THE GRENADE
The Gunnery officer of INS Valsura was a handsome 50 plus Lt.Cdr GS Chadda. He was feared and respected equally by everyone. He was a no nonsense person. He used to like the little pranks of the apprentices and at the same time screw them up at the parade ground for doing nonsense.
One day he was appointed the SDO (Senior Divisional Officer) of Baan Division. He appeared to be a very genuine person.
Being the Ship’s gunnery officer , he was responsible for conducting the regular Firing practices.
One Saturday Lt.Cdr Chadda declared, ”Next Saturday BAAN Division will be going on a Route March to the firing Range at Jamnagar. We will be conducting firing practices and return by transport in the evening. Breakfast will be served enroute and lunch will be at the firing range”.
Our happiness knew no bounds on hearing the news. Came Saturday and we were ready in a clean pair of No.10s with boots and peak caps for the route march. We left Valsura marching at 7am in the morning.
The firing range was around 8 – 10 kilometers from Valsura.We were marching in proper fall in with the Divisional Chiefs and Officers along with Lt.Cdr Chadda marching along our sides. They were in their barrette caps.
After some 2 hours of marching, Lt.Cdr chatta declared, “LET’S HAVE BREAKFAST”. The whole platoon came to a halt and we were issued the breakfast that came in small packets onboard a 3-tonner SHAKTIMAAN.We started enjoying our breakfast in small groups along the roadside.
Suddenly a lorry whizzed past us and along with it the peak cap of one of my classmates who was enjoying his breakfast flew away. It came under the wheels of the lorry and became like a chappati. Seeing this a shock ran down my spine.
I started wondering, “How is this fellow now going to survive in the Navy??His cap has got crushed. He will not have a cap to wear in his service. They may sent him out of service any time now”.
Being an “A” termer, I was under the impression that peak caps are issued only once during the service tenure. I am sure all my other classmates might have also thought the same thing because I saw all of them adjusting their caps and making them tightly sit on their respective heads. I also adjusted my cap in such a way that even if my head flies away the cap will stick on to the neck.
“ROZI ROTI KA SAWAAL HAI NA”…..
Anyway, Lt.Cdr Chatta swung into action and took out a beret cap from a bag and gave him and told him to wear it. This is what is called experience. The old man might have come across many such situations during his long tenure in the Navy wherein the caps of sailors flew away. He might have also presided over the TOPI UTHAAR ceremony of many sailors during his 30 plus years tenure in the Navy.
We continued our march and reached the Firing range. There another SHAKTIMAAN with arms and ammunition was waiting for us for firing practice. We were divided into different groups. Each group having A,B and C terms apprentices.
Firing practice started with 7.62 rifle, pistol firing and mortar firing. Lt.Cdr Chatta had
brought in the Gunnery Instructors to oversee the firing practice. He used to hurl his choicest abuses on anyone found slack and careless during the firing practice. After all it was firing practice and he was responsible if anything goes wrong. So he had the privilege to abuse the trainees undergoing the firing practice.
Everything went smooth. The last item was Grenade throwing. He gave a demonstration with one grenade. ‘TAKE THE GRENADE IN YOUR LEFT HAND. PULL OUT THE PIN ON THE CLIP WITH YOUR LEFT HAND. KEEP THE CLIP PRESSED WITH YOUR OTHER HAND. ELSE THE
GRENADE WILL BLAST AND YOU WILL BE IN PIECES. PASS ON THE GRENADE TO YOUR RIGHT HAND KEEPING THE CLIP PRESSED. COUNT UPTO FIVE AND THROW THE GRENADE AS FAR AS YOU CAN AND LIE DOWN. THE GRENADE WILL EXPLODE AFTER SOME SECONDS.”
We were told to stand and throw the grenade from an elevated point. The thrown grenades were falling at a very lower surface and exploding.
Some 4 – 5 batches carried out the grenade throwing successfully after listening to Lt.Cdr. Chadda’s orders. Then came the turn of my batch.
We went and stood on a line. I looked at my left and right. To my left side stood a “C” term partner and to my right stood a “B” term partner. All of us were standing nervously.
Obviously, nobody wanted to come in the range of fire of the LION (Lt.Cdr. Chadda) and all were acting as if they were seriously concentrating on the firing. It was 3pm and all of us were tired as it was hot too. We were all given the grenades.
The ever energetic Lt.Cdr Chadda shouted at the peak of his voice:
“READY, REMOVE THE PIN FROM THE GRENADE”
We quickly removed the pin from the grenade.
“KEEPING THE CLIP PRESSED AND PASS ON THE GRENADE TO YOUR RIGHT HAND”
We did as instructed.
“COUNT TILL 5 AND THROW THE GRENADE. “
I counted till 5 and threw the grenade . The partner on my right side also did so,
But, the grenade in the hand of the “C” term partner slipped from his hand and fell right in front of him. He was standing frozen like an ice. Me and the “B” term partner were staring helplessly at the fallen grenade, as if we were looking at a cracker during Diwali time.
Many thoughts quickly passed through my mind.........
I started thinking of my parents.....
HOW MUCH THEY MIGHT HAVE SACRIFICED TO MAKE ME GROW THIS BIG.
HOW I HAD PICKED UP UNWANTED FIGHTS WITH MY BROTHERS.
WHERE WILL I GO IF I DIE. TO THE HEAVEN OR HELL?
AS SUCH I HAVE NOT DONE MANY SINS IN THIS BIRTH….MAY BE GOD IS VERY HAPPY WITH MY “SERVICE RECORD” AND MAY SEND ME TO HEAVEN.
While these fear filled thoughts were going on in my mind, Suddenly, Lt.Cdr Chadda
emerged from nowhere and pounced on the grenade and picked it up and threw it far away. And with the same speed he gave a Punch and a long BAASHAN to the still frozen poor “C” Term partner .
It took us a while to recover from the shock. Had it not been for Lt.Cdr.Chadda, we would have not been alive today
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