For the last 60 years the armed forces have been taken for a ride by successive pay commissions. The salary, perks and status of the armed forces have been progressively and deliberately reduced. By now every single serving and retired personnel would be fully aware of it.
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Then the last pay commission was being formed a request was made to include a representative of the armed forces in the pay commission. The babus did not agree to this. The three service Chiefs should have put their foot down and insisted on it. Even after this, if the babus (and govt) did not agree, all three service Chiefs should have resigned in protest. The next in line, on being appointed Chiefs should also resign. If successive Chiefs continue to resign it will shake the govt to its very foundations. This line of action I recommended two years ago.
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The buck stops at the desk of the service Chief. The service Chiefs are responsible to look after the interests and welfare of personnel serving under them. For the past 60 years, successive service Chiefs have dismally failed in this regard. We are in the sad state that we find ourselves in today because of this gross failure on the part of our Chiefs. PERIOD.
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Even NOW it is not too late. But do our Chiefs have the balls to do this?
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Gp Capt VK Vidyadhar
Tamworth, Australia
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Dear Friends,
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I have only one comment about contents of the emails in this chain, this is concerning Lt Gen (Retd) SK Bahri's remark :-
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"I also do not appreciate junior officers passing derogatory remarks ad lib against 'generals' as a tribe".
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He seems blissfully unaware that there are no 'junior' or 'senior' officers once they become ESM. He himself is as 'junior' or as 'senior' as all other ESM, irrespective of the ranks they held in service.
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This lack of perspective undermines/prejudices his viewpoint.
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On the contrary, I think that all have a right to criticise past inaction of the 'generals' as we, and potentially future generations, may remain stuck in the present unsatisfactory situation, which the IESM is agitating against/about and is its 'raison d'etre'. The criticism is thus very apposite.
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Regards
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Maurice Abel
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Dear All
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Criticisingany veteran at this stage for the past actions does not serve any purpose because he can not undo it and more over we do not know the circumstances at the time of those decisions. We must not forget that all of us have been in same boat and have probably done some mistakes. It will therefore not do us any good by criticising only some veterans. Either we criticise all or we should leave it to themselves to realise it.
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Using strong words for criticism are not in good taste, we can definitely use little polished language if we must criticise our older veterans of any rank.
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Gp Capt VK Gandhi
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Dear Friends,
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I for one feel there is no harm what so ever in commenting upon and criticising the actions of past cheifs or senior officers. During our active service we have faced enough of restrictions on passing comments or criticising openly any senior officers, though in our tents or barracks we invariably did comment on or discussed or criticised the seniors, since none ever had the courage to do so openly. How true the term "its not to reason why, it is but to do and die" was while in service. History is replete with instances where actions of past commanders, leaders, ministers have all been severely criticised. So what happened, nothing what so ever.
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Now as veterans and with welcome relief from the service days, why at all should there be any restrictions on commenting on any and everything we can think of. On that analogy why should we criticise the ministers or the bureaucracy who are also considered as our seniors or superiors. We are now free to express our views and the Indian constitution allows every citizen to express opinions freely. So why at all should we get into the rigmarole of not criticising the actions of seniors. Surely we must, and heartily comment or criticise or discuss all aspects, which come to our minds of past or future, lest some of the lessons which must be learnt, would be lost in posterity.
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Let all those seniors or juniors who feel sensitive about the issue, open their minds and become more supportive.
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With due apologies and Regards to seniors.
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Col LK Anand Retd.
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