From Mhow’s myth to story of mule Pedongi: General Naravane shares glimpses from his new book

In his recent book, The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries, former Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) delves into lesser-known tales of the Indian Army's traditions, culture, and folklore. The book, unveiled in Pune, offers a glimpse into the history and stories that often go unnoticed.

One of the inspirations behind the book came from a chapter in Shashi Tharoor's A Wonderland of Words. While browsing through the book, General Naravane stumbled upon the concept of backronyms - reverse-engineered acronyms. This led him to question the popular myth about the name of the military town of Mhow.

Contrary to the widely believed notion that Mhow stands for Military Headquarters of War, General Naravane revealed that the name has a different origin. During the British era, the actual headquarters was situated in Shimla, where the Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army controlled operations from Afghanistan to Burma. As a result, many seasoned journalists still refer to Mhow as Military Headquarters of War.

The book showcases various intriguing stories, with the legendary mule Pedongi being an example. During the 1971 war, an Indian Army mule train was captured by the Pakistani forces. Pedongi, a mule carrying a machine gun and ammunition boxes, managed to escape the confusion and fog of war, ultimately returning to her unit through bomb-laden terrains and minefields. For her bravery, she was given a name based on the place she started her service, Pedongi.

As a result of her exceptional act, Pedongi was excused from carrying any loads and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving mule. She was also presented with a blue velvet rug. The Army Service Corps, which operates the mules, has a lounge named after her.