In feb 97 or 98, I was travelling from bombay to coimbatore, since all economy class tickets were sold out i shelled a hefty sum for a business class seat. I plunked into the plush seat and reclined, just then a tall regal gentleman with a big white mustache joined me in the two aside seat. I wondered who he was, guessing that he was a tata scion, since he looked like a parsi.Throughout the 2 hour journey my gaze was drawn to him as if he were a magnet. He did however return my smile. It remains one of the biggest disappointments in my life that i did not start a conversation with this person. However i got down in coimbatore and went home to kotagiri. The following week i was travelling to coonoor and near vandisolai i saw the same gentle man walking 2 labradors with his gurkha.Then i realised that it was the field marshal. sir, i salute you your services to india are as important as gandhiji and sardar.
