Probity & Formation Commanders - Attempts / suggestions to overcome morbidity of media.

by Col K V C Nair

There are plenty of examples of upright and Bright officers. May be Sainik  Samachar or DAVP be asked to publish the incidents of forthrightness of our people. Last but not the least/lowest proposal -- Call the media bums to the mess, ply them with RUM using Mule’ output as a dilutant and goad them to publish our side alongside the civil version . Motto – If you can’t win them join and exploit them. PERHAPS EASIER SAID THAN DONE, BUT NO HARM SUGGESTING A SOLUTION.

Gen Suman's article does have  merit to some extent. A sizeable number of higher officials do fit the so described bill; but are they all, the whole lot, corrupt?.There indeed are plenty of upright senior cdrs in the services still. I will quote the names of Lt Gen Nanavati or Lt Gen Hanut Singh as examples. Even in their Fmns, are/were the MES, ASC, Ord Corps and the like any less corrupt and pure as the driven snow?. Honest/Corrupt fmn Cdrs notwithstanding, the endemic corruption in all avenues thrives  where there is possibility to make a fast buck- with or without fmn cdrs- honest or self seeking! In any case where do the Fmn Cdrs have the Time or Expertise to ensure prevention of corruption and are they equipped with wherewithal to check malpractices?.  Putting the blame squarely in its entirety on the shoulders of Fmn Cdrs doesn't wash. To an extent yes - but are they to blame in to to? If the answer is YES- sorry! it amounts to pulling the wool over one's eye. Corruption is deep rooted in the system! That is why every officer one time or the other have to offer a bottle of rum to M E S staff to replace his unhygienic W C. The E in C had been clever and come prepared to corner unsuspecting Army Cdrs.

 I have an incident to narrate:

As a young Officer, over 4 decades ago, I was travelling by train with an elderly co-passenger. In due course we got to talking & he said he was an MES Contractor during pre-indep days but now no more in practice. He was praising the angrez & cursing the present lot which put my hackles up. Said I; "Sir don't tell me that gorajis were NOT corrupt"!  Said he "Yes, they were also corrupt, but with a difference. They used to calculate exactly how much a work would cost & then ask us to add 40% and split 20% each between us. Today the officials calculate the total cost, demand 30% out of it  and say you go make your share from the balance 70%- we shall pass your bills! NO(NO) sir I don't want my work to be shoddy and yet prosper. That is why I am no more in practice"!

The question why one time idealistic Officers turn Corrupt also need addressing in depth and remedied. Though not fully pertinent here, a case of an I P S Officer comes to mind. While S P of Trichinapally Distt during Diwali lots of Sweet Boxes used to be delivered  at his bungalowe. He wouldn't accept them considering them to be part of subtle graft but at the same time for not wanting to hurt their feelings his instruction to his wife was to accept just 1 (One) lemon from the packet. This would suffice to meet his families requirement of lemon pickle for the whole year!! Civilian Officials have access to plenty while NO (NO) Fmn Cdr gets his pickles free. Well! Chew on it!

Coming on to; "It is unfair to fault the media for the negative coverage. It is for the army to carry out an honest introspection and undertake necessary corrective measures before the situation drifts beyond redemption".  

In 1991 a bunch of Sikh Light Infantry boys while en route home on leave had fisticuffs with railway staff incl RPF Constables at Bikaner station. The media raised a stink of the first water with Inder Malhotra writing a scathing attack in Indian Express and as is their habit it went on for a few of days. It echoed in the Parliament too. Army conducted a detailed inquiry after which Lt Gen F N Bilimoria, G O C 10 Corps took the Def Secy (Yes! that is the level to which it rose) to the site and explained the events chronologically. A satisfied Def Secy left and the News died a sudden death. There was NO (NO) apology or retraction from the media or Inder guruji!

A couple of years ago, the bouncers of a Star Hotel in Culcutta threw out a Major from a New Year party and what is more a lowly Sub Inspector arrested him. His unit 2 IC went to the P S and rescued him. Boy! Army vandalised P S, attacked Police, the Major had molested a lady in the hotel, attacked Hotel Staff- screamed the media. The T V crew went over board in covering the episode. Once The Eastern Army ordered inquiry  exhonerated the faujis- Lo & Behold! The News died an instant death! Media apologised? PERISH THE THOUGHT!

There very recently was a Khap Fatwa in a U P village Panchayat forbidding women from using Cell Ph or going to bazaar unescorted. An individual who was an Esmn but not even an office holder of the Panchayat had apparently been spearheading the campaign behind the fatwa. EX ARMY MAN behind issue of fatwa, screamed Media both print & Visual!.Holy Mackerel!

Recently in Tamil Nadu there was a case of an individual duping a few people of lakhs of rupees on false promises. The person was over 70yrs old. "Ex Service Man dupes" was the headlines in all the papers. The person in question was an O R and so must have left the Force 30-35 years earlier, Yet! These are just examples. I may not be far off the mark if I were to say the media and some of the ace editors (Like the one on mil coup attempt on 16 Jan'12) are on I S I pay roll. If I am called paranoid- so be it.

 "it is unfair to fault the media"   or is it?


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