Rohit Agarwal - Riding the Raisina Tiger: Story of a military coup in India

General Verma felt a rising irritation as he balanced his weight on both feet in preparation to address the ball. The cause of this ire, his Aide de Camp, had made the cardinal sin of disturbing his concentration by daring to answer his cell phone. To make matters worse, he had the temerity to do so while his boss was concentrating on trying to redeem the follies he had committed since the game began. Much to the bosss discomfort, his regular four-ball, appropriately comprising suitably deferential subordinates, was replaced today by a group of retired officers. Not only were they better at golf than him, they were very expressive in their glee at his faltering game. He shot one of his fiercest glances at the poor unsuspecting aide who, trying to be discrete, was whispering into his shiny new iPhone.

The aide was a good sort, handpicked by the general from the artillery regiment he himself had once commanded. He had the added qualification of being from the same Sainik School as his boss. With the result, he ordinarily got away with a lot. But even he had better sense than annoying his boss on the golf course. He had therefore rejected the call thrice even though it was from the Chief of Army Staffs ADC who was his own course-mate and a good friend. But the SMS he received subsequently was unequivocal about the urgency of the message his friend was trying to get across. He listened intently, his ear glued to the phone, shaking his head in disbelief. The major was oblivious to the dirty looks being shot in his direction by the Army Commander, who had given up trying to play his shot. He stood with the golf club on his shoulder, tapping his foot and waiting for the aide to finish talking. The retired officers watched the tableau bemused, waiting for the inevitable storm to break.

As he disconnected the call, the aide realized that all eyes were on him, and realized that he was on extremely thin ice. Then he remembered the momentous piece of news his course-mate had just revealed and knew that his transgression would be forgotten the moment he broke it. His quandary was whether he could divulge the news to his boss within earshot the others. He knew the news would become public shortly, but he could not take that chance as of now. He was wondering how to take his boss aside to tell him when one of the foursome could not hold his curiosity any longer. Hope alls well Tiger he boomed. No sir I mean yes sir stammered the flustered youngster. Well asked the general at his sarcastic best, if you are finished discussing urgent matters of state on your mobile, can we get along with our game?

It was the chiefs ADC sir the young man blurted, still a little dazed from what he had just heard. So? Im sure nothing he had to say was so urgent that it cant wait till the end of this game. The aide could make out that his boss was playing to the stands posturing for the benefit of the retired officers. After all, he was an army commander , and even though the chief was his boss, he was amongst the seven who commanded troops and wielded power on ground. Besides, he was at that stage in his career where no boss could either help or harm him any longer.

In all his six years of service the poor young officer had never been in a predicament like this. He was completely at a loss on how to deal with the situation. Should he tell his boss now and risk being taken to task for not being discrete enough, or wait till they were alone, and get a mouthful for not telling him earlier. Thats when the generals instinct kicked in. Seeing his aides face, he could make out it was more than an admission in the Army Public School (of which the army commander was the chief patron) for some bureaucrats child that the chief had requested for through the ADCs channel.

Will you gentlemen kindly excuse us for a minute? the general addressed his golfing partners with exaggerated politeness as he propelled the still flustered aide away from the tee. This had better be important all traces of civility gone, he hissed to the major. Well sir, the chiefs ADC was on the line began the aide, adding to the generals irritation by repeating what he already knew. He was calling from the R&R Hospital he quickly added, and theres some terrible news. The general was listening with rapt attention now. The chief was taken ill earlier today. Doctors suspected food poisoning. He was rushed to R&R, but his condition deteriorated rapidly, and about an hour ago he passed away.

The aide would have given a months salary for the opportunity to click the generals face with his mobile camera now. For the first time in one year of their close association he found his boss speechless. But what. how? was all he could manage to splutter. Are you sure? he finally asked. Yes sir, he said that they will release the news to the media in about an hours time, before which all army commanders are being informed. The DGMO has been trying to reach you for the past half an hour, but your mobile is switched off.