Commander-in-Chiefs' are Important 'People'

Commander-in-Chiefs' are Important 'People'

If you are like me, who joined the Services, with zero exposure to defence Services and only 'Commando' art books and Alistair MacLean to go by, then you would understand that why I thought CinC's were very important 'persons'.

After actually joining the Services, it became I was convinced, that the CinC was personally monitoring my performance and progress as a Cadet in the Naval Academy. By the time the Passing-out-Parade was announced, it was evident to me that the CinC, other than me, was 'personally' monitoring the progress and performance of my drill instructor, Divisional officer, Canteen officer and the Librarian too! My respect for the CinC was greatly enhanced. 

Being academically below par, I had missed the 'Duties and Responsibilities' of the CinC in Service subjects. It is only during the Sea Cadets' time and and as a Midshipman (two times), and a few Annual Inspections thrown in between, I finally figured out that the CinC was INDEED an important 'person'. But much to my relief I also figured out that he wasn't really (like by God) not monitoring my progress or performance (yet).

I won't drag ths further. Time flew.

I was once the Board President of a SNC Inter-Galley Cooking Competition! The Board visited selected SNC units, far and wide. 'Tasting' food and following guidelines of a Navy Order. As expected, all units put their best 'food' forward during our inspection. 

The challenge was in units which had multiple galleys!

It was a Friday. Fishy friday in the Navy!

Galley 1 : Fish Fry

Galley 2 : Fish fry

Galley 3 : You guessed it right!

Galley 4 : Now you get it.

There were whispers : 'Officer cook' आया था galley में 😆. 

You're guessed it right, again : Cooks (Officers') were not to participate in the competition. Only the Ship's Galley(s).

The Board consisted of officers who were both pioneers in software development for the Indian Navy. But in those days they were seen as cry babies, forever demanding high end servers and the works. 

The result of the competition was all that the Board was required to submit. We did. I got fired, terribly, by my CO for not championing the cause of my own unit 😁

I, as the Board President, had also submitted an unsolicited but comprehensive report on the futility of the 'competition'. A report that POTUS Donald Trump's DOGE would be proud of today!

And then, as I went back to my 'duties', I forgot all about it.

Mind you! By now I KNEW CinC's don't bother with the stuff their Staff handle🤣 and especially know nothing about what I do or how I perform. SRO. Oops!!

Then one fine day, quite day, a couple of months later, a flutter. Flutter in the corridors. CO साब ने बुलाया. Flutter in my solar plexus. 

CO : "Did you submit a report alongwith results of Inter Galley Competition?"

Me : 🤔. Yes Sir.

CO : Who told you?

Me : 😲. Sir!

CO : What did you write?

Me : 😌. Sir, the futility of the whole exercise. 

CO : I got a call from the CSO(P&A).

Me : 😑 Sir.

CO : Someone put up your your report to the CinC 😡

Me : 😲Sir.

Me (Within) : Gulp.

Me (Within) : Do CinCs even READ such mundane reports? 😲

CO : CinC has directed to stop this wonderful competition based on your report 😡

Me (forever) : CinCs know everything, read everything, the minutest details. CinC knows every single person, activity, event,  individually. To the last detail.

About your unit and you. Hence, he is an important 'person'.

_As reminisced by Captain Rajshekhar Banerjee_.

Battle of Cattle

*Battle of Cattle*

Once during POP at Naval Academy (then in Goa) best laid plans were stalled by नंदी The Bull !!

Naval Academy was on hill top having large areas under thicket, scrub and brush. Therein lived a massive bull with a cow or two. Non domesticated and un-chasable because of the terrain. Cows being cows, docile and naturally inclined to be close to human habitation were often seen near messes, gardens, parks and staff quarters.

But their timing of being on the road during VIP visits was impressive 😁. The dry run to VIP visits was invariably a 'देखो' in front of CO's car 😄

Generations of COs, troops, morning PT groups, evening Games squads, QRT, माली, contractors couldn't either catch or chase them. This was much to the delight of the community of ladies and children who would feed रोटी and invoke prayers for the bovine safety. 

(To wit), a time came when the Hon Commission of the Bosunmate was lined-up his ability to capture or chase the Bull away (for the cows would be easy to catch thereafter, it was assumed).

This background is necessary to understand the events which unfolded on the day before the POP with the Air Chief Marshall being the Chief Guest and Reviewing Officer. Every conceivable Karmic Law started unfolding on the day.

It rained. No big deal. 

After the evening function presented by the Cadets the VIP convoy proceeded to the Wardroom lawns for reception. 

Sure enough AT THE APPOINTED HOUR, the The Bull presented himself at a right-angled turn, obscured by pretty bougainvillea.

The VIP convoy Pilot and out-riders negotiated The Bull as they were all from the unit. But the VIP car was hired!

The VIP convoy, as mandated and exercised, maintained distance, speed and elan! However the bewildered hired car driver was taken by complete surprise by the mountain of a bull (who had by then positioned himself bang in the middle of the road). He was STILL.

As you already know, it was evening enough to be dark and the road wet. Suddenly, the 'Street Illumination Enhancement' Works' file - still not cleared by the MES - enveloped the CO's mind !!

The driver slammed the brakes. The ACM, a fighter pilot, was unfazed. The CO who was accompanying the ACM leapt out of the car. 

Shooo! Shooh! Livid. But The Bull was just on the brink of depositing the mightiest load of poo-doo-dung. He wouldn't budge at the shoo-ing of a mere CO💪

That is when Karmic Laws stuck again. The VIP hired car stalled!! After the very first failed attempt to restart, the ACM leapt out of the car and started walking towards the Wardroom lawns. The CO understood. The fighter pilot, ACM to boot, would have nothing to do with anything STALLED. 

How to I know the details?

I, who had, for the occasion, was, firstly permitted to bolt the auditorium before the programme ended: Was directed to receive the VIP at the Wardroom. 

So, when the VIP convoy reached the portico, albeit without the VIP car, I was perplexed. I rushed to the bend, and WHAT A SIGHT !!

The jovial ACM and the CO, enjoying the mild drizzle laughing, and walking up briskly. Knowing wise men!

Drizzle!! Couldn't scream. Turned back and waved to the' 'Umbrella team' to rush. They gave me quizzical looks from the safety of the portico. They wouldn't budge. Nope.

The distance was small and the two were gaining on my location. But by that time I wasn't looking at them. I was looking beyond them. Dozens of backup vehicles, ExO Gypsy, Regulating Officer's Gypsy,  private cars had all stopped around the bend. And a large body of gentlemen, in their evening mess uniform, WALKING BEHIND. In complete silence 😆

The ladies? Ohh! I have quite forgotten. It was such a minute in the passing.

The evening was full of mirth and every conceivable Naval disaster, goof up and Air Safety stories were discussed with great mirth and bereft of seriousness. A book rivalling 'On the Psychology of Military Incompetence' could very well have taken shape that night. 

Next morning the Cadets, as expected, gave an exceptional account of themselves on the drill square. Military matters and a stirring speech by the VIP ensured complete silence on the past evening's incident at the post POP refreshments. 

*Hot Washup*

One major issue that was discussed, was; why had I failed to spot The Bull when permitted to bolt the auditorium a few minutes earlier than the VIP.

_As reminisced by Captain Rajshekhar Banerjee_.

ज़रूरी तो नहीं.... अरुण खोब्रागड़े

My new one, for you Raj

ना जाने क्या जिंदगी ढूंढ रही हैं,

जिंदगी होंगी आसान यह ज़रूरी तो नहीं।

हमने यूंही एक पत्थर उछाला तन्हा बैठे बैठे,

हर सवाल का होगा हल यह ज़रूरी तो नहीं।

ख्वाबों के समंदर में निकली है अपनी कश्ती,

किनारा मिलेगा यह ज़रूरी तो नहीं।

हाथों कि लकीरें हो यां माथे की शिकन,

हर कोई अपने अंजाम तक पहुंचे ये जरूरी तो नहीं।

दरों दीवार को बंद कर जो सर झुकाए रहोगे तुम,

खुशबू तुम्हारी दूर तक जाए यह जरूरी तो नहीं।

                              अरुण

Avinash Nichkawde : Sunday morning reminiscence.

Avinash Nichkawde, was an 'Alpha male' before the phrase was born in linguistic architecture. I suspect it was coined specifically for him. 

Flashback 1980. Our 'house' (Ahilya, if I recollect correctly) was looking for someone to participate in the high jump event. Unlike 4x100 etc where the blame of being beaten by Avinash's team could be distributed to many individuals, it would not be possible in a high-jump event. 

As described in the previous Mathuranath Sanskrit recitation episode, I have held this distinction of being elected / selected for all unwilling events. So, lo and behold, I was the 'nominated volunteer' for representing the house.

It is much later in life I found out, such nominations are made by teachers / bosses to score brownie points with higher bosses (Mr. Naeem in this case). 

_See, we didn't let a walk over happen_  or _I motivated a young fella to take up the challenge_ 

In any case I was sent for a toss or a high jump, if you please. 

I, true to my own motivations and emerging Carl Lewis की कसम type, practiced for the big day. Of course, I was staying 16 km away from school with no facilities.  I guess I was confident that Avinash had this distinct disadvantage of not having home food and as a hostel boarder and being next to the high jump pit would only make him take it easy. I was fuelled by the hare and tortoise tale.

Cometh the day and cometh the hour, I was in the classroom, doing what I was good at : looking vacantly through the teacher and through the blackboard too. Someone came and informed, that I was to report to the high jump pit for the inter-house competition. I was shocked! I wanted to study. Now. Like I've never needed education more. The teacher permitted and I left reluctantly. *That day, the world lost a great academic in the making.*

The place was full! With girls too!!

Will the shame be mine! 

Avinash was dressed for the occassion. You know, the shorts, shorter than anything I had seen. I was not undressed either. I was wearing the loose full-pant! 

I vaguely remember some teachers (Mr. Gangajaliwale or Mr. Sherekar I do not recollect) asking me if I had something more sporty. I wondered, what could be more honorable than wearing the school uniform. I just had to jump, right; not swim! 

The competition started. There were more participants than I had guessed. Obviously other teachers too had made the efforts to shine their respective self appraisal. 

The others competitors quickly fell through. Only me and the great Khali were left at the pit. At one point Avinash tipped the bar and I cleared!! I WAS THE WORLD. Then the Rules came into play. They always do, when you are winning, right. Wrong. 

In high jump, competitors are allowed three attempts to clear a height. For the naughty minds, I was doing the Straddle while Avinash was doing the (Dick) Fosbury (what else!) technique.

In the next jump, Avinash soared over the bar by a mile. I knew my fate. I've no memories of the next height jump. On the appointed day we  collected our prizes.

Ever since, I've held, that coming second is way better than coming first. During my training at Naval Academy this theory was PROVEN. If if you came in the first enclosure after a long distance run, you were subjected to more 'training' till the last enclosure boys reached many minutes later. वो कहानी फिर सही.

Avinash, wishing you a happy wedding on 19 April 2024 (I will vote for you). 

Best wishes from a Best man. 

Human Race &Cycle of Destruction

Human race
Is Nature’s programmed creation….
to ensure the cycle of destruction.
So, let’s soldier on.

Swami Unohoo

Morning reminiscence.... Sanskrit Recitation Competition

It was class IX, X or XI.

XI academically unlikely, but then anything is possible.

Evidently, with great difficulty three names were mustered. Three only, in a school full of students studying Sanskrit! 

Evidence that there was GREAT difficulty is getting participants was; that I was the third name. 🤓 

For decades it has remained a mystery 'how me'! Why me?  I surely displayed no special acumen!! 😏

Only now I recollet that my elder brother was proficient and much liked by the Sanskrit teacher. So maybe she took a chance. I still kick myself for not protesting enough. But such are divine interventions. 😌

Mathuranath and Laxminarayan were the other two participants. 🙏🏽🙏🏽

To me, in those days, Suprabhatam and Shri VishnuSahasranam were 'something' 'South Indians' listened-to in the early morning without fail. Growing up in the 'colony', it was  sometimes 'irritating' and but useful during exam times!🤭

Laxminarayan recited his 'thing' with great authority. But, what stuck with me was the devotion in delivery of Mathuranath. I think mellifluous is the word. 😌

I do not recollect who recited what, but I recited only 10 assorted shloks out of The Gita. And for my effort I  was awarded the Third prize. Remember, there were only 3 participants!! 🥹

I thank my father, who was very sound with The Gita, for choosing the 10 assorted shlokas. They are the only 10 which remained with me till 2016. Only thereafter, I've attempted to read up The Gita with some purpose. I've not been able to go beyond chapter 2. It is so very enriching that I cannot go forward without assimilating it first.

I've held, Mathuranath recited Shri VishnuSahasranaam. And ever since I've had this urge to figure out what Shri VishnuSahasranaam was all about.

Sometimes in the 1990's I obtained a copy with translations to pursue understanding it. But military training and Naval 'regimen' took over. The next excuse was 'grihast aashram'.  

Finally, after swallowing the anchor, I've restarted my effort to 'figure out' ShriVishnuSahasranaam. *And what a delight it is* *!!*

I expect to skim the top of it by the time I'm 80. The depths, I think, may take many 'kalps' and 'janms'. 

Thank you Mathuranath. 🙏🏽

मंत्रोच्चार में कोई कमी ना रखें

 ** मंत्र का अर्थ है, एक शुद्ध ध्वनि ** 

मंत्रोच्चार में कोई कमी ना रखें | 

कदापि | 

 *मुख से मंत्र ध्वनि सही ना निकाल सकें तो मंत्र को मन में पढ़ें या सुनें* | 

यह उदाहरण सर्वश्रेष्ठ है. 

रावण के चंडी पाठ में यज्ञ कर रहे ब्राह्मणों की सेवा में ब्राह्मण बालक का रूप धारण कर हनुमानजी सेवाकार्य करने लगे।

हनुमानजी की नि:स्वार्थ सेवा से प्रसन्न होकर ब्राह्मणों ने हनुमानजी से वर माँगने को कहा। इस पर हनुमान ने आदरपूर्वक कहा कि प्रभु, यदि आप प्रसन्न हैं तो जिस मंत्र से यज्ञ कर रहे हैं, उसका *एक अक्षर* बदलने का मैं आपसे निवेदन कर रहा हूं।

हवन में लगे हुए ब्राह्मण हनुमानजी की मंशा को समझ नहीं सके और उन्होंने उनको तथास्तु कह दिया। 

मंत्रोच्चार में हनुमानजी ने कहा कि आप जयादेवी भूर्तिहरिणी में ' *ह* ' के स्थान पर ' *क* ' का उच्चारण करे। यह मेरी इच्छा है। 

इसका अर्थ है *भूर्तिहरिणी* यानी कि प्राणियों की पीड़ा हरने वाली और ' *_करिणी_* ' का अर्थ हो गया प्राणियों को पीड़ित करने वाली, जिससे देवी रुष्ट हो गईं और रावण को पराजित कर उसका विनाश कर दिया। 

हनुमानजी ने श्लोक में ' *ह* ' की जगह ' *क* ' करवाकर रावण के यज्ञ को सर्वकल्याण की जगह सर्वनाश में बदल दिया।

*मुख से मंत्र ध्वनि सही ना निकाल सकें तो मंत्र को मन में पढ़ें या सुनें* |