Our earliest impressions and memories are shaped by the people we are surrounded by in the formative years. The parental unit and the extended family have a large role in molding a human life and building the core values and belief system.
My father is the embodiment of suave, cool and charm coupled with a philosophy steeped in Stoicism. The story below particularly shows how my Dad influenced my values and belief system.
Background
After a back breaking overnight bus ride from Jorhat, we had finally reached Guwahati. The marmalade skies during May were turning grey. Amma, Appa, Shreyas and I moved to 240 Transit Camp. The building is a colossal structure right next to the Guwahati railway station. Back in 1995, anyone from North-East India travelling to any other part of the country by train would catch a train from Guwahati. Officers from the Indian Air Force and Army posted in the Far East Indian states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunanchal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland and Mizoram had to pass through the city of Guwahati before heading to their respective units. The officers and their families stayed at the Transit Camp that had basic accommodation and served food. We checked into a room on the 8th Floor that gave me a splendid view of the city.
Our train would start next morning. With over 24 hours on our hands, Dad decided that we should explore the city. The famous Kamakhiya temple would be our first stop. Amma said,” Go take a shower and then let’s go for breakfast.” Our room had one bathroom and to save time, I went to the common bathroom at the end of the corridor.
After a quick shower, we all went to the dining area for breakfast. Dad had my younger brother Shreyas tucked under his one arm and his bowl of Cerelac in the other. 18 month old Shreyas was a handful and he was loud. Other families sitting in the dining area were giving us steely glances from the corner of their eyes while he continued to bawl.
Any hopes of heading out after breakfast was dashed. The grey skies had given way to heavy downpour. We headed back to our room. I picked up the Famous Five book from my stash of reading material and started reading. Meanwhile, Shreyas had finished his morning ablutions and we had run out of diapers for him. Dad headed out in the torrential rain to buy the diapers.
And Then…
By 10 AM, the rains had stopped. Amma stepped out to the Dining area to sterilise Shreyas’ feeding bottle. On her way to the dining area, Amma went to the common bathroom area to wash some of Shreyas’ stained clothes. The common bathroom had rows of cubicles of shower on one side and taps for washing on the other side. Amma finished washing the clothes and was heading out when she heard a pained growl from one of the cubicles. There stood a man stepping out of the cubicle with a heavily bandaged head and multiple bandages across his forearms and torso. He made eye contact with Amma and darted back into the cubicle and the creaky latch snapped back.
Amma was stupefied by what she saw. On our way back, she passed one of the many rooms in the corridor. One of the door along the corridor was ajar and she heard a lady sobbing loudly and heard her cries for help in Tamil, “Aandava !! Epidi aayidute. Ippo naan enne pannuvaen!” ( Oh Lord ! What has happened to us ! Now what will I do? ) Judging from the accent of Tamil, Amma figured she was speaking Tamil with our Palakkad accent. She peeped into the room and saw a young women bent over the side of the bed. Amma entered the room and started speaking to her.
“What happened? Why are you crying?!” asked Amma
“My husband is dying and I don’t what to do.” She said.
“ Dying ? Where is he ?! Is he with a doctor?”
At this moment, a man walked into the room. As Amma recollects, the man was startled by the new visitor’s presence. The lady points in the direction of the man, “There. That’s my husband.”
Amma went to the table in the room and poured some water into the glass and gave it to the lady. The lady sipped water and took breaks to sob in between. The man was a dark man standing well over 6 feet. Amma had seen him moments ago in the bathroom. He had a heavily bandaged head and lots of gashes on the face. He murmured something and sat on the bed next to his wife.
By now, Amma regained her composure and said, “Both of you wait right here. I’ll be back with my husband.” She returned to the room and looked panicky. I asked, “Amma.. Enne aachu?” ( Mother.. what happened?)
“Nothing Sid. You be here and take care of Shreyas in case he wakes up. I’ll be in room next to ours. Let me know when Appa is back.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of this situation. She hung the washed clothes on armrest of the chair and left the room. Dad returned in what seemed to be like an eternity clutching the diaper packet in this hand and completely drenched.
“ Where is Amma?”
“She’s in the next room talking to someone. I’ll go get her.”
I walked over to the next room and saw Amma consoling the lady while the man was prostrate on the bed. I had never seen a man with so many injuries and bandages in my life. Amma quickly realized that I was scandalized by the whole scene.
“Has Appa come back?”
“Yes Amma. He’s back and I came to call you.”
Amma took me by the hand and we left the room. I was only 11 then. However, the image of the heavily bandaged man is vividly clear in my head till today. Back in our room and Shreyas was awake and wailing loudly. Dad took him in his arms and patted his back. He could sense that Amma was testy and worried. He asked her, “What happened?”
“There is a couple in the next room. The man has a lot of injuries and bandages. They are taking the same train as us tomorrow morning. I’m not a doctor but I’m certain that they wouldn’t be able to travel tomorrow by train. He is insisting that need to travel since his sister is getting married in four days.”
Dad lay Shreyas onto the bed and walked over the next room. I followed Dad. Excited, worried and curious, I could feel the adrenaline rush through my body. He asked the lady,“Ma’am. My wife is the next room. Why don’t you go talk to her.”
“Sid. Take aunty with you.”
I wanted to be there to listen to the man’s story. Nevertheless, the lady walked towards me and I walked with her to our room.
Dad introduced himself, “I’m Squadron Leader S. Harshavardhan. Have you seen a doctor yet?”
“Sir, I’m Flight Lieutenant Raj.”
“How did this happen?”
“ Sir.. My wife and I were on our way to Kamakhiya temple this morning in a rickshaw. A young boy came out of nowhere and tried snatching my wife’s Mangalsutra ( a married woman’s necklace ) I caught hold of him and tried to push him. We both fell from the rickshaw. He took out a small knife and stabbed me.” He lifted his blood stained T Shirt and showed his bandage around his abdomen. The gauze and bandage were saturated in crimson.
“ The doctor has bandaged you. But you are bleeding even now.”
“Sir. I didn’t go to a doctor. I went to the pharmacy store near railway station and asked my wife to clean my wounds.”
Dad was livid. “Are you crazy? You are educated man. Let’s go to Army Hospital. I will get the Jonga ( an indigenous 4 wheel drive for the Indian Army ). Let’s go.
“No Sir. I don’t wish to see a doctor. They will admit me. I will miss my sister’s wedding in Madras and the doctor will get me grounded. My fighter flying days will be over.”
For those not familiar with Indian Air Force policies, a pilot getting grounded is akin to a bird getting its wings clipped or a man losing his limbs. He was stubborn to say the least.
“Raj ! This is an order. Now get up and let’s go meet a doctor. I will ensure you don’t get grounded and I will have you and your wife fly to Madras.”
Dad wasn’t even certain whether Flight Lieutenant Raj would fly again. IAF has always demanded their personnel in the best of health. Pilots who are not fit do get transferred to Ground Duties.
He got a Jonga and the driver drove Dad and Flight Lieutenant Raj to the Army hospital nearby for first aid. Then, he left for the nearest Air Force Station in Guwahati. He booked Indian Airlines tickets for the couple.
He rushed back to the hospital and ensured Flight Lieutenant Raj got discharged. Dad and Flight Lieutenant came back to our room. I saw some blood stains on Dad’s shirt and got worried.
“Ma’am.. I have booked flight ticket in Indian Airlines for both of you. The flight leaves in three hours. My wife will help you pack your bags.”
Flight Lieutenant Raj was quite groggy. He stumbled his way to his wife and hugged her.
“Sir! I don’t know how to thank you and Ma’am.”
He looked at Amma with folded hands, “ Neenga Deiyvam maadri vanthuirrukael.” ( Both of you are God sent )
Dad told him, “Raj .. You can thank us later. Get ready to leave lest you miss you flight and your sister’s wedding.”
He asked Dad for his contact number and our address in Madras. They exchanged phone numbers and we all went to see them off in Jonga.
We took our train next morning and reached Madras after a gruelling 60 hour train journey across 5 states. We were greeted by my uncles, aunts and cousins in Madras. They were seeing Shreyas for the first time and everyone was excited to hold the youngest member of the family. Later that evening during dinner, Dad recounted the whole incident that happened.”
What I didn’t know until much later was that the doctor at the Army hospital had insisted Flight Lieutenant Raj to be admitted and kept under observation for 48 hours. This would have meant that he missed his sister’s wedding and the possibility of him getting grounded from flying. Dad knew some people in the hospital and worked his charm to get him discharged. The risk was huge. But Dad knew what he had to do.
Back in 1995, there were no ATM machines and flight tickets were expensive. With the money he had, he booked a one way ticket for the couple to Madras. What I didn’t know was that after booking tickets, he had less INR 500 in his pocket and the bank wouldn’t open until the next day. The 4 of us had travelled with less than INR 500.
Years went by. Dad got transferred to New Delhi and we moved with him. Dad was part of the Air Staff inspection team that visited various air bases in India. During one of his visits to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, Dad met Flight Lieutenant Raj. Now, he was Squadron Leader Raj. He fell on the ground and touched Dad’s feet.
Dad was startled and didn’t know how to react.
“Sir ! You saved my life and my flying career. I’m here today because of you.” He had tears in his eyes.
My Dad has always been my hero. Years later I asked him why he went out of the way to help a complete stranger. He looked me in the eye, “ Sid! This could have happened to us. Wouldn’t you have liked if someone helped us.”
This incident reaffirmed my faith in humanity. Hope, kindness and joy are still prevalent in our lives. Dad has always been the human being who goes out of the way to spread joy and happiness in other’s life. Going out of his way to help and never seeks anything in return. There is so much strength in this approach to life.
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