Of missed orders and gained lessons

Lt-Gen Raj Kadyan

The Army  is a great institution for learning. Besides professional and academic training at the Academy, there's the informal learning that one acquires through observation and interaction with seniors, peers and juniors during the service period. 

Soon after being commissioned in June 1962, I was part of a battalion that was being raised in Delhi Cantonment. One day, Lt Gen Henderson Brooks (HB) was flying back from the east and was to board the Frontier Mail for Jalandhar, where he was commanding the Corps. My battalion was tasked with detailing a liaison officer (LO). HB was accompanied by Brig PS Bhagat, Victoria Cross, who later rose to become an Army Commander. 

Second-Lt (a rank now extinct) Kadyan was detailed as the LO. I would have committed a few faux pas, but thanks to the seniors, each turned out be a learning lesson.  

Since the area HQ letter was also addressed to the transport company, directing it to send a car and a truck for the baggage, I took it for granted that the firm would do its part. Accordingly, I got dressed and waited for the car. Suddenly, I saw the adjutant, Major (later Maj General) WS Bakshi arrive on his scooter with a staff car in tow. He was my mentor in the battalion. “Oye kaka,” he said in his disarming style, “since we did not tell them where to send the car, he (the driver) landed up at my house.” Though he graciously used “we”, it was my fault for not coordinating. Lesson 1: An LO must button up the details and I had failed to do so. Lesson 2 : How to tick off without hurting someone's self respect, a la WS Bakshi. We drove to the Palam airport. The sentry stopped me and said the car wasn’t allowed inside. “Orders are orders,” I thought. I got down and walked to the terminal where the aircraft would stop.  

As they came out, Brigadier Bhagat asked me if I had brought a car. “Yes sir, it is just outside the gate as the sentry did not allow it.”  “Ok, let us go and get it,” he said, without showing annoyance. On arriving at the gate, we found the sentry missing. He signalled the car parked nearby and we drove inside the airport. I felt stupid. The Brigadier made no mention of it and in fact engaged me in talk as we drove to the aircraft. Here too, I learnt two lessons. Lesson 1: Since I was receiving a VIP, I should have called for the guard commander and insisted on taking the car inside. Lesson 2: How to subtly treat a discomfited young officer. Brigadier’s silence had a much greater impact than any hollering I should have deservedly got. 

As they were getting into the car, Brig Bhagat told me I could break off since the General’s ADC was handling the baggage. As I saluted, HB interjected, “Hold on, what are your orders?” 

“I have been asked to see you off at the railway station, sir.” The General said, “Then do what you have been told.” Then turning to Brig Bhagat, he said, “Prem remember, order, counter order, disorder”. The lesson requires no explanation. 

Separated by two ranks, HB was Bhagat’s boss’s boss. But I was amazed to see the degree of informality between the two. Driving past some barracks in the cantonment, HB remarked, “These came up in 1945.”

“No sir,” said Bhagat, “these were constructed in 1951.”

“I am very sure these came up in 1945,” the General said emphatically. 

“Sir, I am also very sure, these were constructed in 1951.”

HB: “Ok Prem, who is the senior?”

Bhagat: “You are right sir, these actually came up in 1945.”

The lesson I learnt from their light-hearted banter was that a senior does not have to remain stiff and formal. At the same time, the junior must never forget his juniority. You get the best out of a subordinate by treating him as an equal.