A Diplomat There was a grand party being organized for the Corps Cdr who was visiting this quiet Cantt town in the far east. The venue was the Officers Institute. GOC’s orders were explicit…It was compulsory for all officers and ladies to attend. ( A word or two about the GOC would be appropriate …. BULLY , hyper and overall an unlikeable person ). JJ and a couple of us were at the bar… maybe two or three drinks were down the hatch and we were gorging on the barbecued goat when the GOC suddenly escorted the Corps Cdr to where the youngsters were !! Before I proceed I must introduce JJ. He is a sikh officer about five years senior to me, a low medical category, excused strenuous activities, not to be posted above 4000 or 5000 feet, serving in Sikh Li. I first met him at the swimming pool. I was not too fond of the water and I could barely do that one length to pass the swimming test. Two months after meeting him I was doing twenty six lengths of the Olympic size pool with him. I had not seen an officer more physically fit. And most important NO ONE f….d around with him !! The Corps Cdr was a sober and polite officer who would make any junior feel comfortable. Things were going fine till he popped the most innocent of questions. “ How’s life generally in this place ?” All of us unanimously agreed that life was “fine” till suddenly JJ decided to elaborate. “Sir, we have a lovely swimming pool, a very well furnished gymnasium, an excellent movie hall, an active officers institute, 24 hour electric supply, no shortage of water … things couldn’t be better BUT (a long pause.. and you could see the frown build up on the GOC’s face…) the married officers and the Other Rank families are having a problem buying vegetables and groceries. There’s a local village “haath” which everyone frequented but now Div HQ has placed it out of bounds” GOC: “ Sir, that market is frequented by women of ill repute and we have provided an excellent Div Vegetable Shop inside the Cantt” JJ: “ Sir, in a lighter vein I think the Div Veg shop is running at a loss , hence, this ban on the “haath”. The GOC had by now lost it “ Sir, he dosen’t know what he is talking about. JJ you are a matured officer and should learn to be diplomatic when talking to senior officers.” JJ: “Sir, I joined the army to be a soldier and not a diplomat !!” Now sheer chaos… youngsters do the disappearing act. I am left with the three main players. JJ plays his trump card “Sir, there is little variety in the vegetables in the Div Veg shop and by the time the OR families get a chance only rotten stuff is available. And sir, all people go to the haath in the daytime and nearly all are accompanied by there wives, so where is the question of the women he is talking about” GOC by now is so worked up and shouts : “ JJ you are under arrest for insubordination”. Corps cdr mumbles something to the GOC and they walk away. JJ and I head straight to the bar and order a refill. Everyone discreetly maintaining a distance from us when GOC is back alone “ What the hell are you doing on the bar ? you are under arrest !” JJ: “ Please detail officers to escort me from here. Else someone may charge-sheet me for running away.” GOC about to have a stroke. JJ slept the night in his home, next morning marched up to GOC. He is told that he should be grateful that the Corps Cdr had requested that the officer be left. JJ’s parting comment : “Thank you Sir, but I think an apology is due from you for your behaviour when ladies were present in the party !!” JJ was posted out three months later. But that’s another story A True Incident Touche ... Nandu Chitnis & Col Ashok Col !!+!!
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:46:21 +0000
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