Positional Loyalty

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PROLOGUE

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TYPES OF LOYALTY

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There are two types of Loyalty:

1.?“Personal” Loyalty.

2.?“Positional” Loyalty.

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PERSONAL LOYALTY

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Personal Loyalty?is genuine loyalty.

Those who are personally loyal to you will be with you through thick and thin – in your good days and bad days – whether you succeed or fail.

You can count on their support at all times.

They will be loyal to you in success and in failure.

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POSITIONAL LOYALTY

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Positional Loyalty?is “loyalty” of persons to your “position”.

These persons are not loyal to you.

They are loyal to the “position” you hold – the “chair” you occupy.

Once you go away and someone else occupies your position – they will be loyal to that person.

These persons are not genuinely loyal to you – but are pseudo-loyalists.

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FRIENDSHIPS CAN BE “POSITIONAL” TOO

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It is the same with friendship.

You have?genuine friends?who will remain your friends irrespective of circumstances.

And – you have?“fair weather friends”?– who will dump you the moment you leave the “position” – or fall on hard times – or fail in your career.

Positional Friends?are not your true friends.

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“POSITIONAL” LOYALTY IS ALL PERVASIVE

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You can see “positional” loyalty everywhere – especially in politics, in bureaucracy, in business, in corporates, in the military – and even in personal relationships.

People in high office get a taste of this when they leave their positions – when Politicians go out of power – when Military Generals, Civilian Bureaucrats and Corporate CEOs retire from their positions.

However – many such persons never retire – but they keep holding on to some position or the other.

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Though “positional” loyalty is on the rise everywhere – one does see a few examples of personal loyalty.

In my blog – I will tell you some stories about my experiences of personal and positional loyalty.

To start with – here is a story – “Salute the Rising Sun”…

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Humor in Uniform

A Story from of my IAT Pune Days

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“SALUTE” THE “RISING SUN”

A Spoof By Vikram Karve

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IAT Pune –?circa 1990’s

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This story happened long back – around 30 years ago – in the 1990’s – when I was in IAT Pune.

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(The Institute of Armament Technology – or IAT – as it was called then – was a unique premier multi-service institution – a centre of excellence – whose Faculty was composed of Officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force – and there was also a peculiar species called “Scientists” – who were civilians.

The irony was that – those days – most uniformed service officers on the IAT faculty were more highly qualified than the “scientists”.

In keeping with our penchant for changing names – IAT was later renamed DIAT Deemed University – and I believe that now – IAT has been further split – into DIAT and MILIT – but it is still remains the same lovely place nestled in its sylvan surroundings in the verdant hills of??Girinagar?near Pune.

By the way – DIAT/MILIT keep inviting me to deliver a guest lectures from time to time – so I visit the beautiful IAT campus occasionally).

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Dear Reader:

Let me get back in time around 30 years to the 1990’s – when this story happened.

We had a very dashing Commodore – highly ambitious – as the Director of Studies (Navy).

I was the Officer-in-Charge of a prestigious Naval Advanced Technology Postgraduate Course.

The Commodore called me to his office.

“The Valedictory Function of your course is just 2 months away. We have to decide on the Chief Guest for the Valedictory Function. Can you suggest some names…?” the Commodore asked me.

“Rear Admiral “A”?would be the ideal Chief Guest for the Valedictory Function…” I said.

“Rear Admiral “A”…? Why him…?” the Commodore asked.

“Sir –?Rear Admiral “A”?has done this very course 20 years ago – in fact he topped the course and won the trophy – and later in his career – he was an instructor and the Officer-in-Charge of the course over here at IAT – when he was a Commander. He is very conversant with the training here at IAT Pune – and especially this course, Sir. And –?Rear Admiral “A”?is technically brilliant too. I feel that he would be the best choice for Chief Guest…” I said.

“How do you know that?Rear Admiral “A”?is technically brilliant…?” the Commodore asked me.

“Sir – I have worked with him in the Naval Dockyard…” I said.

“Oh – so you are his bloody “crony”…” the Commodore remarked.

“Sir – it’s not that…” I protested, “I am nobody’s “crony”…”

“Okay. Okay. Now – you listen to me…” the Commodore interrupted me, “whatever you say may be fine. But – we are not going to call?Rear Admiral “A”?for the Valedictory Function…”

“But why – Sir…?” I asked.

“Because – I have decided to call?Rear Admiral “B”?for the Valedictory Function. So – you just put up a draft letter inviting?Rear Admiral “B”…” the Commodore said.

“Rear Admiral “B”…? Sir – why do you want to call?Rear Admiral “B”…?” I said, taken aback.

“Why…? What’s wrong with?Rear Admiral “B”…?” the Commodore asked me.

“Sir – he has not done this course for which the Valedictory Function is being held…” I said.

“So what…? Where does it say that the Chief Guest for a Valedictory Function has to be qualified in that particular course…?” the Commodore said.

“Sir – he is from a different “branch”…” I argued.

“What bloody “Branch” are you talking about…? At that senior level – “branches” don’t matter. He is a Technical Officer – isn’t he…? Now – you don’t argue with me. I have decided to invite?Rear Admiral “B”. Do you understand…? You put up a draft letter and program inviting?Rear Admiral “B”…” the Commodore said.

“Sir – I have a question. What’s wrong with?Rear Admiral “A”…? Why are you insisting on?Rear Admiral “B”?as Chief Guest…?” I asked.

“It is simple – in the Navy –?you must “Salute” only the “Rising Sun”…” the Commodore said.

“Sir –?“Salute” – “Rising Sun”…?” I said, confused.

“Keep it to yourself – I have just heard a buzz that?Rear Admiral “B”?is being cleared for promotion to?Vice Admiral…” the Commodore said to me.

“Oh…!!! So –?Rear Admiral “B” is the?“Rising Sun”…” I said, “and what about?Rear Admiral “A”…?”

“Well – there is just one vacancy for Vice Admiral in the Technical Branches – so your ex-boss?Rear Admiral “A”?will have to go home – because he will have to retire under the?“Four Year Tenure Rule”?– once he is?“Passed Over”?for promotion. Sadly – it is the?“End of the Road”?for?Rear Admiral “A”?– so he doesn’t matter anymore in the Navy…” the Commodore said.

“So –?Rear Admiral “A” is like the?“Setting Sun”?– and –?there is nothing to be gained by?“Saluting”?the?“Setting Sun”…”?I said.

“That is correct. Now you are beginning to understand. Very Good. Now – you draft a nice letter inviting?Rear Admiral “B”?to the Valedictory Function – and – you put it up to me tomorrow morning for my signature…” the Commodore said.

“Aye Aye, Sir…” I said.

I hesitated – and then – I spoke to my Boss.

“Sir – you will have to speak to?Rear Admiral “A”?also…” I said to my Boss, the Commodore.

“Why…? Why should I speak to?Rear Admiral “A”…? We are not inviting him here…” my Boss said.

“Sir – I spoke to?Rear Admiral “A”?yesterday seeking his convenience for the Valedictory Function…” I mumbled sheepishly.

“Are you crazy…? Who asked you to be “over-smart” and go over my head and speak to?Rear Admiral “A”…? You had no business to exceed your authority. Anyway – I am not going to waste my time speaking to the?“passed over”?Rear Admiral “A”?– his Navy career is over – so he doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t want to speak to him. So – you speak to him – you tell him that he is not invited – you give him some excuse – that’s your problem…” the Commodore said.

I felt terrible.

I knew?Rear Admiral “A”?quite well.

How could I tell?Rear Admiral “A”?the truth that the Commodore had vetoed his name…?

And worse – how could I tell?Rear Admiral “A”?the real reason why his name had been vetoed – because he was the?“setting sun”– and – that?“rising sun”?Rear Admiral “B”?was being invited instead of him.

What excuse could I give him…?

It was going to be very embarrassing for me.

I did not know what to do.

So – I decided to sleep over it – and decide in the morning.

Late at night – after dinner – the phone rang in my house.

It was the Commodore speaking excitedly:

“Did you call up?Rear Admiral “A”?about cancelling his name as Chief Guest for the Valedictory Function…?”

“No Sir – I have not spoken to?Rear Admiral “A”?as yet…” I said.

“Thank God…!!!” the Commodore said – with a sense of relief in his voice.

“What happened, Sir…? I was going to speak to?Rear Admiral “A”?in the morning…” I asked.

“No. No. You don’t call up?Rear Admiral “A”. There is no need for you to speak to him. I will call up?Rear Admiral “A”?in the morning and personally invite him as Chief Guest for the Valedictory Function…” the Commodore said.

I was stunned by this U-Turn by the Commodore.

First – he wanted me to cancel the invite to?Rear Admiral “A”?and call?Rear Admiral “B”.

Now – he wanted to do the opposite and call?Rear Admiral “A”.

“Sir – are you sure you want to call?Rear Admiral “A”?as the Chief Guest…? I thought you wanted?Rear Admiral “B”?as the Chief Guest…” I asked, bewildered.

“Don’t you know what has happened…? I just came to know. It is a big surprise – a most unexpected development. I just heard that?Rear Admiral “A”?has been cleared for promotion to Vice Admiral – and now –?Rear Admiral “B”?is out of the reckoning…” the Commodore said.

“Oh – so now – things are reversed – and now –?Rear Admiral “A” is the?“Rising Sun”?– and –?Rear Admiral “B” is the?“Setting Sun”…?” I said, tongue-in-cheek.

“Yes. You can say that – now that he has been passed over for promotion –?Rear Admiral “B”?will now have to retire in a few months under the?“Four Year Rule”?– his Navy Career is more-or-less over – so – he doesn’t matter anymore in the Navy. And yes – now –?Rear Admiral “A” is certainly the?“Rising Sun”…” the Commodore answered.

“And – in the Navy –?we must “Salute” only the “Rising Sun”…” I quipped.

“Absolutely right –?you must “Salute” only the “Rising Sun”…” the Commodore said emphatically.

And then – my boss – the Commodore – he disconnected the phone.

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MORAL OF THE STORY

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“Positional Loyalty” is more important than Personal Loyalty

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You must “Salute” only the “Rising Sun”.

Don’t you observe this everywhere – in politics – in corporates – in the defence and civil services – in society – in personal relationships too…!!!

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Always remember:

“Positional Loyalty” is more important than Personal Loyalty.

So – you must “Salute” only the “Rising Suns” – and – forget about the “Setting Suns” – and let them fade into oblivion.

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Dear Reader: Do you agree…?

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VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright ? Vikram Karve

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Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
3. E&OE

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Link to my original post of this story in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve:?https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/04/humor-in-uniform-salute-rising-sun.html

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This Story was written by me Vikram Karve more than 8 years ago and Earlier Posted Online by me?Vikram Karve on 10 March 2014?at?3/10/2014 12:44:00 PM?in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve Blog at url:?https://karve.wordpress.com/2020/01/03/humor-in-uniform-you-must-always-salute-the-rising-sun/?and?https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/03/you-must-always-salute-rising-sun-humor.html?and revised and reposted later at urls:?https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/04/humor-in-uniform-in-navy-you-must.html?and?https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/10/humor-in-uniform-salute-rising-sun.htmland?https://karve.wordpress.com/2017/11/02/you-must-salute-only-the-rising-sun/?and?https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/03/humor-in-uniform-u-turn.html?and?https://karve.wordpress.com/2020/10/26/salute-the-rising-sun-2/?and?https://karve.wordpress.com/2021/01/28/positional-loyalty-story/?and?https://karve.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/positional-loyalty-salute-the-rising-sun/? and https://karve.wordpress.com/2022/07/10/humor-in-uniform-salute-the-rising-sun/ etc.

? vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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