Soldiers Never Retire

PRAHAR was an excellent movie depicting ugly face of Corruption, Terrorism, insensitive administration, apathetic society and frustration of a disciplined Military man with devious ways of Governmental legal & Policing system in India. The role played by Nana Patekar under a superb director brought out the best in the actor and depicted the  dilemma  of a commando trained disciplined soldier who ultimately decides to inflict punishment on the guilty in the only way he is trained for. What saves him from the noose around his neck is the MILITARY LEGAL SYSTEM itself which decides that something had SNAPPED in him under gravest of all provocation. The film raised more issues than it solved in the last memorable scene when Nana is staring far ahead and visualizes hundreds of young naked children running in far distance

General VK Singh, the recent prematurely superannuated Chief of Army Staff, is a much decorated , honest to the core, veteran who stood up to the corrupt system in his own way and fought battles on multiple fronts during his Military Service. Not many will remember and very few may have come across his small role in film PRAHAR as Lt Col VK Singh.

I am sure Veteran General VKS knew what he was doing when he stood up next to Veteran Havildar Anna Hazare and gave the clarion call to the nation  in support of the movement spearheaded  by the people under the banner of “ INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION”. It was not an impromptu decision. But it was an action which needed great courage and conviction on part of a Military Pensioner to openly declare war against the system which is still responsible to pay his deferred wages to compensate for his past services rendered to the Nation!

The General is back into the saddle. He was "Sena Naik" (COAS) of the third largest Army of the world till a few months back. He has accepted the path shown by a Veteran Havildar of the same Army and given the call to the nation to follow in the footpath of ANNA HAZARE. He has not done this in haste. The message is loud and clear-

सिंहासन छोड़ो . जनता आती है .

No nation of the world can afford to neglect its Soldiers whether Serving or Superannuated. No nation of the world has mal-treated its Veterans and Soldiers as the Independent India has done in last 65 years. The records and written documents witness this. Various studies and reports speak about this. The historical facts cannot be  covered or hidden beneath and behind the canard spread by hired media houses, paid rags, Shekhar Guptas, Barkhas, Salves, Mehtas, Karans  and ignorant corrupt people baying for the blood (from within the protected walls of Parliament) of the soldier and common man, who dares to ask questions or ask for an additional  ladle of soup in their bowl .

No nation carries out its trade, enforces its treaties, protects its boundaries and sleeps peacefully in the bed during day or night because of its Politicians or Bureaucrats or lawyers or Doctors or Media Moguls or Paper Tigers of all hues and shades. It does so because of its SOLDIERS. All professions and all traded and all treaties and all friendships have to have a strong arm of ARMED FORCES to stand behind and endorse/enforce.

The Veterans are the extension of the standing Armed Forces. They carry reserve liabilities (for varying periods) to be recalled at moment’s notice by a warrant, defaulting which they carry the risk of being declared DESERTERS. They draw deferred wages for the services rendered like other retired Govt servants but with a difference that they are entitled to their UNIFORM, BADGES OF LAST RANK HELD and the TITLE whether he is a Veteran Sepoy or a General. The difference is enshrined in the Act and Regulations passed by the Govt of India.

The Government of the day and the past Governments have played with fire by neglecting the basic tenets of GOVERNANCE, encouraging corruption and downsizing/insulting its soldiers and veterans. The most glaring example of the insult is the one meted out by the nation to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw by withholding his PAY till he was on death bed, releasing it a few days before he breathed his last and that too through a minion in the Government and by adding insult to injury, NOT giving him an appropriate ceremonial military funeral due to a SERVING FIELD MARSHAL. Yes Sir. A VK singh may be superannuated prematurely but he remains a General VK Singh. He can put on his uniform and badges of rank last held on certain occasions as per Para 666 of Defence Services Regulations published and notified by Government of India. BUT and a big BUT is that a Field Marshal NEVER RETIRES AND RELINQISHES HIS UNIFORM OR RANK till he dies. So what made the Government not giving him a proper military funeral? He commanded the Army which gave the country its only and the most coveted victory in 1000 years?  

The Government of the day tried all tricks in their book to suppress movement against corruption spearheaded by people under the banner of INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION and other organizations asking for reforms and bring back black money. They are hell bent to remain in power and protect the corrupt. They have seen the writing on the wall. If they KHALI KARO THE SINHASAN for janta then no CBI or any other “I” will not be there to protect them. The appointment of a committee to look into the anomalies of pay and allowances of Defence services and give report by 09 Aug 2012 is a gimmick to lure Veterans and Defence Forces away from the movement against corruption. Some leaders of ESM organizations have already fallen for this and started taking credit. It will be crumbs thrown into the bowl of an OLIVER TWIST asking for more. Don’t fall for this.

The Veteran community should come together and join the people asking for a clean and corruption free governance and punishment to the corrupt who have looted the exchequer. The road ahead is tough but an opening has been made and leadership provided by the people’s movement against the corrupt.  

The views expressed by the author are his own and left to public to judge and rationalise for themselves.