I asked the supervisor for the sailor as to why he was given the punishment? So he told me that he was absent from duty.So I was curious to know so after 15-20 minutes when he was given little rest I started talking to the soldier who was being punished.He happened to be a maharashtrian so I started talking to him in Marathi(his and my mother tongue) as to why was he absent without leave?
He told me that he went on leave to his native place near sangali in Maharashtra.However his daughter fell ill towards the fag end of his leave and was taken to the hospital at Miraj.He sent a telegram stating the reason so he was given advance of his next year's leave.However his daughter never recovered and expired in the hospital.Now with no leave left he remained absent without leave to perform last rites of his daughter on the tenth and thirteenth day.This resulted in overstayal on leave.Thus when he returned back to unit it was a serious offence as per military law.
The authorities were sympathetic to him but their hands were tied by the rules.So they gave him the least punishment of 24 days DQ (detention in quarters)(Like local jail) but preserving his job and all other benefits.
During this period he had to undergo rigorous punishment like rifle drill which I was witnessing.
I realized that this was a futile effort.So I decided to meet the executive officer.I asked the ExO(executive officer) as to why are we wasting efforts.The ExO asked me as to what I was thinking? I told him to give me the authority to supervise this man's punishment.He reluctantly agreed.So now I met the soldier again and sat with him.I told him that instead of just running up and down with a rifle holding above his head he can do some constructive work for next 16-17 days.I asked him to create a garden in front of my dispensary in the memory of his daughter.The soldier initially did not understand but on telling him that it was instead of his rifle drill he was convinced.I told him I will not supervise him and he will be left on his own to do the work.Every day he used to sincerely work fro three hours with very short breaks and in about 15 days he created a wonderful garden.By then it was my time to come back from temporary duty. I was almost in tears to see the fantastic work he had done.On asking him about it he said 'Sir I am a small man and my daughter is nobody that the garden will be named after her.Neither I know whether the garden will remain for a long time but that is all I could do in her memory.I need this job for my wife and other kids and I am grateful to the authorities that they are considerate.I am also grateful to you that you gave me an opportunity to create a garden instead of just running aimlessly and getting angry at army and my bad luck but now I am happy.During every moment of working I was remembering my daughter and at the end of this period I am little satisfied.With tears in our eyes we bid adieu.I dont remember the name of soldier and I shall not disclose name of the ExO for obvious reasons.
I learnt a lesson in motivation and a different memory
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