THE OBSERVER-(M-12)

 😎THE OBSERVER-(M-12)😎

 On 13 March,1982, a proud 2/Lt Sharath Chandar Srinivas strutted out of OTA in peak cap and Cross-belt donning his brand new uniform. Feeling on top of the world despite being quite disappointed in joining the Corps Of Engrs rather than the opted-for Infantry. Little did he know how less he knew of either Corps at that time. All that seemed to matter then was - a more colorful and impressive uniform and a down-to-earth foot-slogging soldier's life. The Infantry guys were to go straight to their units, whereas we  ( TECH ARMS ) guys had to go to our Regimental Centers first for being trained .

I had to go to BEG & Centre, Kirkee (Pune). I reached Kirkee station early in the morning , and got off the train , dressed in my number one uniform , baton in hand , all prepared for the worst - a "reception committee" . From the tales I had heard in OTA , the brand new subaltern was generally received by a senior officer disguised as a jawan and so forth.

But to my surprise, Kirkee station looked and was barren. Not a soul was there. I rang up the Centre and was informed that a one-tonner was on its way to pick me up. The one-tonner arrived in due course and took me straight to the Officers Mess. I was shown a room to park my baggage, freshen up and go for breakfast. Meanwhile two other batch mates turned up and we all went together to the Adjutant's office to submit our arrival report. We were made to wait in a waiting room while the Adjutant was informed and prepared himself for the ordeal. A bunch of three young officers from OTA landing up suddenly was apparently no big deal. Don't know about the other two, but I had dutifully informed the Adjutant my ETA at Kirkee well in advance through a DO (Demi-Official) letter.

Having heard all kinds of things - one did expect something more personal and better by way of reception. Not that there was any problem administratively - we were very comfy that way with nice rooms and batmen (nowadays known as sahayaks/buddies ) to take care of us. Eventually we were marched into the Adjutant's office, saluted him and were seated.

Adjutant - Who is the senior-most amongst you?

We kept looking at each other for a reply. These two guys (being technical ie., Engg graduate entries, were Lts (two stars), and therefore - one of them was senior-most. Me, eleventh in the Course (non-technical), consisting of about one-fifty  including the "techies" had always considered myself to be far senior to them. During all the rough & tough days on training in OTA , there seemed to be only one consoling thought - though these guys with their Engineering degrees would pass out as Lts while the rest of us mere graduates ( and some post-graduates ) would pass out as 2/ Lts  - we would be poles apart while in service. Here were three of us together , me , the junior-most . Humiliating! That was my line of thinking.

We were allotted our battalllions -

Balasubramaniam - Trg Bn -1

Ajay Saxena - Trg Bn - 2

Sharath Chandar Srinivas - Newly raised Trg Bn -3

So that was it. Trg Bn - 3 for me. Interview with the  Centre Adjutant over, we moved to the Mess.