Page 371 - Leadership in the Indian Army

and our living conditions in one year, than others have done in twenty.’
Hanut cherished the gift, as it came from the heart.
During Hanut’s tenure in Sikkim, there was no lavish hospitality laid out

for VIPs, for which the division had acquired a dubious reputation. During
summer, there was usually a large influx of visitors who expected to be
looked after along with their families and relatives. Once they found that
they were expected to pay for the hospitality, their numbers began to
dwindle. Soon, the stream of visitors dried up, as word went around that
social life in Gangtok had become dull after the new GOC had taken over.
Hanut took this as a compliment, since it was a welcome relief for his

harassed staff, who had to make all the arrangements, including
accommodation, transport and sightseeing. Not surprisingly, this led to
further deterioration in the relations between Hanut and the Corps
Commander. After a year, General K.V. Krishna Rao, the COAS, selected
him to command the prestigious Armoured Division, an appointment that
every cavalry officer dreams about. Hanut was happy to leave, both for

personal and professional reasons. He would now have a chance to put into
practice his ideas on armoured warfare.
Soon after he took over as GOC 1 Armoured Division in May 1983,
Hanut found that there were several shortcomings in training and
equipment. He stopped all other work for the next few months, and had the
entire division carry out equipment maintenance. Then one day he
announced that they were all going to the desert for training. Before sending

them out, he taught them the operational concepts and tactics that he wanted
them to practice, so that they knew exactly what was required of them.
First, all regiments were sent out under their COs. Brigade commanders
were forbidden to visit them till after a month. He himself would visit them
after exactly six weeks and observe them for a week. If satisfied, he would
order them to return. If not, they would continue to train in the desert.

Whenever Hanut arrived in the training area, he came with his own
caravan and a small mess detachment. He would park it near the unit or
formation he was visiting, and ask for a telephone line. In all other respects,
he would be independent. He never taxed the units for mess facilities,
accommodation, manpower and so on, leaving them free to concentrate on
training. He ensured that this procedure was followed by his brigade
commanders as well. Of course, there were no parties, and he would flare

up if he saw sofa sets, carpets and curtains being carried to the exercise