After
a grueling life at the NDA and on-board Training Ship Tir, 07 of us
reached INS Shivaji at Lonavala. This was the best bliss that life could
have got , albeit for Maths which decided to continue with me. After
NDA, I had no inclination to study Maths but soon enough I realized to
my horror that I had done well in the Electrical Stream on-board the
Training Ship. My training Commander decided to put me into the
Electrical Branch and despite all my protests, I landed at Shivaji which
was not a sailing vessel!! Since, I was a commoner so I could not do
much but to curse my luck and got on with the routine of the base. Now,
Shivaji is a scenic base located between Mumbai-The Tinsel City and
Pune- The Automobile City and of course the city where our Alma Mater
NDA is situated. Since Shivaji could not sail, so the Under Trainee
Officers (UT Officers) would sail on their bikes, scooters and on public
transport to either of these cities at the drop of a hat.
The Mumbai riots had just taken place and that was the time we put on
our first Naval stripe. The TV and News papers were a rare commodity
those days and did not blow their own trumpets by declaring that so and
so reported it first!! We were happy young Officers who would attend
classes, sleep, play and drink hard. It was one of those days when my
venerable Course-mate Pravin Rana/CSM Lima/81 came to my cabin and asked
about a drive till US Club at Mumbai where our sea going Course-mates
were having a party to celebrate the newly gained Officer-hood. Who was I
to refuse and soon enough wearing our trademark Blue Jeans and Blue
Jeans jackets, I took off for Mumbai with Rana as my pillion. The drive
on my BAJAJ SUPER (A gift from my Dad on joining NDA and bearing
registration number DAD-4495) was smooth and Rana was the safest pillion
I ever rode. He never moved once he was seated and the driver would
never realize his weight as he sat fagging away on Wills Navy Cuts.
By the time the Western Sun went down, we were safely
inside the Naval premises and soon enough the party began at US Club.
The drinks were hard and good and the party continued till the Club shut
down. We both had an option to sleep at the Command Mess but I decided
against it and Rana agreed immediately for a return night drive to
Lonavala. Saying good byes, we set off for the return leg. At Colaba
causeway, I missed the turn and reached towards Mumbai VT Station 9CST
of today). Rana was puffing away and I was looking for some clues with
our gyros a bit turned out when a White Ambassador pulled aside us. 3
Policemen got downs and all my efforts including the ty-I card from
Shivaji failed to prove our credentials. We were fortunate that there
were no Breath Analyzers those days!! Soon enough, we were inside Colaba
Police Station and were told to wait till someone from Navy came to our
rescue and to certify that we were indeed Naval Officers.
In side the room, we saw 3 men. After a while, they struck
conversation with us and one of them asked us if we were Submariners!!
No , we said and then he said that they were Submariners and soon enough
some Officer would come to rescue them. Their offense was that they had
bashed up a Taxi Driver when he tried to over charge them that night.
After an hour or so, a Lieutenant wearing the 8s Naval Uniform (Shorts
and Shirt) with Blue Stocking walked in. Seeing him, the 3 sailors
sprang into action. He drummed them hard in front of the Policemen and
then offered to take over the case. The Police was more than willing to
part away with these BODIES!! I also wished him and discussed our issue.
The Lieutenant also took over our responsibility and soon enough we
were out of the Police Station.
Once outside, he introduced himself as LT D SAHA, the
Electrical Officer of a Kilo Submarine. He then turned towards the 3
sailors and accoladed them for setting the Taxi Driver straight and
tore away their detention slips. The sailors saluted him with great
vigor and asked me and Rana also to join the Submarines and live a
challenging life. Lt Saha said that these men were tireless sailors and
were an asset to their Submarine. We were impressed and returned to
Shivaji safely.
In 1997, I stepped on-board my first Kilo Submarine and to my
joy found that those 3 Sailors were on-board that Submarine. They
trained me and Lt Saha guided me well as he was my Sqn Electrical
Officer.
My venerable mate Rana did not join Submarines. He continued
to ride pillion on various escapades to nearby cities. We lost Rana at a
road junction in Kochi where he and his driver were run over by a
speeding truck whilst their bike had stopped at a Red Light. I stopped
riding my scooter to nearby cities from that day onwards because I would
never find a stable Pillion as Rana. RIP Rana.
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