Page 248 - Leadership in the Indian Army

Jullunder at midnight, to find Prem distraught with worry. He scolded all of
them for taking such a risk. According to his wife, this was the only time
she ever saw him lose his temper.

In July 1948, Prem was posted as GSO 1 at the Armed Forces Academy at
Dehradun. He remained there for only eight months. Colonel A.P. Nanda,
who was Commandant of the Bombay Engineer Group, died in November
1948, and someone was needed to replace him. Prem was offered the job,
which he readily accepted, though many of his friends and well-wishers felt
that he should stay with the troops and go to an active formation rather than
a training centre. But Prem had always aspired for this job. On 15 February

1949, he achieved his ambition, and was appointed Commandant of the
Bombay Sappers at Poona. He remained there for four-and-a-half years, and
in many ways this was his best and most satisfying tenure. It was also
during this period that the Bhagat legend was born. He carried out many
innovations and improvements, which made the traning centre the envy of
all others. He took immense pride in being a Bombay Sapper, and whenever

he was asked if he was a Sapper, he always replied: ‘No, I am a Bombay
Sapper’.
There is an interesting anecdote about Prem as the Commandant of the
Bombay Sappers. Once, he heard that the Area Commander, who was based
in Bombay, planned to pay a surprise visit to the centre. He promptly gave
orders to all sentries that on that particular day, no visitor, irrespective of
rank, was to be allowed in without his express permission. When the Area

Commander arrived, he was stopped by the sentry, who refused to let him
enter. After some argument, the General had to telephone the Commandant
and identify himself. Prem immediately expressed his regrets and
apologised, saying that since he had not received any advance notice of the
visit, he had been unable to receive the general. Prem then invited him to
dinner at the officers’ mess, where he played the gracious host to perfection.

Prem was a go-getter, who believed in getting things done. He had a way
of getting around obstacles, and this penchant became more and more
evident as he rose in rank. During the early 1950s, most states had
introduced prohibition in deference to the views of Mahatma Gandhi. The
rule did not apply to the armed forces, which continued to get their quota of
liquor through the canteen, and were also allowed to serve it in officers’
messes. However, the Area Commander directed that army units and

establishments were also to comply with the order and go ‘dry’. This caused