A blast from the past!

Year     1959

Place    Amritsar

Some Indian Army officers and their wives went to railway station to see off one of their colleagues. Some goons made lewd remarks against the women and tried to molest them. The Army officers chased the goons who took shelter in a nearby cinema theatre.

The matter was reported to Commanding Officer Col Jyothi Mohan Sen. On learning about the incident, the Colonel ordered the cinema hall to be surrounded by troops. All the goons were dragged out, the leader of the was so heady and drunk with power, who was none other than the son of the chief minister of Punjab, Pratap Singh Kairon, a close associate of the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

All the goons were stripped to their underwear, paraded on the streets of Amritsar and later interned in the Cantonment. Next day, the chief minister became furious and tried to release his son from Indian Army's incarceration.

You know what happened?

His vehicle was not allowed to go to the Cantonment as VIP vehicle, he was compelled to walk all the way to meet the Colonel. The infuriated chief minister complained about the whole affair to the PM.

The perplexed PM, instead of questioning his confidante Pratap Singh Kairon, sought explanation from the Army Chief, General Thimmayya for the conduct of his officers.

You know what the reply was?

"If we cannot defend the honour of our women, how can you expect us to defend the honour of our country?

Nehru was dumbfounded. That was the story of a brave soldier who defied the Prime Minister.

My take

Hats off to Col Sen and his Chief, General Thimmayya who took a stand supporting a just cause! Even the PM was persona non grata if he wasn't just!

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by 10. The maid had come for work.

The rain was less and we saw the sun after quite a few days.

The evening chores.