EARLY LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP from Capt. Dasan

 

The “old” story as I remember:

I was sixteen, it was December 1984.

The Nation had been shaken out of sleep on a cold winter morning with the news from Bhopal.

Poisonous gas had leaked at the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal and thousands of people had died. Even more had run away for their dear life. 

It was a chaos, missing people – some dead, some in hospitals, people trying to reach each other & outsiders eager for contact with dear ones.

Public administration was overburdened with communications traffic.

I remember the cold evening of December 4th, I got a message from my father Shashi (call sign VU2NA), that there was to be a meeting at Vasantbhai’s place (VU2RX) that night.
Subject: the HAMS from Mumbai had got a request from Sharan (VU2NB) of  Bhopal. 

“Can you guys come – we need some help in establishing an emergency communications network – to assist the local administration in handling the unprecedented “communications traffic” ..come with as much equipment as you can and get some volunteers…”

That evening, I had joined my father to Vasantbhai’s shack(that’s what HAM radio stations are called). Even today, I remember very vividly that meeting.

The group was huddled together in a dimly lit but warm room -
Vasantbhai, Capt.Dasan (VU2AID), my dad, Monty (VU2EMJ), myself (VU2NAX at that time) & I  think Jimmy (VU2IJ) was there too along with Srini (VU2PDN) on the VHF radio, listening in, among others.
We needed volunteers to reach Bhopal with the vital communication sets – on asap basis.
Vasantbhai came up with the equipment inventory (I suspect largely from his collection!). Availability of reliable transport was in question, as there was great uncertainty about what was happening. We didn’t even know for sure if it was safe to travel there. There was little information on the possibilities – no internet in ‘84 you see!!

The only way to Bhopal was by road, that too by your own transport arrangement. 

And then Capt.Dasan came up with this idea –
“… I have my car, lets drive to Bhopal, now who wants to join?”

Looking back I have no idea how it happened – seems I raised my hand too. 

And the other one was Monty.

Next morning found us in Capt’s car – already heading for Bhopal. 

The car was loaded with some HF(long distance communications equipment aimed at connecting Bhopal with the outside world) & VHFs (for local communications within Bhopal).

The road was long and winding, and we managed to reach Indore late in the evening, deciding on a night halt. It was very tiring for Capt.Dasan to drive all the way, and he didnt want to risk the last stretch from Indore to Bhopal, with darkness setting in. (remember it was 1984!).
Along the way, Monty had lost his shoes – he had put them for “drying” on top of Capt’s car, at a railway crossing where we had to halt for a very long time, waiting for the train to pass. It was very hot and so relieved were we that once the gate opened we forgot about the “drying shoes” on top of the car. Realizing that an hour later, it was too late to turn back. So now we were three of us & one without shoes!

After reaching Indore we set up our HF radios in the hotel room.
These radio sets need to hang cables & long wires (antennas) outside in order to get good signal reach, so we had set the wires outside the room, a bit like conspicuous clothes lines!
These radios make funny sounds that can be quite intriguing for the unaccustomed ears. As a result …the room service boys, by now with growing suspicion, informed the owner of “some peculiar activities going on” in that room on the top floor. 
Capt. Dasan had to do some explaining in his signature cool style. And all was sorted out…except…

...in the morning at the time of check-out that Sikh hotel owner refused to take money for our stay, instead packed some food for our onward journey, he waved a “Jai Hind” as we drove out and onwards to Bhopal. 

On reaching Bhopal – we set up Camp c/o “November Bravo” Sharan (VU2NB) and family. 

Its hard to forget even after so many years, the warm welcome we received.

Next day – we setup our camp at their residence.

Capt.Dasan and the local HAMS had several meetings with some administrators at BHEL( a Public Sector Undertaking that has a big presence in Bhopal) and soon VHF stations were setup at key locations.

I was at Old Kotwali police control room, right in the middle of the old town. There were stations at BHEL HQ, Hamidia Hospital & the Food Supplied Depot, and others.  

Don’t remember much other than passing messages about some missing people – just names over the VHF radio. Those were sad and bleak moments.

The police personnel, at Kotwali Control Room, were very curious about me (I was wearing my scouts beret, “be prepared” being the motto, thus even more looking like a school kid!!).
I remember teaching some of their chaps how to use the settings on their VHF radios, imagine that!

I got to spend two days there, being picked up from and dropped by, the end of the day, at the Sharan family residence where Aunty-ji made sure we didn’t miss our homes. Being served freshly prepared hot food had a miraculous effect on our spirits in those gloomy wintery nights.

My stay was unfortunately cut short due to my exams getting announced (we had to fill forms in time to qualify for the 12th board exam!!). So I had to rush back to Mumbai, as some more hams from Mumbai made their way to Bhopal.

Even today, I treasure those early lessons, I was lucky enough to get from the great people I got introduced to & had the opportunity to travel and work with.

Lessons in Leadership, through decisive action, hard work & service,
and among other things‐ the unifying spirit of HAM RADIO, 
no doubt left an inspiring mark on a sixteen-year-old back then...

It was only much later that I fully understood who Capt.Dasan was‐ 

..at around sixteen he had been one of the “Tokyo Boys” Cadets* with Netaji’s Indian National Army (INA)!!!

 

Read more about Capt.Dasan & the Tokyo Boys at:

* https://tanvisrivastava.com/2023/09/21/names-of-the-tokyo-boys-ina-cadets/

** https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/indias-forgotten-army/articleshow/998701.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I can never thank my parents Shashi (VU2NA) & Prabha (VU2OPZ) enough, for letting me go for that experience back then.