The New PT Saa’b

            A new Div O (Divisional Officer – on of the three captain/equivalent rank officers posted to each squadron) Lt John D’ Silva, IN joined our squadron sometimes during our second term in place of Lt John Verghese, IN. On his first day, he came to the sqn some times I the afternoon in P.T dress and stood in the central lobby trying to familiarize himself with the environment. Three perpetual restriction’ types from the 43^rd Course came running down the steps in a hurry to get to their cycles and report to the Drill square at the appointed time. On seeing the new face in P.T. dress standing in an apparently ‘lost’ way in the central lobby, one by one they instinctively wished him with the greetings reserved for the ‘ustaads’ – “Jai Hind Saheb” and trotted away. Lt John D’ Silva, not clearly amused by this form of greeting, managed to catch the last culprit before he could run away to his cycle and asked – “Say again?” The cadet repeated, “Jai Hind Saheb” and again tried to escape to his cycle. Lt John D’ Silva, unperturbed with the cadet’s hurry asked in his later famous monotone, “Don’t you know I am Lt John D’ Silva, Indian Navy; relief for Lt John Verghese, Indian Navy as the new Div O in the squadron?” The cadet too, completely unperturbed retorted, “No sir, I thought you were a P.T. Saa’b.”

 You can easily guess the fate of the poor cadet after this introductory exchange with the new Div O.