Online banking has sounded the death knell of our Army's pay parade. Now the monthly salary of Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) and jawans is credited to their bank accounts online. Earlier they were paid in cash in the unit pay parade. The process would commence days in advance. Each jawan would give his 'pay demand' through his platoon to the company office. The company clerk would check each demand to see that it was within the entitlements. The demand for the entire company would be conveyed to to the Regimental Headquarters. While in field areas a Field Cash Officer would be the one from whom the cash was collected, in peace stations on pay day, the unit duty officer would go to the bank with armed guards and a huge steel box.
The cash would be put into the box which would then be chained and brought to the unit. It would be handed over to the Subedar Major, the holder of the unit treasure chest.
In the evening, the Paying Officers (POs) of all companies would collect the cash. By the time a PO and the cash reached the company, the troops would be ready. The jawans would be lined up platoon-wise, each with pay book in hand. One by one they would march in and announce their number and name. The PO would recheck the entitlements. He would see if the pay book was up to date, ask a few questions related to the jawan's welfare, hand out the cash and sign the pay book.
One ritual in most units was that sometime during the pay parade, the commander of the cook house would seek permission and smartly march in with the cook. A tray full of 'pakodas' would be placed before the PO. It was generally believed that the cooks saved their best for the pay parade. On normal days, very often a blob of the batter would pass off as 'pakoda'; on pay day, you would taste not just onion but often even spinach, cauliflower and delectable chilly 'pakodas'. The pay parade would formally be brought to an end after each jawan had been paid, the cash fully accounted for and each jawan confirming that he had received his pay correctly.
As a Lieutenant with three months of service, I was detailed as PO for a small detachment of troops at an isolated post. It involved hours of road travel and overnight stay at the post. I reached late in the evening. The detachment commander, a JCO, was taken by surprise. Due to some miscommunication, he was not prepared for my arrival. Nevertheless, he welcomed me warmly. When I told him that I would pay his troops immediately, there was some reluctance. He went out for a few minutes. He walked in and announced "Sir, the pay parade cannot be done now". I was surprised. But the JCO offered what turned out to be a clinching argument, "Sir, we had no idea about your programme. The cook is fast asleep, after having a drink too many. How can we think of the pay parade without his 'pakodas'?"
I spent the night with the steel box chained to my cot and armed guards posted outside. Next day the, the pay parade commenced at 11 AM. Midway, the customary plate of 'pakodas' was brought in by the cook. His uneasiness was palpable. I smiled at him and said, "Because of you the pay parade is being held now".
He offered a sheepish grin but suddenly stood ramrod straight, chest out, literally swelling with pride and said, "Sir, but you will remember my 'pakodas' all your life". He was right.
Tailpiece.
Got up by a quarter past 6, opened up the house and put on the music. The chores and saw off Sanil, Mini and Ammu, who were off to Ayoor for work. So, had breakfast before the bath.
Saw Geethu-Jithin wedding through the link provided on the social media.
It was a quiet Sunday.
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