The Awakening

The Awakening.
   It was pitch dark all around and time was not known.Ganesan was dead tired and was in deep sleep.Something like in  dream he heard a faint voice,Saheb!..Saheb!...Ganesan slowly awoke and opened his eyes.A smiling face of the dvr spoke.....Saheb!Please getup....Hot chappathi,and fish curry are ready......Please have a peg of this whiskey which will be muscle relaxing and have dinner.After words I will do massage of your leg with the mustered oil and you will be fighting fit in the morning....Ganesan was wonder struck and asked the dvr,how he could find us and who prepared all these.
    A smiling,un educated driver replied,"Saheb!...After you both started walking,I got the jeep ready and drove back along the route as directed by you.En route I saw a punchure shop and got both the punchure repaired;Further as I was driving uphill along the Bageshwar river,some locals were catching fish;so I got down and purchased some fish for us and started moving up.As this was the dead end and no road further I stopped here and looked for you both.Almost every one in this area is either serving or Ex service men and they love FOUJI.so there was no difficulty at all in locating you.Our surveyer was totally lost and did not know what to do excepting guarding you Since all the stores were in the vehicle I quickly got into action and now dinner is ready"How did you get money for all these and how did you get whiskey?
   Saheb!...There is standing instruction in our unit.When ever an officer goes on a camp,the administrative JCO will be responsible for all these arrangements and I .was given Rs.1000 for incidental expenditure.I will
submit accounts on return.You dont worry Saheb!
   For the first time in life Ganesan started realising the role of officership in the Army and the loyalty of Ranks and Files.As tears rolling down from his eyes,Ganesan thought for a while,what gratitude he has to pay for this except keeping himself the fittest and capable officer to lead them in war and peace.

Contd

contd.....
Arruond 3pm they reached a dead end beyond which there was no road.But Ganesan was to recee that area only.Locals told that you have to go back for about 100km to reach that place by different rout.The same place can be reached by walking about 30 km further in this rout itself.Since this is the streach which is to be seen Ganesan decided to halt there itself.He further directed that himself and the surveyer will walk the 30km next day and the dvr will go back in the return rout and meet them at the destination.They prepared pack lunch for the next day ant slept early as they have to leave very early.The next day they got ready as planed and was about to leave after giving direction to the dvr. At that time Ganesan was terribly shocked to see another tyre of the jeep flat.The one which was punctured yester day was not yet repaired and now how to get this repaired in  that remote area.
   But the dvr was not at all worried.He politely told that has a new tube and foot pump and repair the tyre himself.He encouraged Ganesan to leave early as they have to walk up hill.Young Ganesan was very much disturbed to split the the team and how to get them together again.Leaving it to GOD, himself and the surveyer started along the foot path.All along the rout Kumaon Regt of the Infantry Ex service men were there.Though physically fit Ganesan was all the time worried about the dvr whether he will be able to find them.Walking up hill was very tyring and also time was running short. All along the rout plenty of orange trees were there and enjoying the hospitality of Ex service men they were walking.It was getting dark and they were walking along the  mighty Bageshwar river.It was pitch dark when they reached Sam and Ganesan was dead tired.There was no trace of the dvr.Ganesan told the surveyer that he could not stand and lyed down in the veranda like place of a closed shop.It was cold and he covered himself with the blanket he
was carrying and slept.
contd.....

Organisation of Engineers in the Army

The corps of Engineers.
We saw the Engineers are organised into three groups ie MEG,BEG,and Bombay EG and the functional units are organised into Field companies and Field park companies.The field companies are the executive force consisting of 5 Officers, about 15junior commissioned officers,about 30 Non commissioned officers
and about250sepoys(they are called sappers ).Upto 1964 the companies were independent and holding all types of Engineer equipments and moved according to operational requirements.The Field park company is a store holding unit and holds reserve stores and heavy equipments.ADivision will have Engineers from any group for example HQ Engineers from MEG,one Field company from MEG another from BEG,another from Bombay and Field park from MEG.Since these personnel speak their regional languages,general administration,and inter posting of personnel  became difficult.Engineer support to a Formation also increased and minimum three field company support was always required.Under these circumstances it was felt that the Engineers be Re organised into Engineer Regiments having all personnel from the same group
     Ganesan was carrying out routine works and was sent on a special road recce in Oct 1964 towards Mana Pass.Himself a surveyer a jeep and driver were to be out for three-four days into the Himalayas.Since Ganesan was new to Army the driver is told to be totally responsible for the veh and the surveyer for food and adm.The team set out on a morning and after travelling for about three hours halted for rest.Hot tea was served to Ganesan.He smillingly took it as he was not knowing that tea was being brought in a flask.After the break when they were about to get into the jeep Ganesan was shocked to see one wheel was flat.But the driver smillingly told not to worry and with in 15 mts changed the tyre.Ganesan was thrilled on seeing the adm arrangements and smartness of the dvr.For the first time he started appreciating the Army way of works.
   The UP-Tibet border areas are wooded with Deodar trees which grows to 100-150 feet and are thickly wooded.This does not  let the sun light to ground till  the sun come over your head and with in an hour or so shade and darkness sets in.Contd.......

Taking the silver spoon.

Officership in the Army....contd.
   Officers life in the Army is no doubt very luxurious especially in peace stations and when the threat of war is not there.The training at the college of military engineering was for three months just to introduce  the role of Engineers in war and peace.The corps of Engineers of the Army consists of three groups,Madras,Bengal,and Bombay.The troops for these groups are recruited from the regions as the name indicates,south,north and central India.Ganesan was allotted Madras Engineering Group(MEG) and posted to 44Field Park Company.
    At this point readers should know how Engineers play a vital role in the Army.A Division consisting of about 20,000 troops is considered to be Independent to perform with all elements of  arms and services.It will have 3 Infantry Brigades and elements of Signals,Engineers,Arty,Armoured Trps,Supply,Medical and other such support elements.The Engineers were organised into independent companies  and a Division will have HQ Engineers and 3 Field companies and one Field park company.Depending upon operational requirement the units will move.Ganesan reported to 44 Field Park Company which was part of 6 Mountain Division at Pithoragarh,UP-Tibet border in Aug 1964.

Officership in the Army....cotd

Officership in the Army..... cotd.   The indian Army when it was created during British rule was not officered by indians.Only British officers used to command indian soldiers.The British officers who were commissioned into indian Army was considered to be  poor and inferior as compared to officers who are commanding British soldiers. It was Rajaram mohanroy who fought that indian troops should be commanded by Indian officers arround 1930 Kings commission  was opened to indians.It should be remembered that  British officers  were Queens commissioned.The British officers who commanded Indian troops in world war1 and 2 had made it known  to the world  that  Indian troops are second to none in the world.
   As Free and independent India,the Indian commission was different types ,mentioned above.Amongst these officers the NDA trained officers were considered to be better by and large(The Granite).But it cannot be denied that even amongst others (conglamerated) great Leaders emerged.Under these circumstances Ganesan was commissioned and came for young officers training to the College of Military Engineering,Pune in May 1964.
cotd...