Page 124 - Leadership in the Indian Army

In February 1952, Thorat had what one can only describe as a providential
escape from death. A tactical exercise was being held in Lucknow and
Thorat, accompanied by several other senior officers, including Shrinagesh

and Thimayya, left Delhi in a twin-engined Devon aircraft belonging to the
IAF. On the return flight, one of the engines caught fire, which soon began
to spread towards the fuselage. There was every likelihood that the petrol
tanks would explode, and the cabin soon be engulfed in flames. The pilot
put the plane into a nosedive, hoping to land before this happened. Just
then, the burning engine fell out, its frame having been melted by the
intense heat. The fire subsided, but the plane now seemed to be out of

control. Finally, after many anxious moments, they landed in a field close to
Lucknow. Miraculously, no one was hurt, and after picking up their hats and
canes, they got out of the aircraft in strict order of seniority! They were
soon rescued by the villagers and by early next morning, were back in
Lucknow, much to the relief of everyone, including their families, who had
only heard that the plane was missing and had been waiting for news

throughout the night. When Dr Rajendra Prasad was told of their
miraculous escape, he sent his own aeroplane to fly them back to Delhi.
At this time, Thorat and his family were staying at 16 Akbar Road in New
Delhi. Leela was fond of gardening, and the house had a garden full of
flowers in front, and a large vegetable patch at the back. Once, they had a
bumper crop of pumpkins and ladies fingers, and one of the two vegetables
would be served at lunch, and the other at dinner. One evening, Thorat said

to his wife: ‘Leela, there’s a new restaurant called Kwality that has been
opened in Connaught Place. Why don’t we take the children out, and have
dinner there?’ Kusum, Kumud and Yashwant were thrilled, and when the
family arrived at the restaurant, Leela and the children lost no time in
ordering delicacies like chana bhatura and pizza. But Thorat, after a lot of
deliberation, asked for pumpkin and ladies’ fingers. The family looked at

him in surprise, till he explained that he did not want to break a good habit.
Leela got the hint, and the family soon got a respite from the ubiquitous
pumpkins and ladies fingers.
In 1953 Thorat was sent to Korea as Commander of the Custodian Force
of India (CFI). Thimayya had been appointed Chairman of the five-nation
Neutral Nation Repatriation Commission (NNRC). The CFI was a military
force, responsible for the security of prisoners of both sides. It functioned

under the directions of the NNRC. The CFI comprised 190 Infantry