NE NEWS SERVICE
BENGALURU, APRIL 13
Colonel NS Bal, SC (Shaurya Chakra) who fought with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir lost his battle with cancer and breathed his last on April 9. He was cremated with full military honours in Bengaluru on Monday, a release from the Defence PRO said.
He was born on October 11, 1980, in Lansdowne, District Pauri Garhwal of Uttarakhand. His father Lt Col Karnail Singh (Retd) is a 1971 war veteran. Since early childhood Col Bal nurtured a fervent desire to serve the Nation as part of the Armed Forces.
His single-minded focus and relentless pursuit bore fruits when he was selected to NDA Khadakwasla in the year 1998. From the academy days, NS Bal was an outstanding sportsman with extraordinary fitness and mental acumen.
Soon after passing out from IMA in 2002, NS Bal, with fire in his belly volunteered for the Special Forces. Post completion of gruelling probation, he was selected to be a Para Commando is one of the elite PARA SF Unit. NS Bal continued to excel in all spheres of a military career and he was selected as an Instructor at IMTRAT, Bhutan where he trained the Bhutanese Army.
Post the foreign assignment, he was inducted into the terrorist hotbed of J & K. He was an epitome of bravery and courage. During his Counter Insurgency tenure, he had numerous firefights with terrorists. In one such daring operation, he displayed raw courage and valour thereby eliminating two terrorists for which he was awarded the ‘Shaurya Chakra.’
Subsequently, he was selected for UN peacekeeping mission in Congo as Mil Operation Officer where he served with panache and gave a professional account of the Indian Armed Forces. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Service Staff College. On his approval to the rank of Colonel in March 2018, he was chosen to Command the Elite PARA SF Special Battalion he was commissioned in.
Unfortunately, during his command, he was diagnosed with a very rare, high-grade osteosarcoma (aggressive cancer) in June 2018. Despite all odds, he displayed grit and fortitude and continued to command with equal vigour and perseverance.
Fighting all odds, in these challenging times even after the amputation of the right arm he participated in a 21-km half marathon, despite cancer hampering his normal breathing. He was positive and pragmatic till he breathed his last displaying his larger than life attitude.
In this battle with cancer, Aarti Bal, wife of Col NS Bal has been constantly beside him and exhibited mental resilience while rendering succour to the ailing husband. She indefatigably shouldered additional responsibility of looking after the two kids, Zoravar and Sarbaaz. Col Bal succumbed to aggressive cancer on April 9.
His last rites were conducted on Monday (April 13) at Bengaluru and were attended by the family, veterans and Officers and JCOs from units and centres in Bengaluru. Col Bal’s parents could reach for the cremation, amidst the nationwide lockdown, by the combined efforts put in by the Army and Police.
Col N S Bal is of a rare breed of officers who inspire even when they are faced with utter daunting circumstances. A true Special Forces warrior, he is a testimony of grit and unquenchable zeal. He lived by the adage “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only option available “. His life shall inspire generations to come, says the obituary remark by the Defence press release.
