Ranchhod Pagi -The Desert Expert of the Indian Army

 

Ranchhod Pagi was a legendary figure in the desert region of Kutch-Banaskantha in India. He was born in 1901 and passed away in 2013 at the age of 112. Ranchhod Pagi was best known for his mastery in the art of tracking and identifying footsteps in the desert. He was a cattle herder and later became a trusted confidant of the Indian Army. His ability to track the movements of individuals and estimate weight, number of people, and time by simply looking at their footprints earned him the title of "Desert Expert".

Early Life and Career as a Cattle Herder

Ranchhod Pagi was born and raised in a remote village in the Kutch-Banaskantha desert region. He started herding cattle from a young age and over time, he developed an exceptional skill in tracking footsteps in the desert. He could distinguish the tracks of different individuals and animals and could even estimate the time of the step based on the depth of the footprints in the desert dust.

Service in the Indian Army

In 1965, when Pakistan occupied some areas of Kutch, the Indian army struggled to find its way. Ranchhod Pagi was called upon to help and he took the army to the border through a short but safe desert route. He traced the tracks of the enemy and captured around 1200 Pakistani soldiers who were hiding in inaccessible places. This feat earned him the trust and respect of the Indian Army.

In the 1971 war, General Sam Maneksha sought the help of Ranchhod Pagi when the Indian Army was having difficulty delivering weapons and rations amid heavy shelling by Pakistan. Ranchhod Pagi, who knew the desert like the back of his hand, made a supply line for the Indian army through the short roads of the desert region. He even delivered ammunition on camels to the army, earning the title of "One Man Army at the Desert Front".

Appointment as a Pugi

In 1962, at the age of 58, Ranchhod Pagi was appointed as a Pugi in the Suigam police station by the Banaskantha Police Commissioner Vanraj Singh. He was known for his exceptional footwork and could estimate the number of people riding on a camel just by looking at its footprints. He could even estimate weight, age, and time based on human footprints.

Legacy

Ranchhod Pagi lived a long and fulfilling life, passing away in 2013 at the age of 112. He kept the coat and medal given to him by the Indian Army as a badge of honour and his sons and grandsons continue to serve in the Indian Army and police force. His exceptional skills and contributions to the Indian Army will always be remembered as a testament to his greatness.