Tibetan chants and the ego

Lt Gen KJ Singh (retd)

THE incident relates to the earlier part of my tenure at Chandimandir and happened during my morning constitutional. An addiction to walking is an essential requirement for me to fight the heredity-induced ‘battle of the bulge’, though it is occasionally interspersed with cycling and treadmill sessions to break the monotony, or because of the weather.  

Those of you who have been to the military station and passed the Shivalik Bird Sanctuary on the Main Avenue (also referred to as Kalwant Singh Marg) would recall a Zen Tibetan garden, which is looked after by Ladakh Scout boys. These simple Ladakhis, who are mostly stationed in Leh-Ladakh, have made Chandimandir their second home, as one of their battalions is stationed here in rotation.

One day, when I passed this place, I called the NCO, who was minding the place. Having served in Sikkim, I was bubbling with ideas, and told him that we should improve the place, add a prayer wheel, install a Buddha statue on an island in the lake and upgrade the eatery. His question was simple and straight, “Aap kaun?” Not used to such a query, I replied that I was the Army Commander. The punch followed instantly, “Lagta to nahin”. Instinctively, I asked him how was an Army Commander supposed to look like? Urgyen Tsering, with a toothy smile, explained to me that an Army Commander was preceded by some people, accompanied by an entourage and even has a follow-up element. Almost in an accusatory manner, he told me that over the last few days, he had seen me roaming around alone. 

I could not dispute such a simple logic, and so I smiled and carried on with my walk.

As I was leaving for my office, I surprised my driver by asking him to change direction and drive towards the sanctuary. After all, I had to convince Urgyen that I was indeed the Army Commander. After he saw me, he was most apologetic, but I hugged him and we became friends. Like a loyal soldier, he took charge of the project — prayer wheel, mini island with a Buddha statue and a cosy eatery serving authentic Tibetan cuisine — which has come up very well. Meanwhile, I continued to follow Tagore’s Ekla chalo re. Even my new friend got used to it. 

Do consider visiting the place and taking a walk on the plaza around the lake with the most soothing Tibetan chants. If  you are a General, leave your ego behind, for there is nothing like walking alone and communicating with your inner self and, of course, the bonus is Urgyen’s smile to perk up your day!