An Interview Of The Adjutant General Of India On His Last Day In Uniform
By Noel Ellis
I heard about an interview of the ‘Adjutant General of India’ (AGI), (I say this on purpose) in which he wants to lay down a code of conduct for Veterans. Let me be one of the few who breaks that ‘Code of Conduct’ as I feel let down by our own people. So here goes….
When I joined National Defence Academy & IMA, everyone talked about an ‘Honour Code’. We spoke the truth and nothing but the truth. We chose the ‘harder right’ instead of the ‘easier wrong’. We were supposed to be Gentlemen first and Officers later. So began our lives in uniform. A life within lots of written and unwritten codes of conduct, rules, regulations & laws.
We were put under the Army Act & Army Rules on commissioning. We also had the Regulations for the Army. An Army Officers conduct had to be above board was ingrained. We got used to be ‘regulated’ & ordered upon. Do this, that and the sundry, without questioning or challenging orders, even if it meant death. This was when we already were governed by the IPC and CrPC. Ignorance of orders was also a crime. Ganging up was equated to mutiny. We always upheld our conduct or got punished accordingly.
Officer’s had a written code of conduct and an unwritten code of conduct to follow. Ladies had to be respected and we had to treat them befittingly. Roll call had to be attended by officers, all parades were compulsory, from Mandir Parade to Make and Mend Parade. Mai-Baap Parade, including games & PT parade. Upholding Human Rights also formed part of our code of conduct.
To add to these rules, we had numerous SOPs. Good units even had SOPs for going to the loo. Men’s toilets could have nudes and ladies’ toilets flowers. Bar was out of bound for ladies and children, not for the drinks but for the beautiful anatomies of the female spices & matters discussed over drinks, though ladies and politics were a taboo subject for the mess.
Mess had its code. Mess timings had to be adhered to strictly. Ante room had its code. Watching TV had its code. One could watch only that channel which the senior officer preferred, now it is what my wife prefers. It was the seniors privilege to read the newspaper, splitting the newspaper was a taboo. Yes, one could get drunk once in a while and get away with it.
Playing cards was a big ‘no-no’ but bridge used to go on for ages in the mess. Mess Havildar would get fed up and without getting the food warmed up again, come and announce ‘Bhojan ‘Panchvi Baar’ prastut hai Shiriman’. Lending and borrowing money was a crime. Now of course we have banks to give huge loans, replacing the good old Unit Baniya.
As juniors, opening your mouth wasn’t allowed. Now after retirement, you want us to still keep our mouths shut. My foot! Thanks to the ESM agitation, conducted in the most becoming way ESM could conduct themselves, that we could extract our dues partly. Thank them and keep off that turf.
I ask, why not lay down a code of conduct for Politicians and Media. They can get away with murder. You have now given them enough ammunition to fire at the veteran community, without realising what harm your words and letters have done. At least you could have taken the veterans on board as a code of conduct, before opening your mouth so wide.
Let me introduce you to some new ‘Codes of Conduct in the civil’. Most Veterans feel uncomfortable, misfit, suffocated and miserable, after we join private companies. What had been taught to us by our great institutions of Army, Navy or Air Force are not followed in the civil. We get confused, as there is no C of C of diplomacy, sweet talk, compromising your ‘Usool’ taught in the fauj. Unless you have mastered it AGI Saab. You may find it difficult being a ‘Self-Respecting Officer’ here.
Now that you have hung your uniform, you are welcome to this side of Suez, which is real life. You better keep your scooter clean and polish your shoes every day, as an unwritten code you had laid for your sahayak. Get used to bringing your own milk and Sabji. Stand in queue to collect your quota from the CSD canteen. Faster you learn, better it is for you.
Enough of ye karo, ye mat karo, isko aise karo. Now, it is, main chahe jo karun Meri Marzi, so buzz off. Let ‘US’ breathe freely Sir. My two letter code word for you is, ‘PU TUHS’. Have you understood Retired & Superannuated Adjutant General Saab? I wonder!!!!!!!!!
