A group of soldiers “trots” through the walkway of the army cantonment area. Returning after finishing their “clerical duties “at the cantonment office. A Major turns up at the corner in an olive color SUV Maruti Gypsy. With full of confidence and dignity he rests his left hand at the window sill. That is the custom which one has to follow. The senior always sits by the side of the “driver”. If his senior would have been there then the Major would have taken the pains of driving himself. The vehicle zooms past the group. Major tilts his head and sees the soldiers through the corner of his Rayban sunglasses. The soldiers stop their movement. Stands in attention till the vehicle goes by leaving behind a cloud of dust so as to make them cough. The Major feels satisfied. His ego, self-esteem, and the discipline of the forces, everything is in order. He comes back to his government accommodation. The driver opens the door for his “master”. The major’s wife looks on from the balcony. She feels her father had done the right thing in getting her married to an army officer. What an authority her husband commands. He may not be able to carry out with the same amount of authority during their infrequent love sessions but any how it doesn’t matter. So long as there are retinues of government paid workers to help them in their daily cores, it doesn’t matter. Once “Major Sahib” had confided to his wife the main cause of his poor and erratic love life. It is the Defense Ministry. Had he been not posted to Siachin Glacier when he was the Captain, every thing would have been complete. The extreme cold had taken away everything, well almost everything.
After few years the Major gets a promotion. He is transferred to Arunachal Pradesh. The frequent transfer is almost ruining the education of his son. They want him to become a “high level government bureaucrat” and not an army officer like his father and grandfather. “Actually my son is not wired to become an army officer, he is physically weak”. The Major would often tell his colleagues at the army club after gulping down half a bottle of subsidized defense canteen whisky. So he sends his only son to a boarding school in Ajmer (Rajasthan). Yah, now he will get the best of the world. His son will now rub shoulders with the peers of politicians from India, Bangladesh and sometimes Nepal. Sons of erstwhile Maharajas of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh all Royal family will now be his friends. The very thought that his son will move around with the “elite class” of people gave him the evasive “satisfaction”.
Once our Major had now become a “Major General”. His son had graduated in Humanities stream. He became successful in the “Indian Civil Services” examination after a third attempt. His ranking was low so he got into allied services. He became an IOFS (Indian Ordnance Factory Service) officer. He did not like it, neither his father. Who will tackle all those dirty factory workers and deal with those “stupid Unions”. Major had an idea. He will now use his clout and “high connection” to transfer his son to a cushy desk job with an added incentive of going “abroad”. He goes to Delhi --- The Seat of Power. Catch hold of his long lost friend who now heads an intelligence department. The Major’s son gets a deputation from his parent department without attending a single day in the office. What fun? Really if one has connection he can do wonders in India especially in government departments.
After few years the Major retires from his blotch free, scandal free, scam free army service. He was given a ceremonial send off. He vacates his government accommodation and moves to his 2,700 sq ft Gurgaon flat near Delhi. My goodness what a flat. At the 14th floor and fully secured. Just one has to buy vegetables in the compound. What facilities? What amenities?
The Major son got married through a matrimonial website. Beautiful girl and an equally glamorized wedding ceremony ala Bollywood style. The 2,700 sq ft flat was too small to accommodate two families meaning four members --- Major, his wife, his son and his daughter-in-law. Well they are “wired” like that. His son moved on to Pahargunj Railway officers’ accommodation. The Major’s daughter-in-law is from the Railway Officer’s cadre. What a match.
With no retinue of paid government workers the Major’s wife was having a lot of problems. With a limited income and most of the money wasted in buying a posh flat the Major has a financial crisis. He cannot ask for help from his son. He kept on wondering what to do. His cell phone starts ringing. It was call from the Prime minister’s Office. They want him to be the next Governor of Nagaland. He was speechless and breathless. After all it is a reward for his unquestioned loyalty to a particular political party. He moves to Kohima.
After five years he comes back to Delhi. Now he is Retired Major General and ex Governor of Nagaland. The brass name plate at the main door of his flat speaks more than what has been inscribed in it. He is a satisfied man. Everything in life has been accomplished. Well almost everything. But why aren’t his colleagues, friends, relatives and the other flat owners in his building are not coming to him to spend some time with him. Are they jealous of him or they are too scared of him that he has become unreachable and unapproachable for them.
Every morning he gets up and dresses himself in white T, white shorts, white socks and white sports shoes. He never misses the baton and his dog. He jogs for a while in the “secured compound” of the building. Only a few days back three commandos used to guard him like a shadow but now only his dog follows him. Passersby look at him not in awe but with compassion.
Last heard the Major’s wife committed suicide. Now he is not alone but staying with his dog and remembering fond memories---- When I was in ---------.
Lessons Learned:
1. The old mindset of command and control, hierarchy, manipulation, politics, subservience is clearly behind us now.
2. The new mindset would tend to see things differently - the Picasso way. Treat people differently. Collaborate to create value. Identify with contribution not ranks.
3. The new would be in the mode of continual renewal unlike the past that somehow agreed to have no discernible public face. They depended on others to give them titles and badges to continually live in the past.
Motto: The King is Dead: Long Live the King.
Main contributor: Sitendu Illustrator: Rishi
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