General V P Malik has truly said that the Field Marshal was the greatest military leader since independence. Unfortunately, it is not right to qualify the decision of the Centre to to accord a state funeral to him as a 'rare gesture'. He was a Field Marshal for life. So he has died in harness and is entitled to the State funeral that was given to him. While the absence of the Supreme Commander, the Head of Government and Defence Minister at the funeral tell the sordid story of myopia that has afflicted the people holding the reins of the nation, the absence of the service chiefs at the function forebodes ill for the services themselves and the nation.
May the departed soul rest in peace!
Maj P M Ravindran (Retd)
Tail Piece:
General Thimayya's favourites- mainly Lt Gen SPP Thorat, JN Choudhuri and Manekshaw- were sidelined during the Thapar- Kaul days. Thorat, who was a contender for the chief's post against Thapar, retired as a Lt Gen. Thapar and Kaul also tried to block Manekshaw's promotion by instituting a frivolous inquiry against him.
The fortunes of Choudhuri and Manekshaw looked up after the Thapar- Kaul duo goofed up the 1962 war. Thapar resigned forthwith, and was succeeded as chief by Choudhuri. Thapar later managed an ambassadorship in Afghanistan. It is said, Thapar's Kabul appointment papers were the last papers signed by Nehru. Kaul had to quit in disgrace; he was succeeded by Sam Manekshaw as IV corps commander.
Politician turned Serving Generals can doom the performance of Defence Forces. History will judge the present team of Generals at the helm of affairs!
Karan Thapar's Hatchet Job on Sam Bahadur
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