Proverbially speaking: Lessons on Political Labyrinth

Quotation books are full of advisories concretised into eye-catching single liners. Gullible folks then try to put these to practice, not always getting helpful results. There are occasions when the advice works more effectively when stood on its head.
I was commanding a brigade in Sikkim and had been called to the Army Headquarters for an important short-notice assignment. A day prior to my scheduled return, the Indian Airlines staff went on strike. We were in the middle of an operational exercise and I was keen to get back a.s.a.p. By coincidence I learnt that the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri was to fly to Bagdogra on the morrow in an Air Force plane. I decided to catch the proverbial bull by the horn and called up the Minister’s PS, an IAS officer.

It was late in the evening and I telephoned at his residence. After explaining the situation arising out of Indian Airlines staff strike, I stated my request for a lift on his return flight to Delhi. The officer gave a ponderous pause and then said,
“But why don’t you go by civil flight?”
I repeated what I had just told him about the strike. He said he would have to ask the Hon’ble minister, and that I should call back. When I did, he again suggested, “But why don’t you go by civil flight?” I had to re-apprise him adding that I even had a ticket for the civil flight. He then advised that I should reach the airport technical area at 7 a.m. the next morning and that he himself would be there, apparently having sought the minister’s permission before that.
I reached the departure point at 6.55 a.m. It was bitingly cold, enough to make a sheep shiver. Apart from a few Air Force technicians there was not a soul around. Some personnel arrived with baggage at 8.30 a.m. and had it loaded on to the plane. I checked if any of them was the PS. Negative.
The PS arrived another 15 minutes later. I walked up to him. He regretted not having succeeded in obtaining the Hon’ble minister’s permission as the latter was busy meeting the public in his morning ‘durbar’.
“And now the Hon’ble minister would be driven right up to the aircraft and emplane …” he said, shrugging his shoulders and adding, “but why don’t you go by…?” I walked away cutting short his drivel, thinking thoughts not appropriate to utter.
At five minutes to nine, another gentleman walked up to me. “I notice you have been waiting sir”, he said respectfully, “Anything?”  I explained.
“Then why don’t you get in sir?” And without waiting for my reply, he called one of the loaders and had my valise put inside. I did not want to be embarrassed and told him the PS has not been able to get the minister’s nod.

“Do not worry about the PS sir, I am the Minister’s PA.”
I had a comfortable flight with a sumptuous breakfast served on board.
At times it pays rich dividend to catch the bull by the tail, even if accidentally.

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Our regular veteran contributor on social issues and Today’s Motto every morning, Lt. Gen. Raj Kadyan (R), narrates his encounter with political protocol and confusion.

Illustrations are indicative and Feature Cartoon credits to legendary Cartoonist R K Laxman of TOI.