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Dear Reader:
You must have heard of the movie
“Hatari”.
But – have you heard of the term “Gatari”…?
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This story happened many years ago
during my Naval Dockyard Mumbai days.
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“GATARI”
Story from My Naval Dockyard Days
By
VIKRAM KARVE
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PART 1
LEAVE
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During my Navy Days – whenever I
applied for leave – especially casual leave – sometimes – my boss would ask me
the reason why I wanted leave – but – I did not have to mention the reason for
which I wanted leave on the leave application form.
The leave application form asked for
various details like number of days of leave required, type of leave, address
and phone number during leave period etc – but there was no requirement to
mention the reason for leave.
In contrast – civilian employees had
to mention the reason for leave on their leave application form – at least in
the Naval Dockyard – where this story happened many years ago.
There was one more difference between
uniformed navy personnel and civilian employees as far as leave was concerned.
In the Navy (and maybe in Army and Air
Force too) – remaining absent without leave was an offence – you were treated
as AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) or “marked run” in Navy parlance – and
if you didn’t report for duty after a telegram was sent to your home address –
you could be arrested and punished severely.
In the case of civilian employees – things
were quite lenient – and such absences from duty without sanctioned leave were
generally regularised by “ex-post-facto” approvals – sometimes – “benevolent”
seniors even regularised long absences by granting “leave without pay” in case
all the accumulated leave was exhausted.
For Civilian Employees – Leave was a
Right (an Entitlement)
For Military Personnel – Leave is a
Privilege (a Favour)
Even in the Private Sector – if
employees remain AWOL (absent without leave) – at the most – they may be fired
– but they will not be arrested and punished – even imprisoned – as in the case
of AWOL Military Personnel.
I have digressed.
Let me come back to the story I was
telling you.
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PART 2
THE LEAVE APPLICATION
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The moment I saw the reason for leave
on the leave application form – I burst out into laughter.
In fact – three of my key supervisors
had mentioned the same reason.
My deputy had forwarded the leave
applications with the remark “Not Recommended”.
“What’s the problem…?” I asked him.
“Sir – there is an important meeting
on that day – for which all supervisors are required – especially these three…”
my deputy said.
“Ask these three guys to see me at
12:30 – when they come for lunch break – before I go for lunch…” I said to my
deputy – and – I kept the three leave applications in my drawer.
“Sir – are you going to give them
leave…? I didn’t understand the reason they have mentioned…” my deputy asked
me.
“Didn’t you ask them…?” I said to my
deputy.
“I did, Sir – I asked them what was so
important on that day – I told them to postpone their leave in view of the
important meeting – but they said that I wouldn’t understand but you would – Sir
– I don’t think you should give them leave on that day…” my deputy said.
“Let’s see – I’ll talk to them – and
the reason they have mentioned – I will explain it to your later – in fact –
you also be present at 12:30 when they come – so – you can hear it from them…”
I said to my deputy.
“Aye Aye, Sir…” my deputy said to me –
he saluted – and he left my office.
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PART 3
FLASHBACK
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Dear Reader – in order to give you a
bit of background – let me tell you about an incident that happened in the very
first week of my taking up my appointment as the manager of a premier
department in the Dockyard.
I noticed that a civilian officer was
missing from the morning meeting.
When I enquired about his absence – my
deputy said that he was on “sick leave”.
“What…? Sick Leave…? He seemed to be
quite okay yesterday. What’s wrong with him…?” I asked my deputy.
“Sir – he called up a few minutes ago
saying that he has high fever and is unable to even get out of his bed – must
be a serious case of flu or viral infection…” my deputy said.
“Let’s hope he gets well soon…” I said
to everyone.
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SICK LEAVE
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For uniformed military/navy personnel
– you had to report sick to the sickbay or clinic or hospital – and you had to
be declared SIQ (Sick in Quarters) – or you had to get admitted to hospital –
if you were absent from duty due to sickness.
In the case of civilian employees – a
telephonic intimation was enough. On reporting for duty – they had to submit a
doctor’s certificate with brief details of their sickness and certifying that
they were sick were not fit to perform their duty on those days. The “sick
leave” was approved “ex-post-facto”.
I looked at the wall clock in my
office – it was 9:30 AM
“I have to visit the Store Depot at
Ghatkopar…” I said – then – I looked at the Stores Officer and asked him, “have
you tied up everything…? Are we getting transport…?”
“Sir – they will be waiting for us at
11:30 AM – Sir – there is no transport available – they have given an NA
(Non-Availability) Certificate – so – we will have to go by local…”
“Okay – I’ll quickly change into
civvies – and we will walk down to VT and catch a local…” I said to the Stores
Officer.
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PART 4
THE “SICK” OFFICER
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Around 10 AM – at VT (CSMT) – we got
into the First-Class Coach of a Thane Local.
The coach was almost empty – since we
were travelling in the opposite direction – since the rush to go to work was
from the suburbs towards the city (VT)
At Dadar – I was shocked to see the
“sick” civilian officer enter the coach – he was dressed in classy clothes –
wearing a silk kurta – and – he didn’t look “sick” at all.
With him was a lady dressed in an
expensive saree wearing jewellery.
From her demeanour – it was quite
obvious that she was his wife.
They were all “decked up” – as if
going to attend a wedding.
The “sick” officer seemed to be
searching for good seats – looking around the coach – when he looked in my
direction – but – the moment our eyes met – he averted his eyes – and started
walking towards the opposite end of the coach – the lady following him.
The stores officer sitting opposite me
– so – he had probably not seen the “sick” officer.
I did not want to embarrass the “sick”
officer – especially in the presence of his wife – so – I did not mention
anything to the stores officer.
In a few minutes – we reached our
destination Ghatkopar – and – we got off the local.
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PART 5
“SERMON”
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I decided to publicly shame the
mendacious “sick” officer who had told blatant lies about his health to avail
“sick leave” – that he had high fever – when – in actual fact – he was
absolutely healthy and fit.
He reported next morning with a doctor’s
certificate which was obviously fake.
I decided to address all officers, supervisors
and office staff during the lunch break.
When everyone had assembled – I told
them that what I had seen – that the civilian officer who had taken “sick leave”
was actually travelling in a local with his wife probably to attend a wedding.
Then – I delivered a “sermon” – a “moral
lecture” – on the importance of speaking the truth and being transparent.
I wondered if my “lecture” had the desired
effect.
A few days later – when I saw the
leave application forms of three of my key supervisors – I knew that my “sermon”
did make an impression – at least on these three supervisors.
The reason mentioned on their leave
applications was:
“To Celebrate Gatari Amavasya”
I had a hearty laugh – and – I summoned
the three supervisors.
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PART 6
GATARI AMAVASYA
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“Gatari Amavasya” or “Gatari
is a celebration of “Eat, Drink and be Merry” on the last day of Ashaadh month
– a day prior to the start of the Shravan month – when most people abstain from
eating non-vegetarian food, drinking alcohol etc. On “Gatari” – some people
enjoy drinking and eating non-vegetarian food to their heart’s content – before
a month of “detoxification” (eating healthy vegetarian food and abstaining from
alcohol) during Shravan.
In Marathi – the word “Gatar”
(गटार) means “gutter”.
The celebration “Gatari”
gets its name from the fact that some people drink so much booze – that they get
totally drunk – and – fully inebriated and in a heavy state of intoxication –
they fall down and pass out unconscious in a gutter “Gatar” (गटार)
Maybe – when they wake up
next morning – the month of Shravan has already begun.
So – “Gatari” – the last
day before the holy month of Shravan begins – is a day of indulgence.
Since people abstain from
eating non-veg or drinking alcohol and all other vices during the month of
Shravan – “Gatari” is the last opportunity to drink alcohol and eat non-veg to
one’s before Shravan
In a nutshell:
On “Gatari” – eat meat and
drink booze until you pass out in the gutter.
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By the way – Dear Reader –
this year – “Gatari” is being celebrated today – on the 28th of July
2022
So – as you are reading
this – some merry persons may already be in high spirits celebrating “Gatari”
with full gusto.
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PART 7
“GATARI”
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The three supervisors
stood in front of me – and – my deputy was seated on a chair – towards the side
– and – he was looking at the supervisors.
“Sir – we want to take
back our leave applications…” one of the supervisors said to me.
“Why…? Don’t you have
plans to celebrate “Gatari”…?” I asked him
“The deputy manager told us
that there is an important meeting on that date – so – we will cancel our plans…”
he said.
“The meeting can be
postponed – but – “Gatari” cannot be postponed…” I said.
The supervisors looked at
me with an expression of amazement on the faces.
I smiled at them and
spoke.
“Tell me – what are your
plans for “Gatari”…?” I asked them.
“Sir – we are planning to
go a secluded beach – take a few bottles of booze and plenty of non-veg food
with us – and – eat and drink all day by the sea side…” they said.
“Wonderful…” I said, “you
must enjoy yourself thoroughly on “Gatari” – eat drink and be merry…”
“Thank you, Sir…” they
said.
“I am extremely happy at
your truthfulness – you could have taken “sick leave” – like that bugger – but you
have been honest with me – so – I am going to give you 3 days leave to
celebrate “Gatari” – so that you can enjoy fully…” I said, with a smile.
“Three days, Sir…? We want
only one day leave…” they said, surprised.
“I want you to enjoy to
the fullest – and – in the true spirit of “Gatari” – you must drink to your
heart’s content – but – instead of passing out in the “gutter” – you can collapse
on the beach in a state of “ecstasy” – if you really enjoy “Gatari” fully – you
will take 2 days to recover – so – I am going to give you guys 3 days leave…” I
said, smiling.
“Sir – one day leave is
enough…” they said, with a slightly pleading look.
“One day leave is not
enough for you fully recover from your hangover if you really celebrate “Gatari”
in the true spirit – I know you guys won’t report for duty on time but will ask
for “sick leave” like that bugger…” I said, firmly.
“Sir – we promise to
report the next day – on time…” they said.
“Okay – here is the deal –
I will keep your leave applications in my drawer – if you report on time – I will
tear up your leave applications – and give your “compensatory off” for “Gatari”
– if you don’t report on the next day after “Gatari” – I will grant you 3 days
leave and forward your leave applications to HR…” I said to them.
“Thank you, Sir…” they said,
promising once more to report on time.
“You must “de-brief” me on
your “Gatari” celebrations…” I said to them.
“Of course, Sir…” they
said, with a happy smile on their faces, and they left my office.
“Sir – the meeting –
should we postpone it…?” my deputy asked me.
“We will have the meeting
as scheduled – on “Gatari” – remember – no one is indispensable – and – no one
must feel that he is indispensable. If you want – take a briefing from them –
and be ready for the meeting…” I said to my deputy.
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EPILOGUE
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The three supervisors were
standing outside my office before opening hours on the next morning after “Gatari”.
From the strong “aroma”
emanating from their bodies – it seemed that they were sweating alcohol out of
their pores – and – it was evident that they had celebrated “Gatari” with full
gusto.
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VIKRAM KARVE
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