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.