The calf Path of Mind.-3.

               I had posted few incidences where the "Calf Path of Mind "had been broken for the benefit of  posterity.Many people before starting a work,looks for precedence and try to follow the Calf Path.Here is another incidence. Most of the great achievers are generally self made and they did not follow any beaten track.

          I was commanding an Engineer regiment in Northern sector.For the benefit of  non Army personnel,all ranks of the Engineer Regiment are skilled tradesmen like carpenter,fitter,electricians etc in addition to being skilled shooters ,which is the basic quality of soldiers.It was command headquarters area with usual peace station facilities like Officers club,Swimming pool etc.Being a peace station ,families were permitted .

                      Once there was a call that we should provide two "life savers" at the swimming pool area in order to protect non swimmers and children.I replied that we don't have any one who has been trained in "life saving "skills, however good swimmers are there,and hence sent two good swimmers.How to utilise them is upto the swimming pool in charge.

                         About a month after this arrangement ,there was an accident in the swimming pool.A teen aged boy was found missing from the attendance register and our swimmer found the boy drowned in the deep water.A court of inquiry was ordered and our swimmer was blames as "Failure in Duty "and a letter came to me to take disciplinary action against him.

                        Whenever some work is to be done,people look around,and search the files  for seeking presidence. Because that is the "Calf Path of Mind ".We fail to exercise our mind and look towards line of least resistance.But Colonel Ganesan ,as he was an accidental entry to the Officer cadre,kept on looking at the basics of a problem and irrespective of the outcome he implements his decisions.

                     In this case,Ganesan ordered "Summery of Evidence " (S of E ) )to be recorded against the swimmer.For all those who may not be knowing about this,S of E  is evidences reduced to writing against the accused and all facts are to be brought forward.In this case the facts brought out were as under;

1.The accident took place on a day in the morning at about 11.00 AM.

2. It was the scheduled time for officers and children.

3.There was no "standing instruction" on for using swimming pool.

4.On that fatefull day,there were 13 Officers and 12 children in the pool as per "Entry and Exit "register which was maintained by the swimmer.

5.The swimmer was given to take care of valuables of those coming to the pool.

6. On that day a girl of about 10 years and her brother about 13 years had come to the pool.

7.All officers and children were swimming,diving and playing in water.

8.There was no alarm,or life saving shouting at any time.

9.After some time ,that girl child reported to the swimmer that her brother is not seen anywhere.The swimmer found that while entry time was written,exit time was blank.That means ,the boy has not gone out.

10.The swimmer went around the pool and found a body on the floor of deep water under the diving board.

11.It is presumed that as the children were using the diving board,this particular boy hit the floor and did not come up.

12.As the children and officers were jumping into water,no one has observed that this boy did not come up.No alarm was raised.The Officers and children were leaving the pool one by one,.That boy's sister started searching for her brother and complained.

13.Immediately on recovery of the body from the pool,first aid was given by the swimmer and rushed to hospital.There in the hospital ,the doctors declared "Brought Dead "

                  In the light of the above findings,where was the mistake or failure of duty by the swimmer.The Officers in the poll did not observe the diving of children,the swimmer was sitting in one corner taking care of their valuables.No alarm of any type was made.

                     Under these circumstances ,Maintaing the moral responsibility of "The safety,Honour and Welfare of men under command "by the commanding Officer,I,am of the opinion that the swimmer has not committed any offence.Hence no disciplinary action could be taken. How ever the swimmer at the pool be properly guided by the Officer in charge of the Swimming Pool  to avoid such lapses in future.

                     The swimmer later promoted to Havildar and retired.Even after about 30 years after that incident ,he keeps on spreading  his whole hearted message that "No one but for Colonel Ganesasn"could have saved his life.

                  I have simply broken that "Calf Path of Mind ".That is all.

                                                  The calf Path of Mind-2

                        "The calf path of mind" is a good phrase to remind the easy going people that people of historical importance generally attempt on "Road less traveled".They were fully aware of the consequences of their act and mentally prepared to face the situation.

                   Colonel  Ganesan  took ove command of an Engineer Regiment in a Mountain division which was placed to defend Arunachal pradesh.The year was 1984.In reply to the people's voice that "Are we going to sacrifice Tawang " ?,the government started preparing a "Forward Posture "and large amount of defense  works were going on.The border areas were in high altitude and there was no roads.Army personnel were to march on two-three days with staging camps en route.Mules and porters were used to fetch heavy loads.

                 Under these circumstances a Field Company affiliated to a forward Brigade  was preparing defenses at an altitude of 4770 m ie approximately 15,000 feet.When ever a working party is to be replaced minimum 4-5 persons will march on with their personal load and reach the the first staging camp.The care taker of the particular unit who stays in the staging camp helps the team for rest and gives packed food  for the next day march.

                 Under these circumstances,in April-May 1984 a team of 5 persons left the base for their border post.It was steep climb and quite tiering. The team was nearing the first staging camp.But one of their member was not able to go with the team but was lagging behind.How ever the care taker at the staging camp came down to meet the team,and went further down to help the weak person who was lagging behind.For a long distance he did not see that person.He came up and took other members and went down to the place where the team left him.They all searched here and there ,but there was no trace.Message was flashed to all that one person was missing.

                      Since the Brigade had come to their Operational location,the entire Brigade was put on search operation.No trace of the missing person was found.He was carrying personal load of about 25 Kg,7.62 SLR rifle and was in combat dress.Finally a court of inquiry was ordered presided by the Brigade commander,and senior officers as members.The court concluded that missing person is a Deserter,and it was counter signed by the Gen officer Commanding.

                            There was change of command of Engineer Regiment and Ganesan took over.After a short period the court of enquiry file was received by the Regiment for further action. Ganesan was the Advance party Commander who brought the Regiment in October 1983 and was in complete picture of the operational areas. Fortunately he came back to command.He went through the file in detail.Army personnel would be aware about the difference between a "Missing "person and a "Deserter ".Deserter  term puts the entire blame on the individual and the unit.It is an indication of poor discipline,lack of patriotism,and poor training,and lack of "esprit-di-Corps". 

                  What happened to him is a million dollar question and no one could answer that.But declaring him as "Deserter "is an easy way to bury the problem.But does that absolve the responsibility of officership who took attestation as 'THE SAFETY,HONOUR AND WELFARE OF THE MEN UNDER COMMAND ? Certainly not.

                             So Ganesan ,kept the file on one side and started his own investigation.He walked all along the operational areas,talked to "Indo Tibetian Border Police people,",local headsmen and came to the conclution that it could be a case of hallucination or kidnapping and canot be simply set aside as  "Deserter ".Informers and spy personnel are spread along the National border with China and Pakisthan are known facts.The missing of an Army person could be a tip of an ice berg.However without going into wider details,confining himself to the welfare of men under command ,Ganesan wrote a detailed letter to Adjutant General of the Indian Army ,requesting him to direct the court to re open the case and declare the individual as "Missing "

                      The initial stage of the application brought bombardment from the G O C of the Division,as he had accepted as "Deserter "and countersigned the proceedings.But Ganesan stood the ground and application went through to Army Headquarters.After about a month Ganesan was flooded with sweets and congratulatory messages,as AHQ accepted Ganesan's views and directed the court to re write the "Findings ".

                  The basic training imparted to all Army personnel are the same.But the subsequent situation handling is upto their conscience and upbringing.Many Officers take the "Command Appointment " as a launching pad for their future.Where as Ganesan  took it as an opportunity to prove the Officership "as understood by him. Whether, his future was protected or not is a matter of time and history to tell.

                           Ganesan had certainly driven out "The calf path of mind"out of his mind.