How I wish, I should have disobeyed your orders Sir

Can I come over and pay my regards Sir? ‘Not now VK, I will give you a call tomorrow at 11 AM. If my call does not come, don’t call back – goodbye and see you later’.

That ‘later’ never arrived…..

The almighty snatched him away all of us on this Saturday…. Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, former vice chief of the Army Staff, former army commander of the Indian Army’s largest operational Command, the first Director General of Information Systems of the Indian Army and the former Colonel of the Bombay Sappers… had gone forever.

Besides all the big appointments and distinguished decorations stated above, he was our loving ‘ADG Sir’. This short but respectful salutation actually describes a very prestigious appointment in the General’s glorious career track; that of Additional Director General (B) Military Operations Directorate, ADG MO (B) for short, ADG for shorter. An appointment reserved for a chosen few; very few, surely the brightest of the bright.

My section, Military Operations 7 (MO-7) was under his ambit of jurisdiction. Between him and me, (a piddlie Colonel as Director (Dir) MO 7) was my mentor, then Brig Raj Mehta, VSM. Sir donned the chair of Deputy Director General; that is DDG MO (D). So the command chain ran like this – Dir MO 7- DDGMO (D) -ADG MO (B).

MO-7, besides many other important verticals on the operational gambit also deals with some very highly classified stuff of national importance. The knowledge about the same is restricted to the very few at actions stations only and NOBODY ELSE even in the MO Directorate. It is for this task, the trio of Dir-DDG and ADG united as one – rank hierarchy – levelled. Three men holding the hot potato and interacting with the select few in civvies, period.

It is for such tasks, our trio would meet every week. ADG will set out the broad goals and timelines and the DDG, a fiery firebrand and a hard task master would set off with his Dir in toe. How committed was our DDG?

A junior once said this to him:-
Sir , Apko pata hai aap kya cheez ho?

Nahi

Sir aap vo cheez ho jo geeley sarkande mein bhi aag laga sakti hai!

Our task involved travelling and carrying out reconnaissance of remote and weird places all over the country; sometimes in areas not even known to man or beast.

Come Friday, self and DDG will be on board in some civil flight/military chopper wandering all over. Our DDG was not satisfied with 100% , for him 200% was somewhere acceptable and for timelines? – it was always – FIRST THING Monday morning.
Draft reports prepared on return flights, corrected by boss on flight and ready – ‘First thing Monday morning when he would discuss those with the ADG.

Wherever we were out in the field or in some remote place, Gen Patta will always keep in contact. Caring for us, asking if anything he could do back in Delhi – his support was TOTAL – no questions asked – resources?, days on travel , when to go, when to return – all our decisions. I remember his words which he would often say to the DDG when he would call him from site – May the Almighty be with you in all your endeavours.

We went on 73 such trips; yesss 73 in a three year+ tenure that was co-terminus with ADG. It was a record of sorts. The three of us became very close as if ‘partners in the crime’.

Recommended by DDG and approved by ADG, two decorations came my way in one MO tenure; uncommon in those days for a Colonel to don a VSM! Courtesy the elders over me.

ADG had this strange habit. Moment he will get to his chair in the morning he would open a Drafting paper sheet A4 size. Throughout the day as dozens of officers will come and brief him, he would continue to scribble on the same sheet and would keep disposing them off with appropriate directions. At the end of the day, sheet full, sheet torn and thrown. Next day next sheet – that was the level of brevity and clarity.

Can’t forget the day, 24 Feb 2003. It was a hectic Monday that saw itself go in my jostle from Ops Room to office to DDG’s chamber to attending ADG’s call, and in between going across to the VCOAS office to collect some classified document for the DGMO. The day had done itself to the afternoon. The Director was now taking a deserved breather. There rings the ADG’s buzzer… Yess Sir. VK, can you please get me that file. Sure Sir was the quick reply as, I had taken out that ‘classified bomb’ from my triple-lock monstrous cupboard in the morning itself.

Where is it? I started to search my tray. Must be under that file… checked, no it is not there. What about here – Na. The anxiety was just about piling. The search continued as I ran back to the Ops Room, to DDG’s office to the MA to the VCOAS if I had left the document there. No luck. The anxiety was about raging to high levels, as I returned to my frantic search, here, there, everywhere….no where. All my section officers left work and joined me. Life came to a standstill. Just search, search, search…
It was then the door opened and I saw the ADG walk a few cool steps, the ‘bomb’ firmly held in his hand…. I missed a beat. Oh my God! It was in ADG’s office.

The General spoke in his traditional no-nonsense style. VK, I wanted this 20 minutes to elapse (Oh! was it just 20???, it felt like an eternity, I thought). Remember whenever you hand over a sensitive or a classified document to anybody for reference or momentarily , not requiring a written hand-take over, you will say to yourself and the recipient – Sir, such and such document is NOW WITH YOU please. (emphasis intended)

You came loaded with files this morning, I asked you something and you inadvertently left this file on my table. What a goof I thought. Storm over.. later while I drank my two coffees in a row with one burger (was suddenly feeling terribly hungry ) I tied this learning to me. Indeed it saw me through for the balance decade + of Service life. Will anybody believe that I had to do an ADG for one of my officers later in life. It is a small world.

Cut to the present. It was Mar 2023. We wanted to celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary at Wellington. We were there at Wellington Gymkhana Club (WGC) for three days. One evening when going inside the Club, I was interrupted by a loud voice – VK what brings you here? Oh my God, our ADG, Gen Patta, I went running and greeted him. Two old soldiers embraced in a warm hug. He said, I am missing Raj (our DDG, the third member of our trio).

I found the General fit-as-a-fiddle, seated next to his gracious lady in the company of some very senior veteran General officers. I felt like Dir MO 7 again. We got talking. Gen Patta fondly remembered our numerous trips and commended us for the results that came out of it.
Spellbound by the magic of the place we had decided to apply for A WGC membership. I required a sponsor. Moment I opened my mouth ADG offered to get the job done immediately ( he was on WGC Management board, I think) .

Things moved fast . Next Oct we were back at WGC waiting for AT HOME. The hall was packed. Every new member’s sponsor was there to introduce the new member. My eyes were searching for ours – Gen Patta. Couldn’t see him anywhere. Rang him up. No reply. Asked WGC staff. Somebody told – Sir is sick. Soon the reality dawned, our ADG was terminally ill – lungs compromised. I was crest-fallen!

On reaching back, I again called him. Insisted on seeing him. The General declined; may be if his call comes at 11 AM. The call never came. I left without saluting him one last time. Who knew that was game up.

He probably didn’t want me to see him in that condition. I respected Sir’s orders. Didn’t call back before leaving.

Sitting now at my workstation and writing this piece, how I wish – I should have disobeyed his orders to meet him ONE LAST TIME.

Good Bye Sir

Your trio team remembers you fondly

RIP General