Animals be it dogs, horses, camels, elephants, cattle or the mules are dumb but extremely loyal to the master.
Everyone has heard stories and fables on loyalty of dogs, horses and so on. Here I talk about the mules in the army which are known for relentless service throughout their life time. There are different kinds of mules used in the army viz load carrying mules (General Service mules), Mountain Arty mules which carry heavy artillery gun and shells and then the riding mules. Majority of the mules are disciplined.
The mules serve the army for a period of approximately 18 years. They are put to sleep and buried with full military honours, after they grow old because feeding them after they stop working is unaffordable to the government. This is called cast and destroy procedure. (Probably a leaf from Hitler’s legacy who killed his erring generals and got them buried with full military honours). It may sound inhuman, but nothing unusual considering that we kill millions of goats, sheep, chicken, pigs daily for human consumption. So much so for the loyalty, discipline and what treatment is meted out to the domestic animals in general and mules in particular.
Mules are dumb, docile and loyal animals. Christian mythology also talks of the loyal and selfless service to human beings. (Jesus’ mother travelled on a mule when she went to give birth to Jesus Christ). Indian Army has a live example of a mule called ‘Pedongi’ which rendered exceptionally loyal and brave service during 1971 war. When an animal transport column with Pedongi was moving from one post to another, Pakistani forces attacked the mule column. Some mules and mule drivers were killed or wounded.
Some mules including Pedongi were captured by the Pakistanis. Infantry platoon providing protection to the column, repulsed the attack after an encounter. But Pedongi and a couple of other mules were taken along by the fleeing Pakistanis. Captured mules are made to carry loads by the army and so was Pedongi. Pedongi was not to accept this by the enemy.
A fortnight later Pedongi escaped from the Pak lines with a medium machine gun and two boxes of ammunition loaded on its back and reported to the parent unit, fully exhausted as it had run about 20-25 km with the load.
The Animal Transport Battalion Commander was mightily pleased and reported the matter to the General Officer Commading who congratulated him and asked to send a citation of bravery/valour by Pedongi. The President of India bestowed the gallantry award of “Vir Chakra” to Pedongi. Pedongi was then kept in an exclusive stable with no work. It could eat as much as it had appetite for and roam around freely in the unit area. Pedongi died a natural death at the age of 38 years.
Its brass plate citation with the medal of Vir Chakra still adores the museum at the ASC centre at Bangalore. How I wish every mule whether it has opportunity to display valour or not but has served the nation/ Indian Army selflessly is treated like Pedongi.