The Emergency Man
All my life I was the emergency man, family
problems, labour, Steel Plant, factory, anything.
My emergency career started from D Group
in Ajanta House, Colvin. When I used to come out of the library for going home,
I would be called to fill in, football, hockey, the vacancy in A,B,C groups as
needed. Then my demand went up and I was preferred. In football I was playing
at back, and my kick was strong. Some seniors always told me to go otherwise
they will not get a chance. But I was always spotted and called.
One day some senior asked me to get marks
for Ajanta House. I asked what is that, I did not know as I was a day scholar,
and had many friends to play with in Lucknow University, he told me that you
have to participate in all sports , if you come first , second, third, you
house will get points. I participated and won all the athletics. Then the
Ajanta House Captain asked me if I knew swimming. I did and then he asked me to
go. The teachers there were so worried they walked along the swimming pool side
with me all the time and I completed 10 lengths, getting maximum points. I am a
Gangaji swimmer. That year I got the most improved athlete of the year award,
the prize I got was 3 books, one of them Nona, showing sense of humour of the
people concerned. I got transferred to C group, who were much bigger, thus
ending my athletic career.
Another year there was an emergency when
the Governor was to come for Annual day, with us it was mostly Kanhaiyalal
Maniklal Munshi, I used to call him Kanhaiyalal Maniklal Munshilal Munshi. Two
very smart boys were trained to receive the Governor, in NCC dress, slow march
in front of him and do Flag Hoisting with him and then march out. In my class 2
kids were trained, one was my good
friend, Anand Pal, son of novelist and freedom fighter Yashpal. On the day The Governor was to visit, the second chap did not come. Anand Pal came running to me and told me
to wear the band on the shoulder and march with him. I did not know, but
followed him and followed his actions and did the job successfully.
I joined NCC and we went to camp in
Kanpur. My senior colleagues, the same evening, went out of the camp for
something, were caught and were stripped of their rank. I was given the charge
of NCC Colvin Group, although I had joined recently. I handled it all very well
but was removed just before the final parade. Well that’s me!
