Remembrances of Air Force life
part 1
Cpl Pandey G.S.
Please pronounce Cpl as कॉपल ‘Kopal’ / ’kɒp(ǝ)l/ not as C.P.L.
Some people enter into one's life and create an imprint of their personality forever. One such person in my life was Corporal Gouri Shankar Pandey.
It was 15th August of 2000, to be precise. I was one of the invitees, as head of accounts department, for the Bada Khana function in one of the Airman Messes of Air Force Station Pune. Routine affair for us to attend special lunches hoisted on National Holidays.
I was drawn to a beautiful decoration and thoughtful quote written in the most attractive manner. I could not stop to find who was behind this floral arrangement and Calligraphic display. There came Cpl Pandey in the most polite manner to greet me. Later, on behalf of Airmen (Nowadays they are named as ‘Air warriors’) living in the billets he received a gift of six Rum bottles for the good work they displayed. I was impressed with his humble nature and immediately asked him to report to the Accounts Section next day for making some displays, I planned in the entrance and waiting hall etc.
‘Sir, I will certainly come, but I am already handful with some commitments given by my commanding officer.’ He said. ‘Plus my duties are in shifts, if it is ok with him and you, I can come at night and do what you want me to do. I study in Spare time. I am a student of Abhinav art College in Pune city.’ He did not turn up the next day in my office. Later I found that his boss did not allow attending any jobs besides his squadron’s own, on and off duty hours!
Months passed. We never met. On 26th Jan 2001 Bhuj and many parts of Kutch-Saurashtra trembled like a castle of playing cards with severe earthquake. Pune Air base station became very busy in handling casualties and tons of dispatches from all quarters. I remember, present Chief of Air Staff, (the then Group Captain AKN Browne as Chief Ops Officer) handled the situation on war footing admirably well. Aid started pounding at Air Force Station from all over national and International levels. Everyone was sad and deep in grief. Moreover Air Force Station Bhuj was badly damaged. Buildings and workshops crumbled. Runway needed huge repairs. Much causality of Airmen, Officers and their families were reported. Day and night sorties started shuttling when the only runway was made serviceable by surviving MES and Air force-Army Jawan staff. Injuries were being admitted in Army and other Hospitals. No one was strictly permitted to board Aircraft to meet dear ones in Bhuj Air Force Station. We were working on three shifts for the newly allotted duties to tackle emergency calls.
My office was just a few meters away from the parking bay of AN 32s. I was overseeing the loading of material reached from huge international cargo flights. There in twilight, I received a smart salute. Greeting him back, I asked, ‘Yes Cpl, what do you want?’
‘Sir, Do you remember me? I am Cpl Pandey. I could not do your office work. Sir, I am sorry. Orders were not given to report to you Sir. I am really sorry for that.’ Voice was a sincere apology.
‘Ok, what are you doing here in this hell of time?’ finding him standing near to the aircraft, where no one was permitted to be without specific duty. I was harsh in my tone. The starting of plane engines created a deafening effect. In that condition, He said, ‘Sir , I want to go in this Aircraft to Bhuj!’ Barely could I hear what he said, but more than that I could not understand his requirement to go to that god forsaken place, unless someone personally related was to be attended.
‘Why?’ Don’t you know the plight there? What makes you go there?’ My voice was loud and clear for him to know. ‘Sir, I know, therefore I want to go for rescue affected people.’
‘ No need. Our staff is there to look after our families.’ I said firmly.
Meanwhile the aircraft started rolling and soon got out of sight. Looking at that Cpl Pandey took a deep breath. Shaking head in negation, he said, ‘There is no one belonging to me. I need not be a burden to our station staff. They are capable of handling situations there. I am sure’.
Shaking his head in disgust he uttered, ‘Sir, Do we need to have only blood relations to go for rescue? Who so ever, every one, shattered and weathered humans, are they not ours? Who will look after them? For them there is no Air Force to help. If I do not reach them now, what is the use of my living? I will go for them, make my body and soul available. Which way, I don’t know. But some ones need me there. I cannot sit tight and work in these sedentary duties. Call of hour is great to everyone. Well to me, it is a life and death situation. I want to go at any cost’.
His harsh and touchy words made me shiver in my uniform. Never ever I thought like this. Hundreds of dead and wounded on roads and under debris were like me, human beings. Were they not my relations? Mere blood and ritually connected are mine? How come I don’t feel hurt and aggrieved about unknown fellows? Well If my mind set is not so sensitive, what could I do this fellow? Was it possible for me to at least comprehend his call for? Caught in a puzzle, wordless in mouth, nodded and with tears in eyes. ‘Cpl Pandey you are wasting time here. Go at once.’
‘Yes Sir’, looking in my moist eyes, in the most obedient manner, He pleaded, ‘ Sir, I have taken 15 days annual leave. Got sufficient money by borrowing from friends and colleagues. Have a costly camera to shoot places where no one likes to go. Sir, I know, you are a Station Welfare Officer too. Seeing you standing here, I could not help but to reach out to you. Even though you may not have a good opinion about me due to last time. I am sincerely praying to you. Please somehow put in the next possible rescue aircraft. I promise you sir; I will not let you down this time!’ My hand gestures were not so firm and resolute. I said, ‘Cpl Pandey, I don’t know how but let me try. Meanwhile another aircraft crawled in. Door of the cockpit opened. Crew members started climbing down. Fatigued and worn out by constant grueling travel, some of them felt dry and thirsty. Waiting for the Air crew van to take to the restroom came to for help. ‘Sir, horrible is the word, Witnessing from a height there is hardly any house or dwelling which is not affected. Our station is in shambles. Ferrying since early morning, I feel tired.’ Known crew member greeted me with a salute and jumped in the crew van waiting for him.
Looking towards Cpl Pandey, I said, ‘You wait here. Let me talk to the Captain of Aircraft.’
‘Yes Sir. I will bring my hand bag’ he said cheerfully. He disappeared in the crowd of the persons getting down slowly. I came back to my office, lifted the phone. Ring cranked and voice said, Crewroom Sir’, ‘ Please call for Captain of AN 32 just landed. I waited for some time. ‘Hellow’, vice said. ‘Well I am Wg Cdr Oak. Narrated him in short. Listening carefully, he said, ‘let me try Sir'.
‘Thanks, I will leave him to you’, saying I dropped the receiver. Lifted on the sidecap, looking at the watch slowly walked towards my car. I saw Cpl Pandey standing near the ladder entrance for crewmen. I showed ‘thumbs up’. He saluted from long distance. While driving home I felt satisfied that this boy should be on the plane soon.
But it was not to be!.....
continued…
