Humor in Uniform – Reputation Management

I had the good fortune of participating in the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of my Navy alma mater INS Valsura Jamnagar on 14/15 December 2017. 

During my interactions with young Naval Officers and their good ladies – amused at the way I was talking in a frank manner – without the usual “pretence” of staidness that Veterans of my age put on – a Navy Wife asked me whether I really had the same “candid personality” inside – that I projected outside. 

Maybe this story – which happened during my Navy Days – when I was serving in the prestigious premier Naval Dockyard at Mumbai – will answer her question...

SPOKEN REPUTATION
Unforgettable Characters I Met in the Navy
A Spoof
By
VIKRAM KARVE

There is a saying in the Navy: 

“If you want to know the true character of an officer – ask his coursemates...”

Seniors will have one view of an officer. 

Juniors will have another view. 

But – it is his peers who will know the officer inside-out – especially his coursemates – who have seen the officer from close quarters from the Training Academy Days. 

Yes – you cannot put up a facade before your own coursemates. 

Here is a story of an unforgettable character I met in the Navy – an ambitious coursemate of mine.


MY AMBITIOUS COURSEMATE

Long ago – at a meeting – where a lot of senior officers were present – I profusely praised a fellow Navy Officer – who was a coursemate of mine.

I believed in the dictum: 

“Praise in Public and Criticize in Private...”

And – of course – I wanted to do my coursemate a good turn.

So – I praised my coursemate lavishly in front of everyone. 

Yes – I really “praised” my coursemate generously – highlighting all his good qualities. 

After the meeting – my coursemate came to my office.

I thought my coursemate had come to thank me for the generous way in which I had praised him in front of everyone – and – I expected him to utter some words of gratitude.

Instead – my coursemate said to me: 

“I want to make one sincere request to you...”

I said to him: 

“You know that I will do anything for you. After all – you are my dear friend and a coursemate. Go ahead – tell me – what can I do for you...?” 

My coursemate pleaded with me:

“In future – please do not “praise” me like you did today – especially in front of senior officers...” 

I was surprised – so I asked my coursemate: 

“Why shouldn’t I “praise” you..? 

I am your well-wisher....”

My coursemate looked at me – and he said to me: 

“I know that you are my “well-wisher”. 

But unfortunately – you have a most terrible reputation with most senior officers. 

So – if you “praise” me – it may have the opposite effect...”

EPILOGUE

My coursemate “returned the favour” many years later.

By nature – I am an honest, straightforward and outspoken person.

Well – as far as senior officers were concerned – my being “honest” was fine.

My “straightforwardness” was tolerated.

But – my “outspokenness” had earned me a reputation of being a tactless, abrasive officer. 

My seniors considered me a “difficult” officer to deal with – since I was not “morally pliable” – and worse – I candidly expressed my views in a blunt and forthright manner.

Once – during a meeting – in my usual style – I expressed my candid views in my usual blunt forthright manner.

My coursemate was also present. 

Yes – the very same coursemate who I had lavishly praised earlier – and who had requested me not to praise him. 

After the meeting – I overheard a senior officer remark to my coursemate about me.

“Your coursemate really calls a spade a spade...” the senior officer said – describing me to my coursemate.

In response – my coursemate “praised” me with these “flattering” words: 

“Sir – he does not call a spade a spade – he calls a spade a bulldozer...” 

VIKRAM KARVE

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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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Abridged and Revised Version of My Story Earlier Posted by me Vikram Karve at 5/01/2014 12:45:00 AM in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/05/humor-in-uniform-height-of-career.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/01/humor-in-uniform-spoken-reputation.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/08/humor-in-uniform-praise-in-public-and.html etc