Humour in uniform

The ‘Sena Bhavan’, which houses the bulk of the Army Headquarters’ offices and a few of the Naval Headquarters’ offices like mine, is in the process of renovation and it’s still a long way to completion. But gone are the dull grey visage, the hideous and the drab looks that made the massive building stand out like a sore thumb in the vicinity of the monumental, brown sandstone façade of the Rashtrapathy Bhavan and the ornate, but imposing looking North and South Blocks that surround it. The Sena Bhavan’s new colours, which is a combination of brown and brick red, rightfully highlights the Army’s colours and compliments the imposing building that houses the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Headquarters, just across the Rajaji Marg and opposite to it.
Since the present Army Chief is retiring by the end of this month, some bright ‘sycophant’ had decided to dedicate the renovation to him and hence organized the inauguration, this evening around secure time. The frontage has been completed, in a photo finish, though rubble and broken concrete litter many areas, but effectively covered with buntings and festoons, complete with colourful flowerbeds, ornamental shrubs, small and shapely cut trees and a centre patch of china grass – all sprouted overnight (Till now, had only heard of the Army’s proverbial ability to do Godly stuff, but this was to be seen to be believed!). Sadly, the renovation work will continue to happen all through next week, outside the building and inside it and in all probability, stretch to another couple of months and I wonder as to whose great idea this was, to have a hasty inauguration? Hope the ever vigilant media does not highlight this over all their channels and make us look like a bunch of cruds!
And parking was a Herculean task this morning, with us being given clear instructions that our vehicles would not be allowed to be parked within or anywhere in the immediate vicinity of the Sena Bhavan – one had to park and walk a good distance before reaching one’s office and on reaching the entrance, had to go through the routine of frisking for cellphones ( the scan proved negative in my case, as I’d already put mine into the dashboard of my van, thanks to an advance warning from my man Friday! But what nettled me was that almost all the labourers working in the innards of the building not only had their cellphones with them but also could use them unabashedly. Who gives what sort of orders to the poor DSC jawans, I wonder and if this is our concept of security, even God will disown us in our times of need, in utter disgust!!
No wonder the guys in the civvy street call us so, we, indeed, are humour in uniform!!!
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