Subaltern Stories: Cabaret in Pathankot

After the 1971 war, 1 Corps Signal Regiment continued to stay at Samba for several months. A sister unit, M Communication Zone Signal Regiment was in Pathankot. The CO of the Communication Zone Signal Regiment was very friendly towards officers of our Unit as well. While having dinner in our Officers Mess during a visit,  he asked the youngsters whether anyone would like to see a cabaret. The response was positive and spontaneous. He, in turn, invited us (captains and below) to visit Pathankot during the weekend for a well deserved break! He advised the 2IC of our Regiment to follow the example of his Regiment, which sent all young officers to see the newly opened cabaret. He also added that 15 tickets for the show on Saturday would be booked in advance for his guests. Our 2IC accepted the invite but asked us to go in two batches of 7 each under 2 captains. I happened to be in the first batch. Our leader was a senior captain, several years senior to me and about to be promoted as a major. We went in 2 jeeps and lined up in front of the hotel for the show. In fact, the first show was still in progress when we arrived and there was a crowd already waiting. Cabaret was new to Pathankot and unruly behavior was not uncommon or unexpected. We joined the people had lined up waiting impatiently for the first show to get over. Finally the doors opened and people came out singing, talking loud and laughing. It was a commotion when they passed our line with the senior  captain in front. Suddenly someone said "Jai Hind Saab" to our senior captain. He was a bit surprised, but smartly turned his head and looked back. That made the officer just behind, another captain, also to turn his head backwards. I was the next in line and I could see the guy who wished the senior captain. He was a Jawan from our Unit and I was face to face. I acknowledged by wishing him in reply "Jai Hind". Both senior officers had ducked smartly leaving the embarrassment to me. Later on we all laughed at how we got caught and how the news of officers seeing the cabaret would spread in the Unit. What if the men asked for an out pass to follow our example? Having seen the cabaret I decided never to repeat the mistake. It was vulgar, uncouth and quite boring aside from the embarrassment! Of course, the subalterns had some fun as we could tease the senior captain by wishing him "Jai Hind Saab" as long as we were in Samba!