Deadly Daggers

 

Deadly Daggers

 

A posting to Wellington as a Directing Staff post your command is greeted with mixed reactions by most of the Colonels in Indian Army. Yes, the first feeling is euphoric, that professionally you have probably made a mark and this is just its recognition. But soon the day-to-day mundane issues overpower this feeling and one has to start staring at some of the facts, primary among them is a separation in the offing due to the kids’ education and of course the distance from the heartland so to say. The environment also conveys a similar approach; some of the colleagues go green with envy, while others bring out the practical difficulties associated with such a move.

Mine was also a similar predicament, in fact, when the command was nearing an end, I had sought out the Mysterious Branch (Military Secretary branch, responsible for what is euphemistically referred to as Human Resource Management, in simple language they manage our postings and promotions) and asked them if they had any issues with my application for study leave, fearing that I would probably be told to lay off. But surprise of surprises, I was told to go right ahead, and so I decided that it was about time I hone my technical prowess and opted for pursuing postgraduation in Engineering. The added attraction of course was that my son was at a crucial juncture in his academic pursuits, the proverbial class XII and I felt I could help him stay focussed on task at hand. We have all been through this age when the hormones start to make their presence felt and an adolescent lad can be more than a handful for the mother to handle all by herself, with you providing just the moral and material support long distance.

  I was already imagining myself as a student and for the first time in my life in a real college (!!) so to say. National Defence Academy, Military College of Telecommunication Engineering and Defence Services Staff College don’t really qualify as colleges as they are premier military institutions and are more military than academic. Looking forward to interacting with youngsters in the college canteens, GTs (the mass bunking), yes it seemed rather exciting. I had even started to colour my hair to keep that youthful appearance. But all that was short-lived and then came this bolt from the blue, the Mysterious Branch unveiled another one of their famous mysteries and sent me packing to the salubrious environs of Wellington. As luck would have it, my reliever, Col ( now a two star) KV Kumar, a fellow Rimcollian was coming in for his second command himself, having earned the coveted Dagger here. Another one of those mysteries of MS Branch to send him for another command assignment having done his time in hell in his previous avatar as the CO.

Daggers can be earned, or you are born into it, Delta Squadron NDA guys are born into it, not by merit, just by birth like in our Caste system. Then there are those who earn it the hard way like the Commando Daggers who are awarded this coveted title after a gruelling commando course in which they come out trumps, leading the pack. The last but not the least by any means are that breed who were sent back to Wellington as Instructors since they did not do full justice the first time, they landed up here.

Be that as it may, we all have very fond memories of this institution, so grudgingly one accepted the Wellington has, to use the cliché, “the old-world charm” and far from the madding crowd, it is an idyllic haven for a recluse like me. Having landed up here, the pristine beauty and nature at its magnanimous best naturally made me thank the Almighty for having got me here yet again. Once again the Mungerilal (the one who indulged in the favourite pastime of many a students here, day-dreaming)in me took off on flights of fancy, golf, nature walks, bird watching (I mean the feathered ones!!) and lot of time for creative pursuits. But alas, I was yet to be blooded and as the ignoramus that I am, wondered what was all this whining for something as innocuous as corrections, something which we undertook on a routine basis in the units, correcting drafts! The old timers just smiled very indulgently, amused at this banter by the first termer.

 The first interactions with the student officers were naturally very interesting and despite the hours spent on the table, it did appear to be good. We managed to steal some golfing moments also once in a while, renewed my acquaintance with Squash court (my old pal) and of course the course-mates only provided that icing on the cake. It seemed too good to be true and so it was, the first set of corrections soon made their way to our tables. Having perused the sample corrections by now, the mammoth proportions were now quite evident to the rookies like me also. For unversed, the Directing Staff here write more than the students themselves, so for every line of theirs a paragraph worth is added in terms of corrections and value addition. But putting on a brave front, we set upon this in a warlike manner, the first one was overcome with no bruises, neither the ego nor the intellect, all safe in their respective havens. But soon it was time for some thinking with “Soch Vichar”(name of an Exercise), and I realised as to why was it named “Kaise Karoon” when we did the course, it was more apt naturally. About 225 pages (nine files multiplied by an average of 25 pages submission each! for the uninitiated!)took their toll on our limbs and I was left wondering as to why didn’t Almighty make us all ambidextrous, if not all at least the Directing Staff at DSSC at least should be blessed with this boon. A new ailment was soon reported which left the medical fraternity all puzzled, “Correction Elbow”, yes just like its more common cousin Tennis elbow it afflicts the person whose elbow has been over-exercised. The followers of Hippocrates have thrown up their hands in despair, now we are on the lookout for alternate medicines, as the corrections stream doesn’t appear to be drying anytime too soon, what with spate of exercises Chinthe, Parvat Raksha already piled up and Laxman Rekha to follow soon.