The Army: Rather sad that we have meekly submitted ourselves to be ruled by the Bureaucrats

In 1947 we chose to continue to wear the military uniform despite the conditions that we shall have no right to free speech, will not form unions for collective bargaining or publicly air our grievances, have lower order of precedence and unequivocally accept civil supremacy over our destiny.  Acceptance of these conditions were done in good faith that our civilian  masters will not discriminate against us versus other central services.  The civil leaders were stalwarts; faith in such leaders was further accentuated by the prevailing atmosphere of freedom from colonial rule and the intense patriotic fervour.

Having clipped our wings and spurs, the history there after is that of declining political morals, entering of dubious characters into citadels of power, rise of the Babus, betrayals and weak military leadership.  While all other civil and uniformed services formed unions to take care of their needs, the Defence Forces trusted their Generals to take care of their physical, mental, material and economic needs. Alas, our generals failed to muster courage to adequately portray the plight of their command.  Everything looked hunky-dory to the politicians and Babus because we still remained disciplined, put on great "shows" of smartness and "military strength" ... thereby hiding what was rotten within till we were exposed in 1962 by our great neighbour. 

Heads rolled and Defence Forces were in the lime-light.  Suddenly everyone paid us attention and we came up to national expectation in 1965 and much more in 1971.  Bold civil and military leadership showed the world Indian chamatkar (after the balatkar of 1962 - added by the host).  But then, as usual, the glory waned and euphoria faded and we were back to square one.  Perhaps this time we need to goad our small neighbour to regain our izzat and glory. 

Gentlemen, the crux of the matter is that our Chiefs have permitted Babus to rule us.  And that is because they owe their positions to them.  None bold enough, courageous or worthy has occupied the top slot except Cariappa and Sam Manekshaw.  Cariappa had the guts to advise Dr. Rajendra Prasad (see note below) the dress he should be wearing for his swearing in as the first President of India.

(http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article3671376.ece).

Manekshaw reached the top position on his absolute merit despite calling politicians dhotiwalas and Babus as munshis.  All others are the winners of rat race organised by Babus. 

I am not in favour of Defence Forces not being under civil rule.  As General SK Sinha in one of the lectures at the IAS academy at Mussourrie said: Defence Forces in 1947 agreed to serve under civilian legislators and not Babus.  However, the fact is that over the years the legislatures got filled with unworthy citizens who allowed Babus to usurp the reins of power and arrogate to themselves in all decision making bodies.  The only paranoia in their mind is of Army coup and to keep it away, they keep the forces chained, starved, ill equipped and use it for everything except (so far) cleaning public toilets in the capital.  

It is unbelievable that Babus have made ingress into every lifeline of Defence forces and permitted none in uniform to function in Defence Ministry.  Gentlemen, do you think our Chiefs are so naive that they do not know what Babus are doing to them and their commands?  The truth is that Chiefs lack courage.  Perhaps they either do not know their own strength or continue to be under hypnotic spell induced in them by the system.  They all have given us umpteen lectures on boldness, bravery, courage and thinking out of the box in all spheres of military functions but fail to do so when they reach the top ... they turn into cats.  So much so, that they even report to a Committee of Babus.  What a shame.  Is that what Defence Forces bargained for in 1947?

Gentlemen, if times have changed and circumstances are no longer as envisaged, should the top brass remain mute spectators and continue with ridicule and insults from civilian rulers and their poodles?  By no means I am suggesting military coup or take over by our generals.  It will be suicidal for any Chief to do so and manage a country of our size.  But that does not mean our Generals should remain dumb to all that is going wrong in the country and the crumbs that are thrown to military service.  Time has come for Generals to get themselves into the loop of national strategies along with top legislators ... not only on national security but also in all other spheres of national interest.  It is a pity that what Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev are doing (about the malaise in the portals of power) should have been done by the Army Chief.  His word of caution or warning should be more effective than all the agitations going on in the country to clean the rotten system.  Generals have failed to demand what is legitimately due to military service and learn to openly talk to media on the discrimination and other issues of national importance.  Generals have failed in their duty to protect the nation from sliding into quagmire.  They have failed in protecting the integrity of the nation.  They have failed in strengthening themselves to be able to protect the interests of the nation.

The more I think and contemplate over the prevailing state of affairs, the more I get convinced to blame Army Chiefs for their failure to check-mate growing Babugiri as the root cause of all woes in the country. Vice Chiefs, Army Commanders and Corps Commanders can't voice their opinions for obvious reasons.  It’s the Army Chief and he alone can make a difference.  We need an Army Chief who is prepared to put his head on the block for the nation.

My humble salute to Kargil martyrs who laid their lives for the nation.

Veteran Ram Gulrajani

A case of perfect Rapport (by same author)

I was in Patna when Dr. Rajendra Prasad retired and came to live in humble Sadaqat Ashram. I was again in Patna when he died.  Nehru did not come to pay his last respects to the leader but his faithful General Cariappa (retired by then) led the funeral procession.  That was the kind of rapport between two great souls.  And that was the respect each had for the other.

The serious but lighter side (by same author)

When I was young my intent was to go to medical school, but I didn't pass the entrance exam. One of the questions was "Rearrange the letters P N E S I to spell out an important part of human body that is more useful when erect."

Those who spelled SPINE became Doctors ... The rest ended up in the army admiring their peanuts.