By Maj Anwar Faridi (Retd), 11th Graduate Course
Editor’s Note:
Maj Anwar Faridi is from EME. After the retirement, he has settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
In 1976, I was posted in 53 EME Bn at Chor (Tharparkar, Sind). GOC was visiting the Garrison and a dinner was planned. Dress for the dinner was of course closed collar (Lounge Suit). Our peace location was Hyderabad, I asked my batman to go to Hyderabad and take my suit from the suit case and bring it to Chor.
There was a train link between Chor and Hyderabad which has since been discontinued and now it only brings fresh water for the Garrison. In those days a train would come from Hyderabad every day in the evening and leave for Hyderabad in the morning. My batman boarded the train in the morning and returned in the evening with the suit case in his hand.
I said angrily, “Why did you bring the suit case, you were to bring the suit only and not the whole suit case?”
“Sir, I have obeyed your order”, he said.
When I hurriedly opened the suit case, to my horror it was empty and there was no suit in it.
I got infuriated and asked, “What is this?”
He replied innocently, “Sir, you asked me to take the suit out and bring the suit case.”
I attended the dinner in Shalwar kameez, much to my CO’s annoyance, but he knew my problem.
Related Pages:
Humour in Uniform
Army Jokes (in Urdu/Punjabi)
Pakistan Army Blog (Retired Officers)
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Humour aside, I am aghast at the naivety of the nincompoop good for nothing Commanding Officer and the deteriorated state of laxity that seems to have crept into the Officers’ Messes where protocol and etiquette were once considered to be the epitome of their standing and sanctity, ‘permitted’ an officer to attend an official dinner in SUTHAN KURTA!!! He should have been thrown out not only of the dining hall but the Mess premises also.
Let me tell ‘such’ officers and ‘such’ commanding officers that as late as the middle of the WW-II (1939-1945 war) right in the operation theatres where fighting was going on and where the units could have their officers’ messes, the SPC Officers (Special Purposes Commissioned Officers – like Doctors, Quartermasters, Censorship Officers and the Army Public Relations/War Correspondents (present ISPR), who were granted commission without undergoing proper military training in the IMA or the OTSes) were not allowed to dine in the officers’ mess but served food in their tents. They were not considered fit enough to dine at the officers’ table!! And here we have officers in Suthan Kurta attending a formal dinner !!!!!!!!!
An Old Soldier
Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
I fully endorse the views of Col (R) Riaz Jafri.
I respect my seniors, I respect my elders. That’s what my parents taught me, and I will live and die with their teachings. I would never ever disrespect any person elder to me. Having said that, I would humbly and with utmost respect disagree with the seniors who hold the values of our masters (British Army) teachings. Just one simple question ‘Would we sit and eat dinner with a chowkidar or our cook’? I would guess, anonymous answer would be NO.
This is what bothers me. Are all men not born equal? Why should we make those who did not go to PMA not eat on Mess table? Are we better humans than them? I am sorry but this feeling of segregation always pricks me and I cannot live with this guilt.
My father is a retired British Commissioned officer from IMA Dehradun, his mindset and my mindset are poles apart. Allah’s rehmat, my father is alive and I live with him but our mindset are very different. I guess he is one of the senior most Pakistan Army officer in Pakistan.
I would like to say sorry if I have hurt or disrespected my seniors.
I am happy you replied — albeit belatedly. People who consider “Suthan Kurta” so demeaning never voiced their opinion or refused to wear it when Gen Zia instituted this deviation. Ironically it also happens to be the same “Suthan Kurta” that one dons five-times-a-day to kneel and bow before Allah.
Really great, those were our simple and loyal soldiers. Chhore today is a lush green beautiful Garrison with all facilities.
Nice anecdote. A good way of keeping all Veterans together.
A good anecdote. CHEEMA, we are grateful for your efforts as Editor.
I see here a comment from Maj AMINULLAH GANDAPUR, if I am not wrong he was one of our Platoon Commanders in PMA. If so, my best regards to him and we have not yet forgotten his delicate sense of humor.
Great memories, I am sure we all experienced such anecdotes in the initial days of service. That was the culture within and outside Army, our bond and relationship with soldiers was strong, both believed in each other that is the reason the institution stands out.
Very nice to hear from you after a very long time Anwar, remain blessed.
Dear Bhatti,
We all need to thank Col Cheema (Editor, Native Pakistan) for bringing us all together. I would have never thought we will ever get together and connect.
Please keep in touch my regular email is 463@petaro.Org
Regards,
Anwar
Good one; typically soldierly performance.
It reminds me of the early hours of 6th September 1965 when we moved out of Hyderabad without knowing that India has attacked the international border at Lahore. Midway to Chhor we came to know and instead of staying at Chhor we moved on to Khokrapar and by late evening were in position there. Later, we attacked and occupied the Indian Riaiway station across. Chhor remained our water point through out our stay in Rajhistan (Jaisalmir and Bikaneer district’s area up to Monabao). Water used to come by Train.
Watching TV news channels these days, I get the uneasy feeling that the conditions in Thar have not improved during the last 50 years. What a pity and what a criminal apathy!
Nice one. Thanks for sharing. We come across many such jokes in our Army life.
Regards,
Hello Anwar Faridi,
I am Brig (R) Qaiser Viqar Naqvi. How are you? Hearing from you after a long time. Are you in EME Gp. A very interesting story. Stay in touch. My email address is: qvn16@hotmail.com
Dear Brig Qaiser,
Thank you for remembering me, I am kind of losing my memory. we had one Naqvi in 11 Grad and one in 10th Grad. I guess you are from 11th Grad.
I am from 10th Graduate Course. I know you through Qazi Imtiaz.
Yes Sir, now I can clearly see you, I clearly remember your ever smiling face. Qazi Imtiaz was my class fellow in Petaro and he settled old scores of Petaro with me at PMA. I don’t know how is he doing and where has he settled down. If ever you get in touch with him please pay him my regards. We have triple bondage Petaro, Army and EME.
Thank you for this cheery note on a wet, grey day in France!
Dear Major Anwar,
Classic example of simple souls we had the honour to command.
Thanks for sharing. If ever you narrated this to someone in Las Vegas, he/she would perhaps not believe that such simpletons still exist.
Yes sir, this part of the world does not have a clue of what are family values, love and affection. Though we are a poor nation but we have values.
Faridi, nice humor.
It tickled my old memories when I was posted in Chhor after locating course in Jan 1973. Chhor was tented camp, demarcated by each unit with bushes cut from the near areas to mark unit boundaries. Now I see a fabulous signboard indicating the Club.
By the way, Hyderabad to Mirpurkhas was broad gauge line and from Mirpurkhas, we would board on meter gauge compartments to reach Chhor. I wonder why the shuttle service has been discontinued.
Thanks anyway.
Dear Maj Anwar Faridi,
Very funny anecdote. Please share more.