THE ZUNTS

By

V.K. Singh

            On 4^th November 2003, Lt. Gen. Dewan Prem Chand passed away. Apart from obituaries inserted by his family and his regiment, there was one from the Zunts and Zuntinas. Very few people would have heard of the group, and fewer still know the meaning of the words.

            The Seventh batch that joined the Indian Military Academy Dehradun on 19 August 1935 comprised 38 cadets. As was the custom, the cadets decided to give a name to the batch, and selected ‘Zunts’. They took an oath not to reveal the secret of the origin of the name or its meaning. The closest most people have reached is that it was at that time used as Punjabi slang for the 'smart ones.' The batch was one of the best that passed out from the IMA, producing no less than nine generals - R.N. Batra, K.N. Dubey, D. Premchand, Virendra Singh, D.G.R. Rajwade, D.B. Chopra, Niranjan Prasad, Kamta Prasad and Rajinder Singh Shergill 'Sparrow' - in India alone. The 'Zunts' maintained close ties while they were in uniform and even afterwards. The largest group of nine or ten who settled down in Delhi after retirement continued to meet regularly, and even their spouses, who call themselves the 'Zuntinas', as well as their children and grandchildren, who are called 'Zuntlings', have become a part of the unique fellowship. The 'Zunts' hold regular meetings in each other's homes and whenever one of the 'Zuntlings' is married, they always give a collective present, a practice that continues even today. This helped them face the joys and sorrows of life together and proved to be a blessing, in the twilight of their lives.

None of the 'Zunts' remembers who thought of the name for their term, but most agree that Raj Batra, who was awarded the Birdwood Sword of Honour and the Gold Medal when they passed out in December 1937, emerged as the leader of the group and galvanised them into a team, which developed a distinctive sense of esprit de corps and camaraderie. The Zunts were known for their zest for life, and there are many stories about their days in the IMA, which are told and retold whenever the Zunts get together.

While at the IMA, some of them often spent their holidays in Kashmir. Major General Niranjan Prasad remembers one incident when Raj Batra, Masood Ali Baig, Kartar Dubey, Mark Ranganathan, Dewan Prem Chand and Manohar Lal were in Srinagar with him. At that time, swimming boats on the Dal and Nagin lakes had notice boards, with the words "Indians Not Allowed", or "Europeans Only". The Zunts wanted to swim, but were shooed away by the boatmen. Next day, they decided to forcibly board the boats. Donning swimming trunks, they got into 'shikaras' and approached the swimming boat from both sides, to divide the reaction. The boatmen tried to push them away, but they dived into the lake and clambered aboard. When the boatmen (there were three of them) tried to hit them with their oars, the cadets knocked them down and threw them into the lake. Within a few minutes, there was complete pandemonium. The boatmen shouted for help and dozens of other boats converged on the scene. Hundreds of 'Hanjis' surrounded them, and a free for all ensued, with the Zunts giving as good as they got. Finally, an elderly gentleman intervened and brought the situation under control. The cadets left only after removing the offending notice boards, and an undertaking that they would be allowed to swim.  

     

      During the same holiday in Kashmir, the Zunts often spent their evenings at the Amar Singh Club. They were quite boisterous and noisy and one of the senior members always gave them disapproving looks. One day, they found that the Bar and Dance Hall had been placed out of bounds for them. They came to know that the elderly gentleman had complained against their good-natured horseplay and decided to teach him a lesson. One evening, Raj Batra, Mark Ranganathan and Niranjan Prasad were in the Club, when the elderly gentleman entered, dressed in his Sunday best. They went up to him and wishing him warmly, engaged him in friendly conversation. While they were talking, Mark slipped a lighted cigarette in his coat pocket. Raj and Niranjan followed suit, and soon the senior member complained of a foul smell. He reached for his handkerchief and nearly burned his hand. He was very angry and shouted that he was going to complain to His Highness (Maharaja Hari Singh). The cadets then realised that they were in for trouble and apologised, but the old gentleman was adamant and walked out.

      Next day, His Highness drove up in his Rolls Royce. Entering the Club, he announced," If the Club is going to be run in the name of my worthy uncle (Amar Singh), I will not tolerate such unruly behaviour." After he left, the Zunts were thrown out of the Club. The ban was lifted only after Masood Ali Baig's uncle, Nawab Khusro Jang, who was the Maharaja's friend and adviser, interceded on their behalf.

            Though their numbers have dwindled, the Zunts and Zuntinas have preserved their bonds of companionship. The Zuntlings have kept alive the flame kindled by their parents and grandparents. May their tribe increase.

26 Apr 2017