MY FIRST DAY AT SEA

 

 

I was thrilled to join the Indian Navy in May 1980.  Though as a child I had wanted to join the Army but after seeing a few documentaries of Film Division in cinema hall wherein warships were shown I decided to opt for Navy. The thought of visiting foreign lands also excited me .  I boarded Ganga – Kaveri  from Allahabad to Chennai .  It was a journey of two nights and three days from Allahabad to Kochi and reached Chennai the next day evening from where I boarded another train. The train to Kochi Harbour Terminus reached at about 1130 . It was the last station after crossing the famous Thevra  bridge on the Kochi channel. When the train reached its destination , maybe I was the only passenger who alighted. Kochi being a Navy and Port Trust island with mostly official residences. The main city was Ernakulam which we had passed, where the main population stayed. I had my large black trunk full of items  prescribed in the joining letter and a holdall .  The weather was cloudy and gloomy and hardly any person was in sight but for some railway staff.

There was one huge navy blue truck which I learnt later was called ‘three tonner’ waiting outside with ‘Indian Navy’ written on it  and this would be our  mode of transportation for a long time!  I was perhaps the last cadet to report and  was told to have lunch in the dining room which was near  the ‘Guard Room’ . As I was having  lunch hungrily a senior in white uniform appeared from somewhere and sat  opposite   and shouted at me to have my lunch slowly and not to rest  my elbows on the table ! That angry face stayed with me for long time. I wa alloted ‘Ranjit Division’ which was new multi storey building and I was to share my room with two other cadets from Dharwad! Normally two cadets were in one cabin but since I arrived late I had to be adjusted!

Soon I was given a zero haircut and I joined the ‘band of brothers’ who had come  from all over the country, a heterogenous group who would be trained to be a homogenous entity in one and half year time !  Though I was a sportsman and had played hockey up-to the state level I was not used to this rigorous routine specially  the morning PT which was taken  by PTI Tara Singh who it seemed , had single handedly resolved to make us lean and fit  within six months!   Though the standard PT time was thirty minutes he would slog us for an hour by which time we would be cursing him . Our diet had suddenly increased and we would find breakfast insufficient! I could cope up with the training but missed my Allahabad! This longing for the city , family and friends I experienced for the first time ; I was Homesick for which I was not prepared and wanted to return home. I could not share my melancholy with any one and took recourse to writing letters to family and the remotest of friends not showing my despair but longing for the lost city. We were to submit  one affidavit in the Academy and there was some problem with mine and I wished they would send me back for that! It took me sometime to come to terms with the reality and made new friends.

Soon the time came for our first sea sortie or sea acquaintance sortie which was to be a day affair , it was to get our ‘Sea legs’! Though we were briefed about the sea sickness and some of our instructor had advised us that it happens to all the first time in varying degrees and then most overcome it and few live with it . Many Admirals and reputed Captains suffered sea sickness all their career but soared to success braving the odds, we learnt! We looked forward to it with much anticipation . Dressed in our newly made white and starched cotton No 8 uniform  (  half sleeve   shirt and half pant) , donning blue beret, belt and boots we embarked Training ship  ‘Krishna’ as the monsoon had set in.  Collectively we were a happy lot as we marched up the gangway smartly saluting the ship  and were received by the training staff of the ship and directed to proceed to the Poop deck cabin of the cadets. At that point no one was interested in us as the ship’s officers and crew were busy making the ship ready for sea.

 As we were sitting waiting for the breakfast  we imagined as if we were on a picnic , joking and jostling and singing songs, a gush of comradery erupted and for a moment we forgot that we were on training!  The breakfast arrived and it was ‘Chana Dal’ with  bread jam and butter , it was from the sailors’ galley and though we were surprised to see ‘Dal’ being served in breakfast we relished it .

Soon we heard the orders of ship being cast off and we went out on upper-decks and made to fall-in . Warship leaving harbour is marked by traditional ceremonies  piping and saluting   between ships,    all officers and men on ‘stand still’ position. However , soon the smoke from the funnel overwhelmed us ! It was black smoke  puffing out .  Krishna was a steam ship which burnt FFO ( Fuel furnace oil)  to make steam and which emanated strong black smoke called soot  by which it was recognized from a distance. This caused the initial sickness but soon the strong monsoon wind evaporated our unhappiness and we were admiring the beauty of Kochi harbour with Vypin island and Chinese fishing nets near its mouth and dolphins dancing ! This was short lived  and as we  entered the Arabian Sea the drama unfolded ! The ship started rolling and pitching and it was difficult for us to remain steady on deck. We were clinging to each other to find a foothold , some of us rushed to cabin and hit the bunk! We disregarded all the announcements and soon I along with others were   ‘throwing up’ ,what ever we had eaten in breakfast . I could not fathom this new sickness which was similar to ‘hill sickness’ but much aggravated with no scope of immediate relief . Very few of us stayed steady , perhaps they had sailed earlier or were made of stronger stuff! The staff directed us to the buckets hung at places to use rather than spoiling the deck!  Whenever I would make an effort to get up and go out on the upper deck to get fresh air   the sickness would seize  me and I would return to my bunk.

We were now ordered to muster on Foxle , the front portion of the ship for participating in   ‘Jackstay’ . It was  a ‘Rope and Pully’ system rigged on two ships to pass men and material . It involves some excitement and action  as the second ship takes station abreast and then  a thin rope is passed by gunshot and on it is sent  the bigger rope . Once the ‘Jackstay’ is connected the exercise commences in which much manpower is required to pull the rope quickly and firmness is to be maintained to ensure that the gear with men and material does not touch water and is brought on board safely! We were asked to pull the rope and as we pulled we slipped on deck as we had worn boots with studs ( necessary for parade training) , it was a scene from a ‘Charlie Chaplin film’ but with  some shouting and assistance from the ship’s staff we completed the exercise without any mishap. 

Back to our bunks it was time for lunch which ,most  of us refused  and I remember our steward Stanley  feeding us and giving us pickle to change the taste of our sour mouth. He would insist that we should eat something and not be empty stomach! I was wondering about my fate, destiny and past  Karma ! In the evening when our ship returned to harbour and as I was stumbling out of  the gangway  the  thought of getting ‘sea legs’ nagged  me and I consoled myself to have  at least learnt to crawl! Getting sea -legs was a far cry and another story! However the joy and happiness on arriving on land made me understand   why the sailors of yore  drank , danced ,  gambled and sinned! on reaching ashore after months  of sailing!

IN SEARCH OF ‘SEA LEGS’

 

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                                          INS  Krishna

     After my first day at sea in July 1980  on board warship Krishna , my morale was low and I had to push myself to accept the reality . There was no going back but there was a  lingering suspicion that this life was not for me and I was not naturally cut out for it. But I continued as It was to give me employment and a respectable status. Going back would also bring disrepute and life long stigma.

Soon the time arrived for our second phase of ‘Sea Training’ . This was to be a sortie of few days and my anxiousness grew. Fortunately the sea was calmer this time and I did enjoy the beauty of sunrise and sunset and the many moods of the mighty Sun  from  sea which is a unique sight. We cadets were attached to various departments on board and I was sent to the engineering department , among the toughest  . After the initial acquaintance of the various equipment and responsibilities I was attached to a senior sailor who sent me down with a junior sailor to ‘clean the bilges’  . Bilges are the bottom most part of the ship and require cleaning of waste oil accumulated therein . It was proverbial starting from the bottommost !  I followed the sailor down the various ladders and decks to the bottom most of the ship , the movement up and down the ladder was  to be negotiated with utmost care and caution and yet quickly, a   slight slip may result in grievous injury  and one may be boarded out on medical grounds or be life long nursing an injured back! I was cautioned by many and therefore was careful, the steel railings have to be held firmly .   He  then asked help to remove the iron cover . The waste oil was then removed with a mug in a bucket and taken up. After a few rounds I was dizzy  and sick on  account of the  foul smell and gave up and lied down on the deck  As I was lying down in half sea sick state I saw the engineering officer enter his cabin . His name was Lt Cdr Rizvi and he was wearing a white overall  , I had learnt from my senior that he was from St Joseph's College Allahabad. I gathered strength and approached him hesitatingly " sir are you from SJC Allahabad; I too am an ex  SJC! "Yes Yes " He replied with a pleasant smile , to my relief, ‘which year you passed out’? ‘Sit sit’ he gestured me to sit in the chair opposite his. As I sat down he offered me a cigarette! 'Four Square' ! It  was a popular and  much touted brand during our college days  then and available in ship's canteen.it broke the ice uplifted my morale, we talked about the school  and the city culture which we had left behind.

In the evening I was attached to the seamen department at ' Boat deck'. This crew  was ever ready with life jackets half inflated to mount the ship's boat and lower it at sea in case of emergency, such as ' Man overboard ' . Suddenly there was an announcement on main broadcast informing that CRAA ( close range anti aircraft ) firing was to commence . We cadets huddled together to witness the action from a distance . A ‘star shell’ ( an illuminated targe) was fired from the ship’s main gun and the anti aircraft gun was to fire on the target assuming it to be an aircraft . It was announced ‘Target starboard 30  engage’ ( 30 degrees to the right of the ship) . The crew of the gun which was ready with helmet and gloves and well covered with ‘ anti flash gear’  immediately commenced firing  and we were immensely excited and delighted to see the target slowly descending and gunshots hitting around it . It was an old proven world war II gun ‘40/60 Bofors ’   steady and time tested  . The shells were falling all around and crew were keeping an eye on each but not picking as they were too hot , but were to be collected later and accounted.  When the target went down the announced was made’ check.. check.. check ‘ and immediately the firing was stopped . The crew was mustered and the Gunnery officer expressed his happiness with their performance and promptness. They were marched to the Commanding Officer Cdr Johri who also expressed appreciation.

 Later as I was talking to the sailors and listening to their experiences, I saw some light and screen on the quarter deck and on closer look I realised that a movie in 16mm projector was being screened for off duty watch personnel . This revelation was quite comforting. Later I learnt that as part of entertainment on board ships carried films borrowed from a dedicated department ashore and that in the film distribution business ' Defence' was also a territory and these films were available in the border area for our Army troops as well.

 The next day evening we were to return and I looked forward to it. I was now deputed as a ‘Look out’ on the Bridge wing. Bridge is the enclosed compartment on the top of the ship with glasses on three sides to have a good view . The CO ( Commanding Officer) sits there and it is the Command position from where the ship is controlled . With binocular in hand I was observing the activities inside the bridge more than looking out. The CO was bearded  and sitting on his chair , it was the only chair and marked for him , talking sometimes to the Navigating officer and OOW ( Officer of the Watch) there was a latent power and calmness in his demeanour. 

Soon the time arrived for our ship to enter harbour and some of us cadets were directed to the Foxle ( front of the ship) to assist the crew . The anchor was being made ready in case anchoring was required and loud announcements were being made to all parts of the ship. It started drizzling as it happens in Kochi and we wore our rain coats and peak cap and made to fall- in. As the ship entered the Kochi channel the evening lights of the city falling on water made a beautiful picture  . When  the ship neared the jetty the Commanding officer was directing all actions and the second in command ( XO ) was making all announcements . A smart young sailor threw a thin nylon rope with monkey fist ashore and as it reached the jetty the thick ropes were tied to it and sent ashore to be secured to the bollard . We then had to pull the rope to assist the ship move along side . Similar action was being repeated on quarter deck . With a few tense moments the ship was secured alongside .

Soon the announcement ‘Secure - Secure , Liberty men fall -in’   was heard and men gleefully ran in to get ready  go ashore. We too were happy to return to shore after yet another ‘Testing Sortie’. Later, this announcement of ‘Liberty Men fall-in’ was the sweetest sound for which I used to wait!

 

MARCHING TO THE NAVY BAND

 

 

                                                           Indian Navy Symphonic Band -Courtesy  Wikipedia

   I  joined the Naval Academy at Kochi in May 1980 and soon got into the rigours of cadet life. However,  what I looked forward  to  was the ‘Navy Band’ in station which played weekly, when  the Commanding Officer ( CO )   would inspect us on parade . We would be in ceremonial uniform and he would  examine  each cadet minutely and point  even a minor faults . We dreaded our turn , once he checked me for a loose badge on my peak cap and I was awarded three extra drills! The long period of the parade was both boring and tiring , a few would fall on account of exhaustion under the sun and tight uniform we wore which restricted circulation. We were advised to keep moving our toes  inside the shoes! The only solace was the brass band music which changed tunes from time to time and reminded me of background score in  old Hollywood war cinema.  During inspection the music was slow and sweeter  and when we marched it was quicker and martial . My favourite was ‘Col Bogey’ from the movie ‘ Bridge on the river Kwai’, later whenever the band was practising I would request them to play that.  The most sublime was ‘Auld Lang Syne’ played during  passing out parades and the eternal  ‘Sare Jahan Se Acchha Hindustan Hamara ‘  was  played by all Bands when they would finally march off the ground after the end of the ceremony. 

My fascination of the Brass Band is from childhood . I loved them play in marriages and their colourful red with gold uniform attracted me . Those days in late sixties the ‘Twist’ was very popular dance  and we would request them to play the song from  ‘Bhoot Bangla’  ‘Aao Twist Karen…zindagi hai yahi!’  compose by R D Burman.  ‘Taquila’ was another popular number . The ‘Band Master’   would be dressed in black suit  holding a Clarinet and would shout ‘ Taquila ‘ in between .

  After my commissioning when I was posted on board ships, the ‘Naval Band ‘ would embark us during  foreign cruise . A very well disciplined lot they would be satisfied in difficult conditions and adjusted in limited living space  even with their large and heavy instruments. They would regularly practice and  regale us. In foreign Ports they were  the centre of attraction during  on board parties or performing in Town  hall or public places . True Ambassadors. The Hindi film songs were popular every where and they would often play those numbers – ‘Awaara hun..etc’. 

 In early nineties  I was posted to INS Hamla ,the   Training Base  at Malad Mumbai as an Instructor .  Among other duties I was made Divisional Officer of ‘Tansen Division’ consisting of The ‘Hamla Band’. I  was happy and amused at this unexpected responsibility . However, I had a very competent Mater Chief Musician Das under me who proficiently conducted the training and routine . My regular interaction with the Band enhanced my knowledge of western instruments and their sounds- Cornet, Clarinet , Trumpet , Trombone , French Horn etc. It was an interesting group ,   and since their interaction with the other sailors was less they had their distinct identity and character! They were inducted on account of their music and  kept to that and therefore lacked the worldly ways and had to be guided on occasions . There existed custom of gifting the Band a few bottles of Rum by  of the Chief Guest after an event. This resulted in some Band sailors getting addicted and therefore the practise changed and  some utility item was presented . But it seems that this tradition exists and when we visited  Wellington , New Zealand on board the newly commissioned INS Mumbai the Indian High Commissioner  who hailed from Manipur was so pleased with our Band that he sent many cases of wine for them , which they dutifully brought home!   

At Hamla with the inspiration from the Band I also fulfilled my wish to be the  Parade Commander one day in a ceremonial parade during Commander – in – Chief’s visit. Military ceremonies appealed to me and I fancied  holding the  Sword in hand with boots ,  garters and ceremonial rig  after I observed my  Gunnery  Instructor,  Master chief Yadav  giving perfect command always  in his boots with webbing , whistle in hand , his attire was so integrated  with his personality that it seemed that he slept  with his boots and belt on !

 The Naval Band has been a point of interest  of all Chiefs of Naval Staff  and tremendous refinement and advancement has  taken place . Highly qualified and talented Young musician were commissioned as officers one such was Captain Anchees who introduced new music and instruments and added to the existing repertoire. Sailors were recruited from North East who were born musicians . The range of the ‘Naval Central Band ‘ stationed in Mumbai widened by imbibing Indian percussion instruments , Carnatic music so as to provide music for all  occasions. The Inter Service ,  Band competition is held annually in New Delhi coinciding with the Beating Retreat ceremony and the Naval Band was winner for many years . After ten consecutive wins the Trophy was handed over to Navy permanently!

 During the Navy week in early December the ‘ Naval Symphonic Orchestra‘ plays at ‘Jamshed Bhabha Auditorium’ at National Centre of Performing Arts and the ‘ Central Naval Band’ performs at the ‘Gateway of India’ .The Governor would be the chief guest at ‘Beating Retreat’ function which   is an age old tradition when   in Battle fronts at sunset the troops would retreat to their camps , the sound of the Bugle with ‘Last Post ‘ followed by revelry would signal the day’s end. I would  wait   expectantly for the grand entry of the Band in front of gateway of India , the fanfare would be played on the arrival of Governor followed by National Anthem . Then the proceedings would begin and the band would move in various formations playing some traditional and some modern tunes . Finally five  minutes before the sunset the final ceremony would begin with ‘Abide with me’  and in between the sound of bells would be heard from Taj, gradually the Flag would be hauled down . Then the ‘Revelry’ would be played by the sailor atop Gateway . The music would be  solemn and the bells would be sounded by one sailor stationed in Taj Top floor which elevates  the poignancy!   Guests seated and the entire crowd around Taj and Gateway would stand still during the ceremony , captivated  by the moment!

The Military Band has a distinguished history and tradition among Indian Armed forces. Major Ram Singh was the Band In charge of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army during the second world war . He composed many inspirational Marching  songs and the most famous was  ‘ Kadam Kadam Badhaye ja , Khushi ke Geet Gaye ja , Ye Zindagi hai Kaum Ki Tu Kaum Par Lutayeja’  . This song is the ‘Indian Army Song’ now and is played on all special occasions . The Navy Song is ‘ Jai Jai Jai Jai Bharti Seva karenge Hum Desh Ki ..’ composed by the Navy musicians .

The roots of music and Armed forces could be traced to the battle of ‘Mahabharat’ in Kurukshetra . Each warrior had his own Conch shell which served as bugle or signature call . The war would commence and end with the blowing of the conch shell for the day . The name of the conch shell of Shri Krishna was ‘Panchajanya’.

 

CADET TRAINING ON WARSHIP MYSORE

    We passed out of Naval Academy Kochi in December 1980 and left on vacation to our Homes . I had started liking the bounty of nature and its serenity   and we  were to return to Kochi on number of occasions during our career being the Training Command. For our second  phase of  afloat training we were to report on board INS Mysore  at Bombay! Time passed quickly among family and friends in telling my stories of woes and wonder and soon it was time for departure to Bombay!

Early January 1981 I boarded  the famous  Bombay mail from Allahabad and this train remained my priority  of innumerable journeys thereafter. We landed at famous Victoria Terminus  railway station in the afternoon from various directions and the Gothic architecture looked grand! The familiar three tonner was waiting for us!

We entered the Lion gate at Colaba and the historical Naval Dockyard  greeted us.  INS Mysore ( C 60 ) was about 9000 ton  mighty cruiser 555 feet in length  of second world war vintage and her glorious days were behind her. It was secured at outer side of  South break water jetty   . It had three huge six inch turrets with three guns each , four four inch guns with two guns each ,  many anti aircraft guns , torpedo tubes and looked Majistic even alongside . We got the taste of    its  power    when we would lift its ‘Six inch shells’  as punishment!  It had  pounded Goa in 1961 during Goa liberation and played a formidable role in 1971 operations when it was the Flag Ship.

We were about 93 cadets including those from NDA ( National Defence Academy) who joined for their Navy phase after three years of training and graduating. We were graduates already and so our total training phase was one and half years. There was some  initial period of confrontation  . We from Naval Academy were more in number and so they could not dominate us as was done earlier . They bore a sense of superiority , rightful  inheritors they thought they were, having undergone training and ragging for a prolonged period at NDA but we considered ourselves no less having passed out from the portals of prestigious universities and seen civil life . However,  as we started training together, playing together and dining together  the differences diluted  . Some of us became lifelong friends.

Since the ship was old and much of the machinery was not functioning it was staffed thinly. For us it was ‘Alice in Wonderland ‘ moment as we would explore many unmanned compartments and there were enough places to hide!  It would be last of its class in Indian Navy soon. The quarter deck was  wooden and the wardroom ( officers’ dining room) and the bar opened out to it.  where we would frequently be tasked to do  ‘Holy Stoning’  ( scrubbing the deck with a ‘Holy  stone’ and water) . Since we were an unexpected large number the bunks and lockers were scarce and we had to share and manage . Many of us slept in the open on the deck  and in the morning our toes would be bloody , bitten by rats ! At first it was alarming but later,  routine!

The duties assigned were in a roster system and some of us would perform ‘Mess Men’ duties . A group of five to six cadets was responsible to get the meals for the rest  from the galley ( kitchen) and distribute . The most attractive item was the sweet dish and specially ‘Gulab Jamuns’ during lunch . On such days  the team  would surreptitiously remove some from the container on the way and hide it to be savoured later .  Adjacent to our Mess there were large number of heavy duty toasters fitted against the bulk head ( wall ) of which some were operational . We were provided the large 800 gm Brittania bread in good quantity and  would save it for our evening and night time snack of crisp and warm toasts ! Some cadets managed condensed milk tins and tinned fruit during ‘store ship’ , my friend Rajesh had dragged one 60 kg sugar gunny bag next to his locker and this was his energy supply for months!

Life was interesting, from the ship we would watch many boats with tourists plying between ‘Gateway of India’ and ‘Elephanta caves’ and I was reminded of the 1954 ‘Taxi Driver’ film song of Dev Anand romancing  Kalpana Kartik in a sail boat near where our ship was berthed  and ship staff waving at them ! ‘ Dekho mane Nahin roothi Hasina na jane kya baat hai’ .

  There were some unforgettable personalities in our course and one such was  ‘Shekhu’ .  No barrier could hold him and the lights of South Bombay from a distance beckoned him . He would ‘monkey crawl’ on the thick forward ropes of the ship and thus escaped the duty staff and return late at night after roaming around the Colaba causeway. Once on his return he   was noticed by the duty staff but escaped on benefit of doubt . Fear of relegation restricted his further escapades . But then he would  climb the ladder to GDR ( gun direction room) where the strong binoculars were still operational and watch the activities in Taj Hotel ! 

  The first ‘Liberty’ was granted to us on a Sunday after more than a month. However, our first ‘Darshan’ of Colaba happened soon on reporting on  Sunday morning during the first ‘cross country’ . The route showcased us the grandeur of South Bombay as we passed through Colaba causeway , Khusro Bagh, Sassoon Dock  , Colaba Post office opposite to which the famous actress ‘Nutan’  lived. The Afghan Church , R C Church returning via Cuffe parade , Rafia Manzil . My friend Rajesh Sareen  was first , I as always was in the last enclosure . Later I learnt that some cadets who were children of Naval Officers climbed  the  ‘Double Decker ‘ No 3 to Navy Nagar and somehow escaped the instructors placed enroute.    

 We looked for opportunities to proceed ashore !Our unforgettable experience was participation in a ‘Song and Dance Competition ‘ of the Command . A few  including me were selected to represent the ‘Afloat Team’ . We would practice on board Vikrant in the afternoons and this gave us opportunity to stay away from the ship . A domestic senior sailor was our in-charge and we were famously called ‘Nautanki Party’ by other cadets  and one day we left the ship early for final rehearsal  and went for the Matinee show at ‘Capital Cinema Hall’ opposite VT Railway station. On the day of performance our In-charge  had got dinner packed for us from the ship  and after the performance we relished the same on the historical steps of the “ Asiatic Society Library ’ just outside ‘Bombay Castle’ and opposite ‘Horniman circle’ . 

 Sometimes early morning  Admiral M P Awati  the Commander – in – Chief who had Commanded the ship earlier and was a decorated 1971 war hero , would be seen walking in his PT rig without  socks and made an impressive picture with his white flowing beard , smart features and tall look like an European  Admiral of yore ! He would walk up the ‘Gangway’ and say ‘Ek cup chai milega’ and the duty staff  would be alert from experience and provide immediately! He appeared in a ‘Digjam suiting  ‘ advertisement later.  

Time passed quickly and  our second phase of  training days was nearing  end   and the ‘Mid’s ( Midshipmen) Night’   with music and cocktails was in our mind!

NAVAL LEADERSHIP LESSONS

 

Naval Leadership Lessons are less in class rooms and more demonstrative at work! More action oriented and less sermonising . It shows more than it says and therefore are simpler to understand , imbibe and follow.

  There are leadership schools for officers and senior sailors and Military leadership and modern leadership lessons are imparted to all at various stages  . But in my experience, we all assimilate by seeing more than reading having  attended    these courses and also had the opportunity to teach.

All types of leaders exist in Navy and perhaps in all three services. Transactional as well as transformational , authoritarian as well as democrat . Many have traits of great leaders and some lack the same. The ‘Situational’ leadership approach could also be applied to them and many would emerge with flying colours and few would fall in critical situations . War time leaders as well as peace time heroes function in the  dynamic world of Navy !

Naval Leadership lessons are  not complex , sophisticated theories but  a process and are cultivated by observing simple day to day routine in harbour and at sea. The main focus is on your ‘Men’! No matter how modern and technically superior your weapon systems are , the people who operate them are key . Their   ‘ morale’ is to be maintained and the Naval Leadership hinges on this concept of ‘Morale’.

The first lesson we receive is to ‘know your men’, ‘ rubbing shoulders with your men’ . There is a ‘Divisional system’ in place and an officer has about 25 to 30 sailors under him whose welfare , training , conduct and discipline he has to watch . he maintains documents and presents to the Commanding Officer periodically . This system is the backbone and foundation of the Naval human resource management and Leadership. Time tested and proven and when it fails sometimes the officer is invariably responsible.

The fundamentals of conduct and discipline one learns by observing the Captain and the ship! Yes; the Captain of a ship  is known by the name of his ship! The role model in front of a young officer wherein he imbibes leadership skills by observing  his Commanding Officer . The uniform ( turnout) , punctuality the demeanour is watched . Each activity of the ship moves under a planned system in harbour and at sea,  promulgated by the ‘Daily orders’ and after observing these timings one gets aligned to the concept of punctuality.

Insistence on troop games such as football, hockey , volleyball and basketball over individual games is a standard practice over the years where officers and men play together in a spirit of competition and comradery. Abiding   by the Naval tradition annual ‘pulling regatta’ ( boat race) is conducted  among fleet ships and each ship fields teams department wise and officers also participate . Teams practice for long durations and extra diet is provided   . It is a prestigious championship and each Commanding Officer wants to win the ‘Cock’! The ‘Silver Trophy’  in shape of a ‘Rooster’ .

 In harbour and at sea  the Commanding officer and the concerned staff ensure that good quality food is provided to men . Each meal is tasted by the duty officer and the Logistics officer , the Commanding officer also visits galley in order to observe the food quality , hygiene and morale of the cooks.  

 Close periodic monitoring of discipline on board is embedded in the system wherein every Friday afternoon ‘Requestmen & Defaulter’ is conducted  . The disciplinary cases are dealt on the table of the Commanding officer and it is called ‘Summary Trial’ . Along with this ‘Requestmen’ is also held and sailors put up their ‘Request’ for various issues- Promotion, undergoing civil courses, to continue in same station, transfer to shore establishment, change of Branch etc. Watching these proceedings as Divisional officer where you have to explain your sailor’s case one is observing the fairness and decision making ability of the Commanding Officer ! Also assessing the leadership style of the Command!

Large number of senior officers , dignitaries visit the ship . The ship also visits various ports and foreign ports as well on good will visit and it is during these occasions the young officers  learn how to conduct . The language , the subject of discussions and the manner in which the Captain and other seniors conduct themselves is an invaluable lesson . How much to speak, what to speak and when to stay quiet and nod smilingly !

Safety of the Ship and its Men is the ultimate responsibility of the Commending officer and this is seen during long deployments and exercises  , tough weather conditions when the Captain would be on the Bridge( Command platform ) with the executive officer  and other heads of department  most of the time alert and taking quick decisions motivating the ship staff ,  hardly resting!   Even the largest ship such as an aircraft carrier moves as an entity and the pulse and tension percolates to the bottom and therefore in this   aspect the Navy is unique .

Certain customs and traditions help in maintaining ‘core values’ of a Leader! Respect for women and care of children ! Any Lady entering the ‘Gangway’ has to be saluted on board ships. During the ‘Navy Week’ when the ship is open for visitors . One has witnessed long queues of school children from the suburbs of Mumbai waiting for their turn to see the ship bearing the sun , but they smile at you and salute you! At these instances you realize the tremendous responsibility one has toward these aspiring children who hold you in high esteem  ! The Navy belongs to the children of India!  

We learn from our mistakes and blunders and sometimes human and material loss which have occurred in the past . Some stories of bravery and determination inspire us still. During our missile boat course we learnt of Chatak fire! In the early eighties INS Chatak a missile boat caught fire after a missile mis-launch which led to a major fire and the ship staff was prepared to abandon the ship but the Captain of the ship Lt Cdr Rehan and his executive officer fought the fire , motivated their men and saved the ship . When the ship returned to harbour it was jet black with smoke . The Captain was signalled if  anything the ship wants on reaching harbour . He replied ‘Biryani!’. ‘ To Float , To Move , To Fight’ is the motto on which the ships operates and each person works towards it

Finally ; the  heroic stories of our past Heroes are our Leadership lessons  . These tales are our moral compass, and we hold them in our sacred  corner! The sacrifices made by officers and men in War! The name of Captain M N Mulla the commanding officer of INS Khukri which went down to sea , hit by enemy torpedo on 09 December 1971 Indo - Pak war remains etched in our collective memory . The ship was sinking , he gave his life jacket to a sailor , sat in his Captain’s Chair and went down with the ship! He was the ship ! He was Khukri!

CELEBRATION OF SAAVAN IN BIMAL ROY’S CINEMA

 

 

  

The people of India have celebrated the season of ‘Saavan’ in song and dance, in ritual and religion, it is a  season of hope, love and longing since ages. We may be unique in the’ Pan – India’ celebration of ‘Saavan’ through centuries  - music( various raags; malhar, megh etc) poetry ( Kalidas’s Meghdoot ) Drama( Aaashad ka ek Din ) Dance  and Cinema where it is represented in grand abundance. It is an emotional therapy which keeps our Emotional Quotient stimulated. Manifesting in various celebrations  embedded in the cultural calendar and daily lives. Customs  passed down from  generation through oral tradition. Many filmmakers ,song writers , singers and actors have contributed over the period to this pool of  our Grand culture  which we often accept as routine.

 Though      Indian Cinema  shows the various  shades of the season in songs and scenes , I intend to write about  Bimal Roy the great film maker who inspires us  still. Bimal Roy has made many landmark movies and given the film industry  many great talents- Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar , Salil Chowdhry. His cinema was rooted in reality and yet was middle of the road. Simple, tender and progressive  without any melodrama with strong story line. He was perhaps one of the most awarded filmmakers ( 11 filmfare awards) both as producer and director- ‘Do beegha Zameen’ , ‘Parinita’, ‘Biraj Bahu’, ’Madhumati’, ’Devdas’ ‘ Sujata’, “Parakh’, ‘ Bandini’.  His body  of work is immense and relevant till date. Bimal da as he was fondly addressed gave much emphasis to music as is evident in his films and  had this deep attachment to ‘Saavan’ ( the monsoon ) which he portrayed through songs in his films ,the various facets of ‘Saavan’, sung in different styles and settings. Here I endeavour to highlight five of his ‘Saavan’ songs from his five films – ‘Do Bigha Zameen’ ‘ Sujata’ ‘ Parakh’ ‘Prem Patra’ and ‘ Bandini’.

            ‘Haryala Saavam Dhol  Bajata Ayya’ - Do beegha Zameen.   

This 1953  film starred Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy. It tells the story of a  small farmer who is compelled to leave his village as he has borrowed money from the landlord and his land is mortgaged. He is compelled to leave for Kolkata to work as Rickshaw puller to earn money in order to release his ‘Do Beegha Zameen’  but returns  to see that on his   land  construction of a factory  was in progress .

  However; there is this Jubilant Saawan song which the peasants sing in joy as the first showers of monsoon are received  , the song uplifts them for a while from the drudgery of  life and  belied expectations. “ Haryala saawan dhol baja ta aaya ,  dhin tak tak man mein mor nacha ta aaya, mitti  mein jaan lagata aaya, dharti pehni hai hari chunariya banke dulhaniya,…..ek aagan bujhi ek aagan lagi, man magan huwa ek lagan lagi…..”  . ( the song heralds the monsoon which arrives with the sound of the drums, the mind is dancing  as peacock in the season and enriches the soil , makes it fertile , the surrounding have become green akin to a bride wearing a green sari. The heat of the earth has been quenched and the passions have aroused. The mind is engrossed  with this togetherness .) The song is written by Shailendra and composed by Salil Chowdhry. Among the many things it talks of the recurring theme of ‘Saavan’ ; fulfilment and arousing of passions. This song is  of hope  in adverse conditions , cultural richness   despite economic depravity . How ‘Saavan’ enriches fraternity and strengthens human bonds. 

 

 

                                     Kali ghata chhaye mora jiya larjaye -Sujata.

The film depicts the life of an untouchable girl( Nutan ) who is brought up in a high caste family . She grows into a beautiful girl along with the daughter ( Shashikala) of her adopted parents. The conflict arises when the boy( Sunil Dutt ) who is to marry the daughter falls in love with Sujata and is adamant to marry her . The ‘Saavan  song‘ in this film depicts the latent desires of Sujata which are aroused by the setting of the dark  clouds as she is all alone in the house .  “ kali ghata chaye mora jiya  larjaye, aise mein koi kahin  mil jaye, tau kisi ka kya jaye re kya jaye, kali……,hun mein kitni akeli woh ye jaante mere berang  jeevan ko pehchante, mere haton ko thame hanse aur hansaye,mera dukh bhulaye  kisi ka kya jaye, kali ghata.. (  the dark clouds have set in and my heart is kindled , in such a time  if I find love; how does It bother anyone? Finding that how lonesome I am  and how colourless is my life, if someone holds my hand and makes me laugh and thus I forget my sorrows; how does it bother anyone? ). The style is questioning and taunting, at the end of each stanza she repeats the same line ; how does it bother anyone? The dark clouds not only have provoked her natural desire  for man but this docile untouchable has become a sort of revolutionary! Songs are therapeutic and reveal the inner feelings  natural to man and woman which they may not be able to express in open , the season of ‘Saavan’ kindles those inner submerged and subjugated emotions  in this memorable song. These settings in cinema are also ploys to make the viewer know what the heroine is feeling , it is a sort of convention.  The song is written by Majrooh Sultanpuri, composed by S D Burman and sung by Geeta Dutt.

 

                             O Sajna Barkha Bahaar Aayi Ras ki Puhar layi -Parakh 

Parakh  film was made in 1963 and has story by Salil Chowdhary along with the music.  It is a unique film in that the two principal characters are Motilal and Nazir Hussain which has ‘honesty’ as its theme. Sadhna is the heroine  and daughter of the post master ( Nazir Hussain ), the role of the post man is played by Motilal in his easy going style. The ‘Saavan’ song in the film is sung by Sadhna who is in love with a young school teacher. The only similarity this song has with the ‘Sujata ‘song is that  both are sung by the heroine longing for their lover  , however in ‘Parakh’, Sadhna is much open and bolder .as the song itself  conveys; “ o sajna  barkha bahar aayi ras ki phuhar layi ankhiyon mein pyar layi o sajna, tumko pukare mere man ka papihara  mithi mithi agni mein jale mora jiyera , o sajna barkha…   ( o love!   the rainy season has arrived  and has brought  joyousness  and love in our eyes, my heart yearns like cuckoo for you and the sweet sweet passion has aroused me). Unlike Nutan in Sujata here Sadhna is already in love and she wants to be together with her lover as “mithi mithi agni mein jale mora jiyera”(  the rains have aroused her passion ). Bimal Roy has employed the ’ Saavan’ settings  to convey the otherwise subdued feelings of his protagonists and perhaps to convey that such desires are natural , though curbed and controlled by caste and social circumstances. Another notable subtle difference between Sujata’s song and this is that there the dark clouds have set in and aroused Nutan whereas in Parakh the rain is falling and so the joy is accordingly expressed . The song is sung by Lata Mangeskar, written by Shailendra and composed by Salil Chowdhary. Some experts rate this song as one of the great Lata numbers and of course the finest Saavan Song. All lyricist of that golden era have given many Saavan songs but Shailendra remains supreme as each of his Saavan song is immersed in richness starting from the historic ‘ Barsaat’ of Raj Kapoor  ‘ Barsaat mein  humse mile tum sajan tum se mile hum barsat mein ‘ and immortalised by Nimmi on screen.

 

             Saavan ki Raton Mein Aisa BhI Hota Hai - Prem Patra

 The  film starred Shashi Kapoor and Sadhna and was released in 1962. As the name suggests the film is woven around a misunderstanding created over a love letter ( prem patra) . This song is played in background whilst the rains sway the palms and brighten their life. “ saawan  ki raton mein aisa bhi hota hai, rahi koi bhula hua toofan mein khoya hua raah pea a jata hai, aisa bhi hota hai,… teri nazar se ise dekh loon mein  dil se tum ye mehsus karlo, toofan ye mere dil mein utha hai, chaho tum ise apne daman mein bhar lo …”  (   it happens during the rainy nights that a traveller  lost in storm finds his way home  … it happens… I can see the season through your eyes if you feel it in your heart! The storm of emotion that has arisen in my heart you may embrace ; if you desire ! ). This is a duet  in background conveying the emotional state  of Shashi Kapoor and Sadhna. The theme is of reconciliation evoked by the rains  ( rahi bhula hua ). Saawan unites lost lovers! As Shashi is blind he says that he may see this season if she feels the same . Further ; there is desire for physical intimacy ( apne daman mein bhar lo ) ignited by the rains. This song is another shade of ‘Saavan’ presented – meeting of lost lovers, coming home after a long wait .The song is written by Gulzar ,composed by Salil Chowdhary and sung by Lata and Rafi. It is not a very popular song as the film did not do well but conveys the leanings of  Bimal Roy.

 

    Ab ke baras bhej Bhaiyya ko Babul, Saawan mein lejo bulaye re -Bandini

   This 1963 film was Bimal Roy’s last big hit before he was struck by throat cancer at relatively early age of 55. Bandini was a women oriented film like his many  earlier -  Parinita, Biraj Bahu, Madhumati, Sujata. Nutan played the role of Kalyani who is  a convict  . The jail Doctor ( Dharmendra) falls in love with her and she too responds. But there is conflict as she was married to a revolutionary ( Ashok Kumar ) in young age. On her release she has to decide between love and destiny! ( o re mazhi! mere sajan hein us par mein is paar ). However the Saavan song is completely different here not only among Bimal Roy’s earlier versions but among the wide ranging Hindi film Saavan songs. This song is sung by another female convict whilst grinding wheat as part of labour in jail. Nutan is mainly  shown in long shots at a distance along with other female convicts. The camera stays most of the time on the singer but occasionally pans Nutan and other inmates. It presents there longing for home and normal life which is accentuated by the Saavan song . The festival of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ falls during monsoon season ( August mostly ) and at this time women visit their parents to tie Rakhi to their brothers and thus meet childhood friends . The song is extremely melancholic and haunting and invokes memory of the lost home: ” Ab ke baras bhej Bhaiyya ko Babul, Saawan mein lejo bulayere, lautein gi jab meri  bachpan ki Sakhiyan dejo sandesa bhijayere, ab ke baras…, ambua talae phirse jhule parenge –rimzhim parengi phuharen, lautengi tere angan mein Babul Saawan ki thandi  baharen, chalke nayan mora kaske re jiyara  bachpan ki jab yaad aye re, ab ke baras….” (  o’ father this year do send brother to fetch me during  Saavan, when my playmates return home do send word for me this year . Again the swing would be fixed to the mango tree as the rains fall during season, the cool breeze shall return to your premises o’ father  ; my eyes are moist as I long for the childhood memories ). Many motifs of Saavan  are mentioned in the song- the swing, the ripening of mangoes, the meeting of playmates  , the cool breeze  as it explores  new perspective of the season. The song is written by Shailendra, sung by Asha Bhosle and composed by S D Burman, but the unmistakeable genius of Shailendra is stamped on it. His Knowledge of eastern UP , Bihar folk dialect and songs comes into play here.  

  Thus Bimal Roy’s Saavan songs reveal the various shades of the season – arousing of passions for physical intimacy among otherwise conservative and docile youth. The return of the estranged lovers, economic prosperity among farmers. Meeting with one’s parents and childhood friends. It remains as the great season of hope and longing—economic, physical and spiritual.