MEMOIRS OF A “BABU” IN UNIFORM
Sometime ago
– a Civilian
“Babu” issued a letter regarding inter-se
“
equivalence
”
between Civilian and Military Officers posted to Service Headquarters in New Delhi.
And
– many Senior Officers
– serving and veteran
– went hyper on
the Social Media complaining that Defence Officers had been
“downgraded” in status vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts.
I get amused when I see excessively Rank-Conscious Senior Military Officers and Veterans who are obsessed with things like
“warrant of precedence
”,
“civil-military
equivalence
”,
“status/equivalence/
protocol
”,
“inter-se seniority
”
etc
Of course
– junior offficers and soldiers/sailors/airmen are least bothered about such inconsequential things which are mainly Delhi-Centric in nature.
As a young officer
–
I didn
’t give a tinker’s damn about things like
“warrant of precedence
”,
“civil-military
equivalence
”,
“status/equivalence/
protocol
”,
“inter-se seniority
”
etc
My only aim was to have a good time
–
and enjoy my job in the Navy.
A
nd
– in my mind
– I considered myself as nothing less than an Admiral.
During my service
– I wasn
’t overly rank-conscious at all
– and it amuses me when some officers are
rank-conscious even after retirement
– though rank has no meaning in civilian life.
While obsession about rank in uniform is bad enough
– bickering about about inter-se seniority/status with civilians is even worse.
All this
“
brouhaha
”
over the
“civil-military
equivalence
” letter reminded me of this story.
This story happened around 35 years ago
– in the early 1980
’
s
– when I was a
“Babu” in Uniform
– pushing files
in an office in New Delhi
...
Story of the SCIENTIST “Z”
A Fictional Spoof
By
VIKRAM KARVE
After slogging for 5 years in the Navy – afloat and ashore – I was “selected” to undergo the
“prestigious”
Two
year M. Tech. course at IIT Delhi.
On completion of my post graduation (M.Tech.) from IIT Delhi – I was posted to the Military “babudom” in Delhi – what we in the Navy jokingly referred to as the landlocked “Northern Naval Command”.
Though ostensibly it was an Research and Development (R&D) billet in consonance with my recently acquired M.Tech. qualification – in actual fact
–
I was a pen-pusher – a “Babu” in Uniform.
I clearly remember the first day I reported to my new job after completing my M. Tech. at IIT Delhi
–
my first day as a “Babu in Uniform” to push R&D files.
I reached my office dot on time – at exactly 9 AM.
The moment I entered my office – I saw a man sitting inside.
I noticed that he had picked up the phone and he was dialing a number.
From the way he was dressed – I thought he was a peon or conservancy staff.
Maybe – he was trying to misuse my official phone for his personal calls.
Despite my being in sparkling white navy uniform – the man seemed to be ignoring me – and
–
he continued his phone call.
I got angry.
I roughly took the receiver from his hand – and
–
I put the receiver back on the telephone instrument.
Then – I told him in Hindi to get out of my office.
The man stood up – and
–
he said to me in English:
“You talk to me properly. I am a Scientist “F”…”
On hearing this
–
I thought in my mind:
“Scientist “F”...? The impertinent bugger was only a Scientist “F”...!!! He must be equivalent to a bloody “Leading Seaman” – or at most
–
a “Petty Officer”. Yet
–
he was talking so arrogantly to me...”
I decided to bullshit the hell out of him
– Navy style.
So – I gestured rudely with my fingers – and – I told him in English to get out of my office.
But – the man would not budge.
In fact – he again sat down on the chair.
I lost my temper.
I raised my voice – and
–
using typical profane Navy style language – I told the guy in no uncertain terms
–
to “bugger off...”.
(It may not be apt to tell you the exact swear-words, expletives, “four-letter words” – and – Navy style profanities – that I shouted at him)
The man was shocked and taken aback by my shouting and abusive language – and – thoroughly shaken up – he quickly disappeared from my office.
A few minutes later – a smartly dressed civilian entered my office.
He was my direct boss – the Joint Director – who I had met only fleetingly when my predecessor had introduced me to him in the Director’s office during my “incoming” interview with the Director.
“Good morning, Sir...” I wished him.
“Good morning, Lieutenant...” he said.
“Sir – please sit down...” I said.
The Civilian Joint Director pulled a chair – he sat down – and he said to me:
“Everything okay...?”
“Yes, Sir ...” I answered.
“There is a thoroughly terrified and shaken up person sitting in my office. He has almost had a nervous breakdown. He says that you abused him in filthy language – and – you bullshitted the hell out of him. What happened...?” the Civilian Joint Director asked me.
I told the Civilian Joint Director the full story.
Then – I said to the Civilian Joint Director:
“Just imagine, Sir – what an impertinent bastard...!!!
He is just a bloody piddly Scientist “F”...
But – he was behaving as if he was a Scientist “A” – or a Scientist “B”…!!!
So – I let him have it – nice and proper – and – I threw him out of my office...”
The Civilian Joint Director burst out laughing – and – he said to me:
“Tell me – what do you think I am...?”
I looked at him – quite clueless.
The Civilian Joint Director looked at me
–
and
–
he said to me:
“I am also a “Scientist” – you tell me what “Grade” of “Scientist” do you think I am...? Tell me – what do you think is my grade...?”
I looked at him – and – I thought to myself:
“Surely he could not be a Scientist “A” – if so – he would have been the Director – or maybe – even higher. At most – he could be a Scientist “B” – or more likely – a Scientist“C”…”
It was better to err on the safer side – so I said to him:
“Sir – you must be Scientist “B” – or – you must be a very senior Scientist “C” …”
“I am a Scientist “E” …” he said.
“You are an “E”…!!! Really Sir...? How can you be a Scientist “E”…” I exclaimed in surprise.
The Civilian “Scientist” Joint Director said to me:
“In R&D everything is topsy-turvy.
In Academics – grade “A” may be higher than grade “B” which is higher than grade “C” and so on...
But in R&D – everything is “ulta-pulta” (topsy turvy) – in reverse order – so Scientist “F” is higher than Scientist “E” – do you understand...?” he explained to me.
“Oh, shit...” I said.
“The guy you bullshitted is a Senior Scientist “F” – he is equivalent in rank to your Navy Captain or Commodore...” the Civilian Joint Director said to me.
“Sir – I am sorry. Should I apologize to him...?” I said.
“Relax...” the Civilian Joint Director said, “on second thoughts – I feel that you did the right thing. Sitting here in Delhi – I think that this is the best way to deal with those buggers from outstation Labs who come here and disturb us. Now that you have earned a reputation as a bullshitter – let your terrible reputation spread – and no one will bother you here...”
I sat in silence – feeling relieved.
The Civilian Joint Director got up to leave – and – as he walked to the door – he turned around – and he said to me:
“And by the way – there is no rank as Scientist “A”
In R&D – the alphabet starts with “B” – so – Scientist “B” is the junior-most rank.
Why is it so...?
Why there is no rank of Scientist “A”...?
Well – I don’t know – so please don’t ask me...!!!”
EPILOGUE
At first – I thought that these “Boffin” Scientists were dumb – in having a reverse order of alphabet hierarchy.
But later – I realized that the “Boffins” were much smarter than everyone else – particularly the straightforward gullible “Faujis” – who were outwitted by the Scientists on most occasions.
During those days – the senior-most rank was Scientist “F”.
Soon – they created a Scientist “G”
Later – they had a Scientist “H”
And – they can endlessly go on and on creating more and more higher ranks:
Scientist “I” – Scientist “J” – Scientist “K”…“L”…“M”…“N”…“O”...“P”...
They can go all the way down the alphabet – till they create a Scientist “Z” – who may outrank everyone in the Military Hierarchy and Civil Services Bureaucracy.
You never know – but the way their ranks are proliferating – these canny “Boffins” may one day even claim that Scientist “Z” outranks the President, Prime Minister and Ministers too.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
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© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
1. This story is a fictional spoof, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright Notice:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
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