PART 1 – The CO and the Auditors
Every officer remembers his first Commanding Officer (CO), with affection, regard and some fear. Since one is newly commissioned, every incident looms larger than life, and each mistake is magnified, and every one bullies you. My first CO was Lt Col BD Malhautra. Bunny, all called him. A bachelor, his aged mother lived with him. He was handsome, always well turned out and had all the attributes that one expected of a Guardsman. He was what was called those days, "A Gora Sahib". He had been commissioned quite early in the Second World War and had seen service with many regiments, The Frontier Force Regiment, The Baluch Regiment and I think, the Punjab Regiment from where he came to the newly formed Brigade of The Guards. He had served with the 4th and 1, before he assumed command in 1962 of our Paltan, the 2nd. He had been Adjutant of the IMA at one time and prided himself on the fact that he could out-shout anyone. And he could, I should know, having been shouted at by him on many, many occasions. If he had one weakness, it was that he thought that the "Angrez" were the model to follow. Once, in Mathura in 1962, the officers and JCOs were lined up in front of the Quarter Guard to be introduced to the CGS (Chief of General Staff - VCOAS today), Lt. Gen. B.M. Kaul of later NEFA fame. A group of civilians had the temerity to cross the road in front of the CO. In his best parade ground voice, he ran them off. All went well thereafter. But a week later, the unit's audit report arrived; the objections ran into hundreds. The CO was furious, was this the famous 2nd? Why in 5/12 FFR, he as QM had ensured that there were no objections ever. Subedar Major Chuna Ram deferentially cleared his throat and informed the CO that the civilians he had shouted at the other day were the auditors. It took many samosas, cups of tea and bottles of rum, before honour was retrieved.
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