The year 1982 – my first experience working as a staff officer in the rank of Major in the Military Secretary’s branch at the Army HQ in New Delhi . Many of us used to commute to the office and back in the Army Bus and every route bus had a pass system . All officers – Brigadiers and below rank could either take the Army Bus or drive their own car to work . Passes were issued strictly based on seat availability in each route and a few temporary passes were sometimes issued extra and stamped – standing pass .
On a Monday morning , a Major General [ a two star general officer ] boarded the bus along with me from the cantonment and some of us greeted him and welcomed him to the bus – an unusual sight as normally they are provided pool cars by the establishment . Probably , he has just come on transfer and there was a waiting list for cars . The bus was almost full and there were some more officers expected to join us at the next stop.
We observed that the General was standing and out of respect , we offered him our seat . He politely declined stating that he holds only a ” Standing Pass ” and it will not be proper to inconvenience some one else who holds a permanent pass to SIT .
A simple but rare gesture – especially in a military setting !!.