By Shivli Singh
Bid, the oldest sapper in Major General V.V. Bombay Living and a veteran decorated with the Indian Army, passed away at Puna at the age of 102. Reminiscence of the soldier, his leadership, discipline, and his engineering experience, Bid was a key figure in Indian military history during the 1971 Bangladeshi War. Ordered by an engineering organization, Bhid has been serving the Indian military for over 30 years. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he was a brigade engineer at Eastern Command and played a crucial role in planning and implementing military infrastructure and bridges in support of India’s decisive victory. Its contribution not only strengthened combat capabilities in this sector, but also ensured critical logistics preparation in complex regions of the eastern sector.
Major General Bhide was the officer who could recite Kalidas, talk about Indian and Western classical music, and stay soft-spoken in tough situations. His aristocratic stature made him a favourite among his officers. Major General Bhide came from an illustrious family – his father had been an Indian Civil Services officer, and his grandfather was a distinguished lawyer who was knighted by the British.
Later in his career, Bid was appointed Chief Engineer in Delhi, where he observed important projects for the development of the Army infrastructure. His stay was marked with emphasis on modernization, innovation in engineering practices, and teaching young officers in engineering buildings. He resigned in 1975 after a life of service dedicated to the nation. Even after his retirement, Bhid was actively associated with sappers in the Bombay community and was widely respected for his humility, scholarship, and unwavering commitment to the spirit of the military. That legacy continues to inspire generations of engineers and officers of the Indian Army. His passageway marks the end of the era of the Sappers in Bombay and the end of the broader fraternity of the Indian army. That passage marks the end of the era of the Sappers in Bombay and the end of the broader fraternity of the Indian army.