THE DJINNS

New Delhi is a fascinating City and its weather has started churning once again. Delhi faces each type of weather and has a charm around its existence.  

I just finished reading an account about Delhi's amazing history by William Dalrymple. Sparkling with irrepressible wit, City of Djinns peels back the layers of Delhi's centuries-old history, revealing an extraordinary array of characters along the way-from eunuchs to descendants of the Moghuls. In this account and with ease, William Dalrymple explores the seven "dead" cities of Delhi as well as the eighth city-today's Delhi. Underlying his quest is the legend of the djinns, fire-formed spirits that are said to assure the city's Phoenix-like regeneration no matter how many times it is destroyed. Entertaining, fascinating, and informative, City of Djinns is an irresistible blend of research and adventure. It is a one read account and for some book lovers- it would be a Collector's Delight.

Confusion is the mother of all evils. It can lead to chaos and no wonder humanity thrives in chaos. Let me narrate an incident that happened during my 3rd Term at the Fox Sqn (Jul 1989).

CHM Girdhari Lal, the Drill Instructor of Fox Sqn, stepped out of the Sqn Office and turned right towards the GFCL. His cane tucked hard under his left arm pit, he had a deep gaze and the Academy DO was in his right hand. He waited outside the CSM's Cabin and again looked into the Daily Order. The Sqn had started falling in for the after lunch run practice. 2nd & 3rd Termers had fallen in and 4th Termers were trickling down from stairs and corridors. Girdhari Lal's gaze swept through the 2nd & 3rd Termers but his question appeared to have remain unanswered!

His mind drifted on that fateful day at Itarasi Junction when Tamil Nadu Express came and stopped parallel to the NDA Special. It became a heist at broad daylight as some courageous souls alighted and boarded the Tamil Nadu Express! The Adjutant observed this from the First Class Coupe and rushed out with his Drill Instructor's team. They fanned out into different bogies of the TN Express to flush out the souls attempting to reach New Delhi and other stations earlier. Many were caught that eventful day and then brought back to the NDA Special where they were herded near the First Class Coupe of the Officers. They waited with baited breath for the Adjutant to return.

As the Drill Instructors moved from compartment to compartment, even the TN Express passengers cooperated with them. They pointed out to the deserters hiding inside toilets and even creeping under their berths! One soul was lifted even as he had put a lungi on his face and pretended to be asleep! The raid finished even as the exasperated TN Express guard wanted to move his train on time. A couple of Drill Instructors including CHM Girdhari Lal could not de-board TN Express and had to move ahead. The action now shifted to the Adjutant's coupe in the NDA Special. The names and numbers of the cadets were taken till two cadets gave out the names Cadet Sanga and Cadet Banga from Foxtrot Squadron! Their names were noted by a benign Gorkha Regt CHM from the world of the 3rd Battalion. The cadets were dispersed and the NDA Special moved at its pace. CHM Girdhari Lal and others embarked from Agra Station and the eventful journey came to an end.

Standing in the GFCL and as the whole Sqn had assembled, CHM Girdhari Lal thundered the names of Cadets Sanga and Banga to fall out. No one moved an inch and the stone faced Cadets were lost in their own thoughts. The silence after the thunder stated as if the names did not ring any bell in their minds. CHM Girdhari Lal was now livid. He directed the CSM to divide the Sqn into two parts- one on NDA Special and other of Non-NDA Special. It was almost a 60-40 divide. He again read out the names, numbers and the punishment awarded to these 2 Cadets- 14 Sinhgarh Hikes. Nothing moved in the NDA Special type wing! CHM Girdhari Lal now had beads on his forehead- he had to go back to the Sqn Office with these cadets and he had no bird in his hand. The SCC and CSM huddled with the CHM to provide their interpretation. CHM Girdhari Lal discovered that it was the end of this trail to identify Cadets Sanga and Banga. The story fanned like fire during the evening dinner night and there were mumbled talks amongst the cadets who had received their share of travel to the fabled Shivaji Fort. They knew that they could not play up what the so called Sanga and Banga had achieved.

The Dinner Night got over. It was a moon lit night as the squads of 4 & 6 marched towards their Sqns. The Drill Instructors were standing at their nominated locations. At one point CHM Girdhari Lal from Grenadiers stood along with the Gorkha Regiment CHM- A Squad walked by with a loud Jai Hind Sahab salutation. Both the CHMs were in ram rod straight position and trying to identify the elusive Djinns Sanga and Banga. As the Squad walked ahead, the front right Cadet whispered,"Ki haal Sanga?". The left cadet smiled at him and then looked straight ahead even as the Sinhgarh peak dipped behind the rising facade of the 2nd Battalion. 

Sanga and Banga lived on in CHM Girdhari Lal's mind even as he continued his efforts to find them. During the POP of my course, CHM Girdhari Lal was also finishing with his time at the NDA. He still wanted to unravel the mystery and would inquire quietly from individual cadets about the culprits! 

The POP came and the so called Banga's father came with a camera. The cane was stuck hard inside the left arm pit of CHM Girdhari Lal as the two Djinns Sanga and Banga stood on his either side to capture the moment. As CHM Girdhari Lal shook their hands and walked away , so called Cadet Sanga whispered,"Ki haal Banga?"