Learnt, by accident

ON commissioning, I was posted to a battalion that was to be raised three months hence. I thus became the first individual to be on its rolls. On the raising date, only five officers and some 200 men had joined. The men were side-posted from other battalions. No one parts with his best soldiers. Though we had the latitude and many were returned during screening, we still had a motley group. I was the only Second Lieutenant — a coveted rookie rank considered an extension of the training period; its holder addressed as ‘Mister’; meant to be only seen and not heard; his errors and omissions condoned. This rank stands discontinued.

I was appointed the Intelligence Officer. As his understudy, I shared the office tent with the Adjutant, a senior Major and an excellent guide. One day, I was tasked to collect pamphlets from the publication division in old Delhi. The driver of the 15 cwt truck, posted in from a battalion in J&K, followed drills to perfection. He sat erect, adjusted the rear view mirror, held the steering wheel in the regulation 10 O’ clock and 2 O’clock position and took my permission before starting. Though the country had switched to the metric system in the mid-1950s, the speedometer still showed miles. He maintained a steady 12 mph (20 kmph) speed, telling me that these were the strict orders of his Subedar platoon commander. I was duly impressed.

Just short of reaching Connaught Place, there was a girl crossing the road. She was almost 20 feet ahead and there was enough time to stop. But inexplicably, the driver didn’t apply brakes. Hit by the bumper, the girl fell. The truck continued beyond, at the ordained 12 mph, till I shouted and the driver stopped.

I walked back, apologised and comforted the girl, who was now struggling to stand up. A uniformed Squadron Leader, who had been following behind, came up. Having asked my name and unit, he volunteered to take her to hospital. I asked if I should accompany them, but he said no need.

On learning that the pamphlets would be available only in the afternoon, I called up the Adjutant and also told him about the accident. He took the CO on parallel and I faced some rapid-fire questions.

“Was the girl very badly hurt?”

“No sir.”

“Did you fill up the accident form?”

“No sir.” I had no idea what it was.

“Did you report to the civil and military police?”

“No sir.”

“Who was the girl?”

“I don’t know sir.”

“Who was the Air Force officer?”

“I don’t know sir.”

“The name of the hospital?”

“Don’t know sir.”

The Adjutant and I visited her college. Many girls, who had witnessed the accident, pointed fingers at me. I felt mortified. Luckily, she had suffered only a minor injury and the matter was amicably settled.

There were two immediate outcomes. A special vetting was done and drivers considered fit for city driving were shortlisted. Second, anyone taking a military vehicle into the city was to get a briefing from me on ‘actions to be taken in case of an accident’.