THE INDIAN ARMY WE GREW UP IN - THEN AND NOW By Brig Bajaj

THE INDIAN ARMY WE GREW UP IN – THEN AND NOW

1971 –the June 1971 Regular Course is commissioned, goes to battle stations within six months of commissioning and emerges as a band of young war hardened veterans christened as the ‘Born to Battle Course’. Now that each and every member of our course has honourably retired and the last of the 1971 War Veterans has hung up his uniform, we nostalgically reminiscence that though life in the Army was never a bed of roses, most of us enjoyed our three to four decades of service without too many heart burns/hiccups. One really heartening aspect of our ‘life encompassing journey’ was the bonding and camaraderie developed at the National Defence Academy or the Indian Military Academy and thereafter nurtured over decades of service. These bonds grew not only amongst the officers and the men but transgressed the uniform and emerged as an even more unique and amazing kinship between the wives and children of officers and jawans!
One never imagined that these relationships between the officers, ladies and children developed so early in life, would transcend decades and become stronger over the years. Thanks to the social networking sites available today and the instant connectivity via mobile phones our generation and that of our children enjoys an unbelievable camaraderie, bonhomie and kinship even though we retired years ago! The very mention of the word ‘Army’ or ‘Services’ and ones hand automatically reaches out in a gesture of warm greeting and if required support !
Last month my daughter and son -in- law located at Gurgaon told us that they have a week off and would like to visit Rajasthan and see places like Jodhpur and Jaisalmer – places one had operated in for the better part of our lives. Since my son –in-law is from a totally civilian background I was keen to help him acquire a flavour of the army we had served in for almost forty years. I, therefore, decided to tie up accommodation for them in army areas in Rajasthan.
The children, along with our two little granddaughters drove from Delhi and, needless to say, had a wonderful holiday with the army extending hospitality at Nasirabad, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Through the children’s own connectivity, courtesy regimental networking, they came to know that one of my then young regimental officers, now the Commandant of an Armoured Regt was out with his Regiment on training in that area and therefore they arranged to meet over lunch enroute to Jaisalmer.
On 29 Dec 11,on their way back from Jaisalmer, they had decided to have breakfast with the Commandant but about 10 km short of his location they became the victims of a horrific accident trying to avoid a wayward car driver. So severe was the impact that their car turned turtle twice over and our four month old granddaughter flew out of the broken windscreen and landed on the sand providentially totally unscratched. Fortunately, the family emerged from the accident badly shaken but, with the grace of God, safe. My daughter immediately called up the Commandant and informed him of the accident.

Reacting as only the army can, he with a medical team and a recovery vehicle rushed to the spot, evacuated the hapless victims on the bitterly cold morning and took them to the Regiment where an army doctor attended to them. Though in a camp environment, he ensured the best of comfort possible for the badly traumatized family. Sacrificing his own comfort, the officer housed them in the warmest place available in the camp - his own caravan. He ensured that they were comfortably housed till they were fit enough to travel and also made alternate arrangements for them to travel to Jodhpur. He also took pains to ensure that the car was recovered and brought to the camp till it was evacuated to Delhi a day later.

The story does not end here. By some coincidence the news of the accident reached the Divisional HQ at Jodhpur where the GOC was informed about the unfortunate accident wherein the children of one Brig Bajaj, a retired Armoured Corps officer, had a miraculous escape. The General Officer Commanding , who happened to be an old student of mine and a younger colleague, did not lose time and rang me up to reassure me that all was well with the children. I was concerned about a detailed medical checkup for the four of them since all doctors in Rajasthan were on an indefinite strike. He promised me that he would personally ensure a proper medical checkup for all of them at MH Jodhpur and also make sure that they are comfortable and safe till they depart for Delhi. When the children arrived at Jodhpur they were escorted to the hospital, thoroughly examined and housed comfortably till their departure for Delhi the next afternoon. As if all this was not enough, the GOC and his wife were gracious enough to visit the children and personally enquire about their well being.

Where else can one dream of such kinship and camaraderie? It is indeed reassuring that notwithstanding all the bad mouthing, neglect and indifference suffered by our Army (read Armed Forces) at the hand of the Government, the Bureaucracy, the Media and some unscrupulous senior officers our wonderful organization is flourishing and the present day officers and men still cherish and live by the value systems we grew up with. We veterans can, therefore, rest reassured that with the current generation in place, our Services and, therefore, our country men are in safe hands!!

Can any organization be it the elitist (nose in the air) IAS, IPS or for that matter any other organization in India boast of such bonding or brotherhood ???


Brig Deepak Bajaj,VSM,(Retd)