. He finally migrated to the US and succumbed to Cancer in 2015.

He is survived by his wife and son who are in the US. Rest in peace, Anup. We miss that 'twitchy smile' and your never-ending stories of the Oak Grove days.

Penned with inputs from Pradeep Seghal, S Katoch and LM Singh.

🙏May his soul rest in peace🙏