New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- In 1965, the 7th Light Cavalry was converting to PT-76 tanks. According to Army Headquarters' policy, the unit was not expected to be battle-ready. However, the commanding officer, Colonel Dalip Jind, showed remarkable determination. He persuaded higher authorities to let his regiment march to the concentration area with the available rolling stock, continuing training en route. This act of defiance epitomised the ethos of the Armoured Corps: to never let institutional inertia override operational readiness. It also highlighted the vital role of leadership in shaping the course of the war. Lt Gen Kamal Davar, then a young officer in his twenties with barely three years of service, would carry this ethos into battle. Ma...