Page 241 - Leadership in the Indian Army

By now, the corporal had spied the dog under Prem’s chair and started to
move towards the animal. Prem peremptorily asked him to get lost, since
the dog belonged to him. The corporal was surprised, but had little choice

except to back off. After this, the dog followed Prem wherever he went, and
it lost him a few friends in the bargain. One day, it trailed him to the
swimming pool. Prem was practising underwater swimming and when he
did not surface for some time, the dog began to bark and then jumped in.
The pool had to be drained out and then refilled, remaining closed for a
week. Prem, of course, got an imperial rocket from the Commandant.
Prem’s proclivity for treading on people’s toes and his scant regard for

age or seniority were other black marks against him, especially among the
genteel society of Poona. However, there were some who had a high
opinion of Prem and could see the firm resolve and strength of character
that lay below the surface of the seemingly casual and carefree demeanour.
One of these was MacLachan, the Commissioner of Poona Division. One
day, MacLachan was playing golf with Mohini’s father, Colonel Bhandari.

MacLachan had taken his stance and was about to tee off when his
concentration was broken by a loud rattling noise. He paused and stepped
back with irritation. Soon afterwards, a Model T Ford, with Prem at the
wheel, stopped in front of them. Prem waved to them and called out: ‘Sorry,
I took the wrong turn.’ The Commissioner waved back, while Colonel
Bhandari only frowned. Prem engaged the reverse gear with a metallic
screech and released the clutch. The car shot backwards like an arrow

released from a bow, cleared a two-foot ditch, and came to rest with a
jarring thump.
Prem stepped out to see what had happened. The golfers, too, had little
chance but to watch. Prem grinned, and said: ‘Didn’t see the ditch.’
Climbing back into the driver’s seat, he noisily engaged the first gear and
released the clutch. The car shot forward and once again the rear wheels

cleared the ditch, landing with a thump. Prem waved at the golfers and
drove off. ‘That chap’, said MacLachan. ‘He’s off to the wars. You mark
my words. He will either get shot or get a VC.’
Obviously, Colonel Bhandari did not share MacLachan’s views about the
young subaltern, who seemed to be getting too friendly with his daughter.
He tried to discourage their friendship, but without any success. Prem had
an ally in Mrs Bhandari, who did not share her husband’s opinion of him

and stood up for her daughter’s right to make her own choice. Whenever