Pandit to AfauziEssay Preview: Pandit to AfauziReport this essayPANDIT TO AFAUZIThe case is based on an actual incident which took place in an Army unit operationally deployed in a field area just a few months before the 1971 showdown with Pakistan. The opposing forces of India and Pakistan were taking their respective positions in a pre-war scenario. The clouds of showdown were looming large over the horizons of both the countries. The rumbling of own tanks and guns, the reconnaissance, leaders of different arms and services establishing liaison with one another in the process of formulating plans for both defence and attack, digging of main and contingency positions was in progress, complete war machinery was being mobilized, camouflaged, and concealed. Ammunition and other explosives were being unloaded and dug down. Junior leaders were being briefed and rebriefed, communications were being checked, and troops were being motivated and looked after as most of them were green because of their sudden induction in the Army in post war days of 1965. Such was the scene which convinced all and sundry that war was imminent. Most of the troops looked forward to a showdown mainly because they wanted to get rid of the heavy ammunition as also for the mere thrill of it. Those who had not seen a battle, seemed excited over the prospects of a war and those who had seen the war, took everything in their stride, displaying a perfect cool, calm and confident countenance.
One Ram Bali Mishra (RBM) was a raw and green jawan of about 20 years of age and two years service and naturally had not seen a war. He was relatively tall, well built with fair complexion. He had pleasant manners, turned himself out well and spoke well. He was a complete teetotaler, non-smoker, and a vegetarian. He was well educated and well versed in religious affairs, particularly, of the religion to which most of the unit belonged. In the absence of the religious teacher of the unit, he held religious institute (dharamsthal) and gave religious discourses at the dharamsthal to all officers, junior commissioned officers JCOs), non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and jawans. During the pre-war days, he was performing the duties of a Sahayak (assistant, formerly known as orderly) to Gun Position Officer (GPO), a young officer, of the rank of a Second Lieutenant with one year of service.
RBMs charter of duties included:(a) attending all the training activities of his trade (telephone operator) which were being organized in the sub-unit;(b) making arrangements to get the food from the officers mess and water from the tube- well for the office; and(c) attending the telephone and noting down all the messages for the office.By virtue of the nature and timings of these duties, RBM was excused physical training in the morning and games in the evening which all other jawans of the sub-unit attended. He was generally happy with these duties and working with the officer: After a short span of a week or so, the officer noticed some changes in the behavior of RBM. He also looked pale and worried. He was less talkative, less lively and his interaction with other jawans decreased. He started keeping aloof except where his duties warranted interaction with others. The officer tried to find the reasons from RBM but nothing emerged except a shy and coy smile and “aisi to koi baat Nai, Sahib”. The officer tried to probe further to find out if some guilt conscience was bothering him because of some bad habit which young man of his age is likely to fall prey to, in the absence, of even visual contact of civil life and members of the opposite sex.
This was denied vehemently. After another week or so, it was noticed that RBM had developed constipation, ate very little, felt tired after walking even a few hundred yards and had become weak. He was interviewed by the officer but nothing emerged once again. He was sent to the Regimental Medical Officer (RMO). The RMO inspected him and gave some medicines. On being contacted by the officer, the RMO mentioned that there was nothing wrong medically with RBM except that he was scared of the prospects of war. He even disclosed that after having been medically examined, RBM even started giving a discourse to the RMO on the bad effects of a war on environment, economy, costs, etc. He stated that people would be loaded with sufferings; killed, injured, maimed, and would become homeless. The children would become orphans, women widowed, and the humanity would
RBM’s social standing was quite low and he was not in the top ten, but in the bottom two in the poll.
RBM’s attitude of a normal man was “nothing”. RBM has one problem though. He has his life to do with the family. He never gives a damn about anything but he doesn’t care about what others think or say. Even if his relatives are unhappy or he is unable to understand what the world is like, he has to go find something to be happy about and that doesn’t happen. He has no idea how his children’s experience will compare to the life he is living in, what he’s going to have to do to live the way he wants to! When he got back to his parents, he spent all his time with them. RBM has a lot of friends. What about the others? What about his friends on the other side of the community? Are he really as good a person as his friends are?
Let me ask you: Do you think he is really as good as you think he is because his other friends are poor as well? Do you think he is the best he can possibly be? If he is, then he should consider himself a better person than your classmates!
You might agree with me on some points. But if you look at the overall picture with RBM’s family members, how is it he remains a little isolated while he does everything he does for his family?
RBM isn’t as nice as his classmates…he doesn’t show any personality traits other than being arrogant and bad at handling people on a big scale. RBM doesn’t have as much money. He does have a lot of money. And his income is actually going down. When I asked RBM about this, one of his friends said that his daughter is going to go to the hospital…so her life is at risk…and because of this, he has to take down that money even more now.
If you ask some of his friends why he keeps putting his money down, what he does with it, what he doesn’t do, how he feels, it might mean a lot to him to not get the support of all three of his friends…it’s a lot. His friends know this but don’t think that he cares about them. He has to make sure everything he does is for the benefit of those around him and their safety. In order to do that, he needs help. He knows this. He needs to live happily and sustainably with his kids.
[RBM’s mother] was in the hospital. Her daughter is out of the hospital. Why would she be able to do anything to help her?
RBM is not afraid of anybody…he’s not afraid of himself. He knows this, because when he’s with them, he feels that his life’s only purpose is to give care to his family and take care of their needs. And his family has every right to treat him like a baby.
He knows that it’s better not to have to worry about what he thinks or feels about a person, because if the situation is wrong, it should always be wrong.
He knows there does not have to be anything that makes him feel better than he is. As long as he has to live