(1/2) ” Our Paltan was deployed in Assam. I was commanding my favorite Bravo Company. On an unpleasant day in 1999, I received a call in the evening that the next day all officers of the battalion will run BPET – a 5 km run in ‘Scale B’, meaning, in battle order (uniform). During those days my company had failed miserably to make any headway in counterinsurgency operations, it was just a dark patch for all of us. We worked hard but success always eluded us. I decided to make a mark in physical fitness, my strong point from the very beginning of my teen days and continuing till date. I skipped dinner that night and gave a miss to the tempting breakfast the next morning.
Kitted in my battle order, with my favorite weapon, AK 47 secured across my right shoulder, I lined up for the run at the Battalion Base. I noticed the Brigade Commander present on the field.
On the word ‘Go’ and flagging down, I catapulted, and running through the lush green tea bushes, finished well ahead of many other officers, well ahead of excellent timings. My Commanding Officer expressed happiness and the Brigade Commander cast an appreciative glance. This encouraged me further.
The next was Monkey Rope, a test I could never understand why many soldiers failed. With the Brigade Commander and the Commanding Officer standing right under the rope, I decided to brag and show off; I snatched three more AK 47s from my colleagues and completed the Monkey Rope comfortably, repeating the ups and downs of the whole body four times. Now Brigade Commander spoke, “How old are you?”
“Sir, I am 39.”
“Sir, he is my senior most Company Commander”, chipped in the Commanding Officer.
“Great, I am impressed. Well done.” The Commander placed his hand on my shoulder.
But I had more appetite left, “Sir, I will do it with eight rifles.”
“No, you don’t need to. Relax.”
Before he could finish his sentence, I had collected four more AK 47s and with four rifles on each shoulder, was already up the horizontal rope.
Reaching the center of the rope, I released my feet and hung loosely on the rope and again put my legs up four times, completed the rope and then jumped down, giving a fierce look to all those around me, the Brigade Commander included!
The Brigade Commander patted me and simply said, “I need an officer for special operations, are you willing?”
Without giving the question even one thought, I shouted in true military fashion, “Yes, Sir.”
“Good. We will meet tomorrow in my office.”
Needless to say, that night was terrible, with every inch of my body aching. I cursed myself for the unnecessary show-off, took two tablets for muscle pain relief, and dozed off to oblivion. ”
Served the Country for 21 years