Writer: Brigadier Tariq M Mir, Retired (IMA I PMA Long Course)
(The story of a non-commissioned officer who refused to obey the orders of a general but instead of being reprimanded, was bestowed with high honours and awards ... )
The Pakistan army soldier has been trained in the way where the soldier is psychologically conditioned to obey orders instantly, even in the face of death. Respect of his superior officer is ingrained and esprit de corps is based on pride in his regiment. These qualities have enabled our soldier to be victorious in the anti-terrorist campaigns where other armies failed or even dissolved as in the case of some countries. Fidelity, honour, and obedience are the hallmarks of army discipline, so crucial in the past and current successes of our valiant armed forces.
In 1949 I had just joined the 5th Battalion the 13th Frontier Force Rifles, as a newly commissioned second lieutenant, and was attending a farewell function held in honour of Honourary Captain Subedar Major Saif Ali Khan. I asked him about an oil painting of a Pakhtun gentleman which had been hanging in the Officers' Mess since British times. None of the officers present knew about the identity of the sitter or what had merited him for this singular honour. Captain Saif Ali explained that in 1922, during a regimental reunion, he had met an old soldier, Mr Mir Alam who had been the battalion havildar major in 1902. He narrated a very interesting story about the legend of the sitter in the oil painting, which, no doubt, is part of the battalion's history.
It was in 1911 that the Great Delhi Durbar was held on the occasion of the visit of King George the Fifth and Queen Mary to India, and their proclamation as the Emperor and Empress of India. The highlight of the visit was the Great Durbar or mass assembly of Indian subjects that was to take place in the open space below the ramparts of the Delhi fort. A lot of pomp and pageantry had been planned for the occasion to impress the native population and the ruling elite of the country, of British imperial might. And also to showcase the meticulous arrangements and precision planning that went into organising such large scale state events, which the British were so proud of. All the ruling princes of India, thousands of noblemen, landed gentry, notable citizens, and distinguished officers were invited to the ceremony to pay obeisance to the sovereign. The guests were to be seated in different enclosures around the parade ground. On a raised dais, under a specially erected colourful ceremonial canopy, the Emperor and Empress were to take their seats on ornate thrones. The ruling princes of India were to appear in single file before the Emperor and Empress and pay homage by offering a tribute, and to return without turning their backs. According to the programme, the Emperor was to lead a cavalry procession from the Viceroy's camp, located on the ridge. Upon arrival at the venue, he was to proceed to a robing tent and, thereafter, with the Empress by his side, take his place on his throne for proceedings to get under way. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Delhi was responsible for all the security arrangements, which included placing a military cordon around the grounds. The GOC, on horseback, was watching the arrival and assembly of guests in their allocated enclosures with his staff. At a given signal, all the entrances were closed except for one, through which the princes were arriving in their carriages.
The GOC observed a congestion of carriages and it soon became evident that the allocated route was insufficient to allow the princes to disembark and take their seats on time, before the arrival of the royal procession. As time was running out, and the royal procession was getting ready to leave, the GOC frantically dispatched a staff officer to open another entrance so that the arrival of the princes could be expedited. The staff officer rode to an entry point where a platoon of the 58th Rifles (Frontier Force), was on guard duty under a havildar named Mir Alam. The staff officer ordered the route to be opened. However, the havildar replied that his commanding officer (CO) had placed him in-charge with orders to guard the gate and he would only open it on the CO's express orders. Seeing the argument and the delay it was causing, the GOC decided to take matters in his own hands and furiously galloped to the scene. He demanded that the havildar do as he was told, but the latter held his ground. Flustered at this intransigence, the GOC reached for the hilt of his sword, but the havildar remained immovable, and even ordered his soldiers to prepare to fire. At this critical juncture, just in the nick of time, the CO was located and arrived on the scene to avert a grave situation.
It is interesting to note the reaction of the authorities, to this extraordinary behaviour of the havildar in the discharge of what he held to be his duty. In his steadfast compliance with the orders of his immediate superior officer, he had obviously been prepared for any consequences. Whatever the cost, he would not violate his orders. This conduct, in fact, exemplified the following watchwords;
Fidelity - Honour – Obedience
Instead of being reprimanded, the valiant havildar who had upheld the principle that orders must flow through proper channels was bestowed with high honours and awards, and he eventually retired as an honourary captain.
