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!