Ablaze in a Blizzard

4 Engineer Regiment. The Army units follows strict rules and regulations. In addition to Indian penal code which law is applicable to every citizen of India, Army personnel are also subjected to Army laws and code of conduct. Further the Army units take pride in setting up their own traditions. Though the Regiment is newly formed the constituent units are very old and have deep pride in maintaining their own identity. So it was taking time to function as a monolithic body. The commanding officer of the Engineer Regiment have to handle the the re organisation process very tactfully.

On re organisation the number of Caption vacancies increased and all of a sudden most of the Lieutinents became captains. Ganesan's company commander was out of station and so Ganesan though approved for captain was not putting on the rank awaiting for his company commander. There was a fomal get together function where all officers were present. Lt col M K.Basu, the CO, all of a sudden said, "Look, Suresh, (Suresh Nath Endley,company commander,32 Fd Coy),this fellow Ganesan is improprly dressed. "Ganesan was shocked and was looking at himself what was wrong.Col.Basu continued, "Even though his captaincy has been approved about a month before,he is not puting on captain's rank.Maj Endlay replied, "We will punish him now itself sir". In the mean time capt Venkatraman, 2i/c 56 Fd Coy ran and brought captain's appallet (cotton cloth shoulder cover having 3 stars).Maj Suresh Endley called "Ganesh come here" Ganesan was totally lost as to what was happening.Like walking in the dream, Ganesan went ahead and stood infront of Lt col Basu.Basu and Endley on either side changed the shoulder rank from Lt to Capt and congratulated Ganesan. Let us meet captain Ganesan.......