DO YOU STEREOTYPE NAVY OFFICERS…?
Many people tend to stereotype Navy Officers (and Sailors).
They feel that all Navy Officers are like the quintessential Captain Haddock
Actually – the opposite is true.
The Navy has a diverse variety of individuals.
In the Navy – you will find that there are officers and sailors with different types of personalities, attributes and characters – right across the spectrum.
Yes – I came across many unforgettable characters during my long career in the Navy.
One such unique character was my “Literary” Boss.
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Humor in Uniform
MY “LITERARY” BOSS
Unforgettable Memories of My Wonderful Navy Life
A Spoof By Vikram Karve
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When I was in the Navy – I once had a “Literary” Boss.
You may be surprised – since you may think that “faujis” have their brains in their boots.
But – I came across plenty of accomplished creative persons in the Navy – writers, artists, cartoonists, singers, musicians, dramatists, actors, painters, photographers etc.
Of course – I have seen many such talented persons in the Army and Air Force too.
One such person I came across during my Naval Career – was my “Literary” Boss.
After our customary Monday morning meeting – I said to my “Literary” Boss:
“Sir – I hope you haven’t forgotten about the “open mic” session on Friday evening…”
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I was referring to the “open mic” session at the Kala Ghoda Arts and Literary Festival which was going on nearby at Rampart Row.
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My Boss looked at me and said:
“Of course – I will be there to read my poetry – and – I am keen to hear poems of all the poets too…”
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“I have already sent our names, Sir – we will get 10 minutes each. The venue is the David Sassoon Library Gardens – it is opposite the Jehangir Art Gallery. The event starts at 6 PM in the evening…” I said.
“You take me there – pick me up from my office on Friday evening – I will bring my “civvies” along – and – we will walk down there…” he said.
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On Friday morning – my Boss called me to his office.
He asked me to sit down and said to me:
“Do me a favour – can you read my poems this evening at the Poetry Reading Session…?”
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Before I could speak – my Boss handed me a diary – and he said to me:
“I have flagged three of my best poems – but you can choose a few more – if there is time.”
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I was quite surprised and I wanted to know the reason why he wasn’t coming to the Literary Festival.
“What’s wrong, Sir – why aren’t you coming yourself…? Don’t you want to read your own poems…?” I asked him.
“Of course I want to be there and read my poems – and – I want to hear all the poets too. But something important has come up – so – I cannot come to the Kala Ghoda Festival this evening…” he said.
“Sir – what can be more important than this poetry session – especially for a poet like you…?” I asked him.
“Some bloody delegation has come – and – there is a cocktail party for them…” he said.
“I know, Sir – the circular came on Wednesday – but I am skipping the cocktail party…” I said.
“You can skip it – but – I cannot skip it. After all – I am a bloody Admiral – and – my absence will be conspicuous. In fact – I did try to wriggle out – but COS said that C-in-C wants all Flag Officers to attend…” my Boss, a Rear Admiral, said to me – looking quite disappointed.
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Next morning my Boss called me to his office – and – he wanted to know all about the Poetry Reading Session.
I told him everything – what an enriching literary experience it had been – and – I told him how much his poems had been appreciated.
“Sir – I wish you were there at the Poetry Reading Session – poets and “literary” people had come from all over the world – and – there was such excellent poetry being read – and – Sir – so many Poets wanted to meet you and discuss your poems…” I said.
“I wish I had been there…” he said, disappointment writ on his face.
“How was the cocktail party…?” I asked, trying to cheer him up.
“It was like all monotonous official cocktail parties – bloody waste of time – the same meaningless “shop talk” – and do you know – all the while – during the boring party – I was thinking of you enjoying in the “Kala Ghoda Festival”…” he said.
“Never mind, Sir – maybe next year…” I said.
“Who knows where I will be next year…? If they don’t promote me – I may even retire this year and go to my hometown. I am really regretting that I missed this “once in a lifetime” chance…” he said, with disappointment.
He looked quite dejected – so – I did not say anything.
My “Literary” Boss looked at me – and he said to me:
“You are lucky – you can still do whatever you want to do – you can enjoy your leisure was you wish – but – ever since I became a senior officer – I have lost control of how to spend my time.”
He had a wistful expression on his face as he said these words to me.
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As I walked back to my office – I wondered about the irony of the situation.
Though he was the Boss – he did not have any control on how to spend his time.
On the other hand – though I was not a “Big Boss” – I had control on my time to a much larger extent.
And – it was this loss of control on his time that was making the Boss unhappy.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
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This rather trivial incident taught me one thing:
If you want to be happy – you must take control of the way you spend your time.
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Yes – if you want to be happy you must take control of the way you spend your time.
Once you have taken control of your time – you are free to spend your time in doing those things that make you happy.
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So – the “Moral of the Story” is simple:
The ultimate test of true freedom is when you have complete control of your time.
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It is true – isn’t it…?
The Ultimate Test of True Freedom is when you have Complete Control of your Time.
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So – Dear Reader:
Gaining Control over your Time is the First Step towards Freedom and Happiness.
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Dear Reader – Do you agree…?
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PS:
One positive aspect of the COVID Lockdown and Stay-at-Home was that it has helped us gain control of our time – albeit with restrictions on how to use that time.
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VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
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Disclaimer:
- This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
- All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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Link to my original post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/06/memories-of-my-navy-life-my-literary.html
This Story was written by me Vikram Karve around 8 years ago on 18 October 2013 and First Posted Online by me Vikram Karve in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at10/18/2013 11:39:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/10/how-to-be-happy-first-step-to-happiness.html and revised and reposted on 08 July 2015 at url:http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/07/humor-in-uniform-time-freedom-happiness.html and later at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/09/literateur-in-uniform.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2017/09/28/my-literary-boss-humor-in-uniform/ and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/06/humor-in-uniform-my-literary-boss.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2021/04/02/humor-in-uniform-my-literary-boss/ etc
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Vikram Karve 