Nostalgia: The Bombay Sappers: Advent of the Buggy

Nostalgia: The Bombay Sappers: Advent of the Buggy

Major General Mrinal Suman

Arrival of the Reviewing Officer in a horse-drawn carriage (buggy) for the passing-out parade at NDA and IMA always held a special fascination for me. We had no buggy in the Centre when I took over in January 1997. I decided to acquire a buggy before the Group Day Parade of January 1998, so that the Reviewing Officer could ride in it.

As NDA had buggies, I contacted Deputy Commandant of NDA, Maj Gen Gurbaxani to inquire about their source. As the Centre provides considerable support to NDA, both the establishments enjoy good rapport. Gen Gurbaxani surprised me with his offer, “NDA is authorised two buggies. We have just been released a new buggy. I can present the older buggy to you.” Joy will be an understatement to describe my thrill – it was sheer ecstasy.

We had the buggy collected the same week. It was in an excellent condition as the Commandant NDA had been using it. However, we had to spend considerable effort to embellish it with our colours, pennants, ensigns and crests. Getting a suitable horse to draw the buggy was the next challenge. None of the horses held by the Centre was found suitable.

A staunch Bombay Sapper, Col SR Gidwani was contacted. He was working with the Poonawalla Stud Farms at that time. I explained my requirement. He laughed, “Our horses are riding-horses, untrained to draw a buggy.” I persisted and requested him for a recently retired docile horse. And, in a lighter tone added, “The Centre can train all living-beings.” Col Gidwani promised to do something. 

   

Within a fortnight, we got a handsome horse called ‘Silver Star’. We were excited and  thought that we had a fully functional buggy. We were mistaken. Our real struggle started when ‘Silver Star’ refused to accept the harness (yoke) on its back. Being a riding-horse, it was used to saddle. It took weeks of coaxing, cajoling, persuasion and even sweet talk before the horse condescended to accept the yoke-harness.

Next came the question of training the horse to obey commands. We hired a professional tonga-driver for help. He was made to wear uniform so that the horse became OG-friendly. After a few days, I was told that the buggy was ‘generally functional’ but the horse tended to be moody at times and chartered its own path. L/Nk Tanaji Dhane, the first coachman, added to the majesty of the buggy with his smart ceremonial dress.

It was soon realised that the horse needed to be trained to obey commands through regular training. I decided to go to the office in the buggy every Tuesday. Many officers tried to dissuade me as the horse was unpredictable. But then, constant practice was the only way to prepare the horse.

To start with, it was quite a struggle to get ‘Silver Star’ to enter the Pioneer House. He did not like the unfamiliar surroundings and had to be led by the reins. To compound the problems, my highly pampered German Shepherd ‘Casper’ could not tolerate the intrusion of ‘Silver Star’ into what he considered to be his exclusive domain.

The ride to the office used to be quite a sight. The Commandant sitting on the edge of the seat and ready to jump out of the buggy, if required. He was followed by the Group Subedar Major Mohd Hashim in a gypsy as a backup. At times, L/Nk Dhane had to get down to make the horse take a turn.

For a few months, ‘Silver Star’ often refused to turn left at the Bhagat Circle (towards the Group HQ) and carried on merrily on the Nanda Road up to the highway. We  had to travel on the busy road to go to the HQ through  the main gate. That used to be quite risky with our temperamental horse being subjected to peak-hour honking and whizzing traffic. However, ‘Silver Star’ was a pedigreed animal and soon settled down.

The real test was the parade in January 1978. The late Lt Gen Ashok Puri, our Colonel Commandant, was to review the parade. He was staying at the Mukut. Hesitatingly, I mooted the proposal of his arriving at the parade ground in the buggy and explained the unpredictability of the horse as well. I assured him that a staff car would follow the buggy – just in case the horse decided to play truant. Being a highly sporting officer, he had a hearty laugh and readily agreed. Fortunately, the horse understood the importance of the occasion and behaved like a gentleman (nay thoroughbred). I  heaved a sigh of relief when the buggy arrived at the parade ground dot on time. It was the birth of a new institution. 

Two other traditions involving the use of the buggy were concurrently introduced.

The Chief of the Army Staff Arriving for the Bicentenary Parade

One, I always felt that Cols and Lt Cols never got a befitting farewell at the time of their retirement. In many offices, they were said good-bye with weekly tea and samosas. After rendering decades of service to the Bombay Sappers, they certainly deserved better. As the Commandant can grant temporary duty move sanction, I started inviting all retiring officers to a farewell banquet with their wives at the Centre. Of course, the wife had to travel at her own expense. They were put up as ‘guests of honour’ in the Mukut for three days. They attended the banquet and a cocktail organised by their regimental officers. As a grand farewell, they were taken around the Centre in the buggy.

Two, whenever I received a DO letter from an officer asking for permission for marriage, I sent an invitation to him to visit the Centre with his bride for three days, albeit within three months of the marriage. The couple was accommodated in the Mukut, invited to cocktails and taken around the Centre in the buggy. That was our way of inducting the newlywed into the Bombay Sappers family. The ladies used to be overwhelmed and many of them very fondly recall that experience to date.

It was highly satisfying to see the Chief of the Army Staff arriving in the buggy to review the parade during the Bicentenary Celebrations. The institution of buggy has come of age. It has become an integral part of the traditions/customs of the Bombay Sappers. Needless to say, for all those who were associated with its advent, the buggy continues to evoke surges of nostalgia.*****