Dear,......,
Namaskar. I have changed from Hello to Namaskar today. I wanted to say namaskar from day one of starting the blog. I avoided it because times have changed to such an extent that I thought any one - a reader of my blog, a so called secular or liberal would feel offended. Now that I know most of you out there are not bothering to have a look at what I am posting, I decided to change Hello to Namaskar. For those who are interested to know, Namaskar means that there is recognition of Param atma in me as Atma to the Param atma in you as your atma. And I am wishing and expressing the interconnectivity that exists between us both being a form of Param Atma.
Now going back to 1960's in AIR Srinagar. In a previous blog I had mentioned about the two station engineers. Around 1967, a gentleman by the name, Mr. N.Krishnamurthy joined as Station Engineer. He was probably from Hyderabad. As soon as he joined in Srinagar, he seemed to be keeping track of my progress in the understanding of the engineering aspect of a Radio station. It appeared that he had met my first station engineer in Delhi and he seems to have given him some feedback about me. Everyday he would be observing me and my performance. He would load me with more and more responsibility. I was enjoying and learning. One day he called me to his office chamber. He asked me whether I had ever travelled by air. I said no. Then he said that he would be sending me to Jammu. I had to meet the station engineer at AIR Jammu. He would give me a portable audio tape recorder that I had to carry back with me to Srinagar. Next day, I came to office and then from there to the airport. My flight was scheduled to leave for Jammu at about 1 PM. Those days, they would give the passengers free lunch at the airport before boarding the 1 PM Flight. I had already taken my lunch at home but did not want to miss the free lunch. Main course was rice and meat. I sat with other passengers on the long dining table and the meals were served. A person came and put rice on the plate. Another person came and put meat plus curry on the rice. We started to eat. I encountered some bones with the meat served to me. I did not know what to do to dispose off the bone when seated on a dinner table. I did not see any plate on the table where bare bones pieces could be deposited. I thought that it would be uncivil if I would leave the bone on the plate. So I put it in my mouth and swallowed it. Thank God it was a small one and it did not stick in my throat. Anyway I reached Jammu and straightway landed myself in the station engineer's office. As soon as I introduced myself, he replied that the recorder could not be spared. He informed me that my station engineer had already been informed. I talked to my station engineer from there and I was told to return next day as per schedule.
Next day, I reached AIR Srinagar and reported to the station engineer. The station engineer told me that he had received the call from Jammu Station Engineer the previous day when I was at the airport. He told me that there was an option to inform me and ask me not to travel to Jammu. But then he remembered that it was first time that I would be flying. He did not want me to be disappointed by preventing me from flying that day. He appeared to have a soft corner in his mind for me.
Same year, there was going to be an army function in Tanghdar, Titwal sector in the valley. This place is a border town on the side of a river. (Kishenganga perhaps) On the other side of the river, it was the part of Kashmir under the occupation of Pakistan. It was so near that we could see busses plying on the road. We would also see people on that side. There was an army regiment posted there in Titwal. Retired General P.S.Bhagat who at that time was the only living Victoria Cross recipient in India was to visit the regiment. It was a two days celebration. Our Station Engineer had also been invited and it was desired that the events at the celebration be recorded for later broadcast in the programme for the Armed Forces. One programme officer was also deputed. I was deputed to do the recording. It was very tough reaching there. It took us almost six hours to reach the spot. Immediately lunch was served. Hard drinks were being served like water. I was the only one not taking the hard drinks. The commanding officer shouted at his staff to know why I was not offered the drinks. When they informed him that I had refused, he still wanted me to have drinks. I again refused. Then he asked his staff to give me orange juice. He wanted every one to have a glass in his hand. The drinks continued for two to three hours. The lunch was one of the best I have ever tasted. There was a white meat type dish which I relished immensely. An hour before dinner, the programme officer told me that the meat dish that I had liked best was pork. Something happened to me after hearing it and I vomited out immediately. I could not attend the dinner. I opted to sleep instead. The commanding officer noticed my absence during the dinner. He sent officers couple of times to my room to call me for dinner.
Next day there were more events. My station engineer drank too but it appeared that after a few drinks some of it went to his head. I was drinking the orange juice. He came near me and forced me to drink. When I initially refused to drink, he said "I will get a funnel put it into your mouth and force the drinks down into you" I was really scared. I took half a (chota) peg. We returned to our base after two days. The Station Engineer was silent all the way. He appeared to be feeling guilty about forcing me to drink.
More of the story on Sunday, tomorrow being a break from posting a blog. Bye.
No comments:
Post a Comment