Columnist Col (Retd) Masood Anwar goes down memory lane.

Not so long ago my friends and I were kicking life around like a soccer ball. Today, as I sit down to write this account, I am overwhelmed with nostalgia. The day had finally arrived. Standing in front of the mirror clad in Khaki uniform. Black beret pinned with 24 Cavalry badges smartly fitted over the head, black belt with shiny buckles neatly wrapped around my waist, stars decorating the shoulders, posture faultlessly upright, chest fully expanded, expressions brimming with confidence, emotions laden with pride, I was on top of the world.
Year 1965 month September, India and Pakistan were at war. Training at the military Academy was hurriedly completed. From the Academy I reported direct to the Armoured Corps School at Nowshera for basic young Officers Course.
3 months of academics was merely an introduction to the Armoured Corps. The journey had only started. Who knew who would travel farther than the other. Who knew how each was destined to contribute.
The course finally came to a close. After break of a few days we were to report to the appointed locations for onward transportation to our respective regiments. I was to report at the Div Adm Base in Gujranwala. I arrived with my belongings on the scheduled date and time. The officer incharge having completed necessary formalities, directed me towards a 2 1/2 ton lorry belonging to 24 Cavalry. A Dafadar welcomed me and asked me to take my place in the cabin next to the driver, while he and the others seated themselves in the body of the truck. Soon we were heading towards Kila Soba Singh where the regiment was deployed. The excitement of reaching the destination kept me anxiously occupied. The journey, otherwise not the least comfortable, was not so over stressing. It came to end finally after about two hours. Driver turned the lorry away from the metalled road on to a dusty track leading to the regimental headquarters. I am home, the feeling seemed not as alien as I thought it would. Standing in the open I was seeing a picturesque sight of tents neatly pitched under the cover of isolated clusters of trees and made prominent by the marking and sign posting. Tanks and other vehicles disguised under camouflaged nets, men in battle dress ready to return to battle positions. Generally, the scene depicted an atmosphere of fragile peace with symptoms of war looming large. I was in any case brimming with anxiousness, anxious to experience war more for glory perhaps, for it was not known to me how the realities of war tasted. Deeply involved in my thoughts, I did not realize when a soldier interrupted me. I was guided toward the Adjutant's office. Stepping in I saluted smartly Capt Javed Tipoo, (retired as Brigadier) the Adjutant, shook my hand and warmly welcomed me. Capt Tipoo was impressive, his eyes shiny and bright, smile thrown across the face, voice intriguingly commanding, his delicate physique least of all compatible with his commanding tone. He kept playing with his bushy moustache while he talked to me. Ending the brief introduction, he left me to be escorted to 'B' Squadron whose part I was to be for all purposes. I was handed over to Major Nasir Abbas (retired as Colonel) the Squadron Commander with him was Capt E.D. Noon (took early retirement) the 21C. Major Nasir Abbas made me comfortable. He spoke softly without being visibly authoritative, yet his words sounded firm and business-like. Besides professional requirements, he laid stress on the importance of personal conduct. Both together, he said, made one a good leader of men, and only good leaders made correct and timely decisions. His words still ring in my memory. Eversince, I have lived in a dilemma trying to distinguish correct from an incorrect and timely from an untimely decision. Motivated, enriched and influenced, I walked out loaded with responsibilities. Engrossed or perhaps lost, I entered my living quarters a 40-pounder tent. Asghar my batman had already placed a cup of tea on the table. While I sipped tea he waited outside with towel and soap, having made arrangements for a hot bath. Bewildered at his dedication, commitment and discipline, I have never stopped wondering the role a batman plays in the life of an Army Officer. How this unassuming character goes about shaping the thinking and the attitude of the officer, needs a mention. Needless to say Army as an institution earns unique distinction because it lays so much emphasis on the sensitive needs of officers and men. In return without a blemish the individual extends his unquestioned loyalty to the institution.

I was appointed a troop leader with three tanks under my command. A Naib Risaldar as my troops 21C. The unit was like a family. Everyone intimately known to each other bonded in inimitable and exaggeratedly sensitive relationship. Each prepared to share each other's pain, and stand by his colleague in any crisis knowingly to be fatally dangerous. A couple of days after my arrival, I was put through a busy training schedule. I began my lessons first as a tank driver, then as a gunner, then as an operator and finally as the tank commander. During the course of my training I had to spend a lot of time with men, sharing with them food, jokes, small talk etc. This helped me know their line of thinking, their cultural affiliations and their social and religious convictions. I was henceforth better equipped in dealing with their needs and problems.
My first day in the regiment had come to a close. As the sun went down behind the silhouette and darkness descended, men retired to their living quarters, duty guards for the night assumed their respective positions, Officers prepared to proceed to the mess for dinner. Standing outside I was enjoying the sight of faint lights of Kerosene lanterns flickering like stars in a clouded sky. I could hear men singing with improvised musical instruments. Suddenly the musical voice of a singer from a nearby tent singing a folk song attracted my attention. I moved closer and started enjoying. Later while walking towards the Mess I thought how captivating folk songs were. Their melody and lyrics enticing and emotionally involving. Recalling a pleasant memory one sheds all inhibitions and takes joy in stretching one's imagination. I could go on fantasizing but by that time I had reached the Mess. In our regiment, officers were required to gather in the Officer Mess, dinner was taken together in the presence of the C.O. The C.O. was very particular, he emphasized that Mess was a place where officers were groomed for mannerism. Here officers became familiar with each other. Listening provided opportunities for learning, particularly for the young officers. I may say Lt Col Nasrullah must be remembered for his contribution in grooming the officers of 24 Cavalry.
Lt Col Nasrullah (may his soul rest in eternal peace) was in command of the regiment when I joined. Col Nasr had been re-employed during the war. He replaced Lt Col Ali Imam. About him it is known that as hostilities broke, Col Nasr walked into the Divisional Headquarters and offered himself for service. He said he was prepared to work even as a tank driver. That was the level of his motivation which he maintained till his death. Col Nasr was a perfect example of a nationalist. Patriotic to the core, always committed and ready to lead. Col Nasr was different in many ways. A man of disposition a keen conversationalist, knowledgeable and staunchly traditional. He was teasingly forgetful. One day while proceeding to Lahore on a weekend, having arranged to meet his wife at Daska Railway Station - she happened to be there. From there together they were to proceed to Lahore. Finished with his work, Col Nasr called for the jeep and proceeded to Lahore. We had not known how he had arranged with his wife. Luckily on the day Major Gardner (Retired and emigrated to Canada) was also proceeding to Lahore by the same train. When the train pulled in at Daska Railway Station, he happened to see Mrs Nasr standing at the platform. Major Gardner walked upto her, Mrs Nasr told Major Gardner that she was waiting for Col Nasr who had arranged to join her at Daska Railway Station. Mrs Nasr was not surprised when Major Gardner informed her that the CO had left for Lahore in his jeep. Lt Col Nasr was particularly keen in seeing that his officers remained upright and did not give in on principles. I cannot forget the day when President Ayub was to address officers of our Formation at Pasrur airfield. Lt Azmat Malik (Presently serving as DIG in Police) and I decided to consume our breakfast early hoping to avoid encounter with the C.O. Our planning failed. We were halfway with our breakfast when in walks the C.O. We were now in close proximity sitting on left and right of him. We stopped eating till breakfast was served to the C.O. While he ate, chewing slowly because of a damaged jaw, which he damaged during an accident when he fell asleep at the steering wheel, he was simultaneously talking and we were showing our full attention. All we were doing was nodding our heads with a forced smile on our face ensuring there was no indication of unintentiveness. Suddenly, during the conversation the C.O. changed the topic. He looked at Azmat and asked, "you tell me if the President asks you why you joined the Army, what will you reply". Azmat replied, "Sir, I will say I joined the Army to serve the nation". There was no response. After a brief pause, he turned toward me and repeated the question. "You, tall man what will you reply". I was a bit hesitant. I was not sure if Azmat's answer was to his liking or not. Anyhow, I did not want to take a chance of giving a different reply. I said, "Sir I will also say I joined the Army to serve the nation". Listening to my answer the expression on his face immediately changed. He straightened himself against the back of the chair and to our utter surprise, with one stroke threw the knife and the fork flying outside the tent and shouted "don't tell lies, do you think this waiter is not serving the nation. If the President asks you why you joined the Army, tell the President my C.O. told me to say I joined the Army to have a bloody good time". What reaction, but today when I ponder over his words I understand what he meant by "bloody good time". Good time meaning leading a life of goodness, doing good or at least meaning good where you cannot do good. Goodness enshrined in morality and ethics accompanied with principles, all culminating into one ideology -the satisfaction of listening to people calling behind your back 'here goes a good man, man of conviction'. During an episode of a similar nature I recall, I was given a dressing down for not displaying correct mess manners. It was during one of the several dinner parties held in our Mess, I was given the task of receiving guests and ensuring that they were served with drinks and appetizers. I had to ensure that waiters performed their duty as they were briefed. However, in my enthusiasm to show smartness, during the course of the conversation I noticed a guest was without service. Quickly I picked up a plate of appetizers and smilingly offered it to the guest. The C.O. happened to see me doing so. The following morning I was called in and given a dressing down. I was told that my responsibility was to manage the task of the waiters and not to take over their task. Indeed, I was not pleased then but later realized the importance of these, rather insignificant actions, for the development of character and leadership qualities.

All in all time spent in the field in conditions, though not very comfortable, was work and fun. I had a great deal to learn. I learnt basics of horse riding. I tried my hand at driving jeep and truck. Neelgai shikar was interesting and enjoyable experience. Visits to forward battle areas gave me the first hand knowledge about the tank battles. Casual visits to Gujranwala and Sialkot were full of excitement. People treating us like VIPs and showering words of praise. Being held in high esteem as icons of national pride we felt exaggeratedly self-important. I cannot explain the sacredness of these feelings. I cannot describe the pleasure we derived being adored and paid homage to.
Sometimes in mid-1966, orders to move to peace locations arrived. Capt Mehboob Alam (retired as Maj Gen) and I were detailed to proceed to Kharian to take over accommodation for the regiment. Not long after, the regiment moved to Kharian and we got busy for weeks in settling down. Thinking of peace aroused a feeling of excitement within me. I was yet not familiar with the distinctiveness of peace in the Army. Peace having its demands of playing war like kids play games, starting as a passion and becoming an obsession as age gathers experience. Little was my understanding about peace and war as manifestations of human need. Little did I know that war is an expression of attitudes interpreted through perceptions and peace a condition that outlines perception into attitude, peace a realization, an opportunity to, develop productive relationship with war, of learning, of becoming characteristic.
Months after arrival in Kharian the Command changed. Lt Col Nasrullah was retired from service. Lt Col Kalim Ullah assumed Command of the regiment. Lt Col Kalim Ullah hailed from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), he was a specimen of a fine gentleman, highly spirited and overstatedly emotional. With him I had the opportunity to serve as the Adjutant, the experience was unmistakably stimulating. His visits to the tank park specially on Monday mornings is a feature to relate. Once in the tank park, it did not take him long to lose his patience. Fuming with anger, he would order punishments which as the Adjutant I knew were not meant to be implemented. "This is to ginger up people", back in his office inhaling deeply on the cigarette and sipping from a hot cup of tea he would tell me smilingly. Lt Col Kalim had a hard time controlling his anger. Mrs Kalim a lady with immaculate mannerism compensated to an extent. She was kind with the young officers and pampered them with motherly affections. Taking the liberty, some of us sometimes convinced her with pathetic stories for leave. She would say "Okay you run along, I will tell the Colonel" Answers in the negative or an approach lacking positive mind greatly angered the Colonel. He would not excuse that person who was guilty of a negative reply. During one of the visits to the miniature range, he lost his cool on an answer of this nature. He ordered us to have a 3 by 10 foot wall built within 24 hours. We were to arrange everything ourselves. The following day, he arrived at the miniature range. He knew very well there would be no wall to be inspected, what he was hoping to hear was the kind of effort we had put in, in this regard. Since we knew what the C.O. was expecting, we satisfied him with just the right answers. Advising us he said that a negative mind loses half the battle even before the battle has begun. Positive thinking wins half the battle even before the battle is started. Therefore, always approach the problem with a positive mind. This was a lesson of my life. I have never forgotten the incident and the lesson I learnt from it.
Time and tide wait for no one. It was time to part company. I volunteered for the Air OP. Ignoring the concern shown by colleagues and other senior officers, I joined the Air OP never to return to the Armoured Corps and the regiment. All I can say is that I missed a great deal of the Armoured Corps and a great deal of the regiment. As a believer in destiny, perhaps I was destined to deliver differently, destined to perform different tasks in different environments.
I understand, Chivalry, Valour, dynamism, Initiative are fundamentals on which the growth of a soldier takes place and attributes a soldier must take pride in. They light the fire within that won't die out. I understand they are the instrument of change. Change in thinking in attitude, in behaviour. I understand a soldier must constantly seek wisdom and strength through knowledge, must endeavour to establish relationship with his surroundings, must search within for talent.
All this cannot happen without a struggle with the inner SELF, seeking and searching for the likes of one's personality, shaping the impressionable rationalizing beauty and the brain, being true to oneself, valuing relationships, listening and contemplating with a view to becoming a good conversationalist, practicing self-control and selfanalysis with a view to developing the power of persuasion, learning to honour time and acknowledging that patience and perseverance are the needs of the time.