GOOD WISHES TO GEN DWIVEDI
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
01/VI/2024
Oh my! What a relief it was for me to see the baton finally being handed over to General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC as the 30th Army Chief. My apprehensions of the extension given to Gen Pande were put to rest when I saw his photograph wearing the coveted ranks.
His credentials are very well known, so I would not elaborate on that. However, our smiley Chief of Army Staff has a thread attached to me. I am not sure if he would recall or remember this piddly, but I sure do and very fondly.
We entered Charlie Squadron as second termers in the winter of 1982. We had no idea of what was in store. Three of us from St’ Kaps, yours truly, Nawab & Pawan were from the same class & same school and now the same squadron had some reprieve to be together for mutual support.
First thing we learnt that the CSM was a Saikapian. Rajan Batta. Half the tension was over. All of us look around for some ‘types’ especially ‘school types’ for ‘lift’. There were three more seniors from my school in Charlie squadron. NDA would be a cake walk, I thought.
I was allotted 12 Division and a cabin 101 in the first floor Ante-Room flank along with my course mate Mane from Sainik School Bijapur. Our third term overstudy was Cadet Navneet of the 65 Course. It was later in life that we learnt why second termers were plonked in the flanks with sixth termers when fetching tea, doing their cabin cupboard etc was part of the unwritten SOPs for a few biscuits extra we got on the 6th termers D-7 (Outdoor Military Training Day) as per the time table.
Be that as it may. Life of a second termer can only be described as a “Pambhiri” or whirlwind. And in that circulating wind, we carried all the crap dished out to us. Children of lesser God had some recognition. 2nd termers had no identity. We were Bs of the first order if not MCs or BCs. Some called us ‘you bugger’; some added an F word as a prefix.
We never feared a sixth termer but were scared of 3rd termers like Sortur, Prithpal, Nanda, Vimlesh and Dwivedi, if they would pardon me for using their names. These guys were on the vegetarian table. People had briefed us that if you want a free and fair meal, become a vegetarian. Imagine, Noel a maneater by nature was eating vegetable cutlets and dal throughout the NDA stay.
That is where I had my first encounter with the present Army Chief. A cool guy, who never bull-shitted, who never took away our privileges on the table. Basically, a jazz senior and ‘unlike’ a third termer.
My encounter with Dwivedi Sir started after about a term had passed. We were now third termers and they were in fourth, many of them wearing ranks of Corporals. ‘Do fitti’ to be precise.
Dwivedi sir was excellent in PT. In the squadron we all used to practice and get toughened either in the parade ground or the battalion area. This man became my idol as he was one from his course who could do a backflip, cart wheel or handspring perfectly. I wanted to master those PT moves and he helped me achieve them.
One more thing came as a realisation was that if you were good at PT, you were generally not troubled much. All those who could pass their basic PT tests in the first go were treated well, yours truly included. The High Horse being my favourite, Mane, and Panchu (God Bless his soul) would vouch for it. That is how one came in the folds of Dwivedi Sir.
He would sit on his knees and help us practice hand springs. That little support to your neck while doing a back flip had been mastered by him. One didn’t feel safe in other seniors' hands as one felt with him. This created a wonderful rapport, which I shall cherish all my life.
I had to change my squadron in 5th term and went to India Squadron but carried on his legacy of becoming the PT captain of India squadron. ‘Injuns’ hated me and I loved rolling on mats, flipping my body over, doing bend stretches and sit ups till cows come home. Climbing Rope became my favourite but it was taxing for many cadets. I am sure they would have forgotten the ‘ragra’ by now.
It was when I got posted as DQ of an Armoured Brigade in 2001 and was taken to the BMs office, is when I saw ‘Maj Dwivedi’ written on the board. I felt so good from within. Since then, I kept track of him and the professional and good work he has been doing.
Please accept heartiest congratulations from a fellow “Cheetah” sir. You still remain one as it was written those days on the notice board, “When Speed is the Criterion-Cheetah is Supreme’. Hope you remember the ‘Charlie Well’ session after one cross country practice in which we threw CSM Bhate’s bicycle in the well.
I take this opportunity to wish Gen Manoj Pande all the very best in his future endeavours. Thank you for your service to the nation Sir. Let me wish both of you Good Luck and GodSpeed.
Dear countrymen, be rest assured that the Indian Army is in the most able and stable hands. Gen Dwivedi, keep that smile on always. All the best for a great tenure.
Best wishes and warm Regards
Noel Ellis
15124/M/C/I/66
(Attaching a pic taken during Holi in the sqn and handing-taking over pic from the net) Yours truly is next to you.
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