An Eye-Catching CD Plate

Since day one of my transfer to the national capital after ab-initio training, the first guideline was from our seniors for not taking any lift from a vehicle having the blue number plate with first two letters such as CD (Corps Diplomatic), UN (United Nations) registration, CC (Consular Corps), or engaged with embassy personnel at social function to safeguard ourselves from any undercover activities. Defence Service called it as espionage and we suffered sometime from a phobia about that CD / UN (blue plate), CC (yellow plate) as New Delhi surrounded by Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions near Shanti Path that any Delhiite witnesses day to day.

In early years of 90s, aspirational middle class Indian didn’t have access to any luxury sedan other than people’s car Maruti or India’s most loved family car Premier Padmini. We saw red beacon flashing from atop a Hindustan Ambassador and a chauffeur at the wheel speeding down the Delhi road. The white car was associated with people in power ferrying the elite including prime ministers, bureaucrats, politicians and high-society celebrities. It was the de-facto vehicle of officialdom. The original backseat Babu car was based on the 1950s British Morris Oxford which was the only car available in India during early 1960s. But the capital of India hosts a large number of people from various diplomatic missions that gave opportunity to see foreign luxury vehicles on Delhi roads.

The list is endless of four rings of Mercedes to three-pointed star of Audi, three overlapping ellipses of Toyota and what’s more, the new brands and logos were zoomed off on every outing. We didn’t cower in alarm as cars whizzed past on smooth surface of Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The movements were almost seamless albeit heavy traffics, emission and thudding noise of tires over the fine sticky dark bitumen roads.

The Arjun Path goes through our huge campus and there was a flag meeting at Trishul there with Commander-in-Chief of Western Air Command on other day. The securities had been warned to be extra vigilant for that occasion forcing DSCs (Defence Security Corps) to check everyone entering through our by-pass. It was my first winter in Subroto Park and felt very cold and bleak on that wintry day. I was in the armchair at the fireside seeping a coffee at supper bar.

Dense fog in the evening is usually prevailed over there thereby reducing visibility. In the meantime I detected one approaching black Sedan under fog using headlamps and fog lamps. The plate wasn’t visible and failed to read the registration number too but only thing I noticed of uniting four rings. Its windshield wipers were failing to clean tiny water droplets and fogging obstructed my vision to identify the visitor. The DSC guard was puzzled and challenged the intruder. After it was finally stopped and indicating its Hazard Lights on the middle of the road.

As I heard the guard shouting, I quickly moved near and couldn’t resist peeping in. while the tinted glass pulled down by the driver seat, I saw one gentleman at steering wheel smoking tobacco out of a pipe and a half filled wine glass on cup holder. The insane deep voice of the person shocked me. “I want to cross the road.” It came to my mind of Diplomatic Corps assuming him to be embassy personnel.

“Sir, do you have any pass please?” The reply was instantly ‘No’. I tried to convey him as there was restriction on that day for a special security reason from SRO (Station Routine Order) of military establishment. But he seemed to be adamant that he was not going to follow. I politely asked him again “Would you mind showing me your ID please? or to follow the main road instead. The next line caused me to feel worried as he flashed his most winning smile. “Gentleman, I am ex General Batra” and had shown his ID card.

The General surely earned a salute from me upon knowing his Rank although retired Officers aren’t entitled. He nodded to wave me back too. It’s a sign of respect; one may salute to anyone, one wish. But I faithfully followed my profession, never hesitating to respond to the call of duty. The car moved speedily from a standstill and lastly saw it neither a blue diplomatic plates or yellow of foreign mission, nor a black plate starting with broad arrow by Armed Forces but Delhi registration for Private Vehicle DL on a white plate instead.

Things are no longer an instant eye-catcher in my hometown today but old habits die hard as the other day I had shown to my daughter of white lettering on a light blue background UN number plate differentiated with other registration. Private cars take up way too much space in our city these days also we saw a many black lettering on a yellow background too. These are commercial vehicles but I am starting to wonder whether I did the right observation in finding General’s diplomatic plate. I realized I had made a serious faux pas and made some real gaffes.