Sunday, October 5, 2008

Chain of command, demand

Pune War Memorial
Chandigarh War Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

The last thing a columnist should do is begin an argument on an apologetic note, and certainly that is not what readers of National Interest have come to expect. But let this one be an exception, only because it concerns a group of the most honourable, most loved and admired Indians, our armed forces.

Therefore the apologetic note. This newspaper under this editor, and under the leadership of his eminently worthier predecessors, has stood by the armed forces as has no other. It has engaged, intellectually and professionally, with key issues concerning the armed forces, from the high strategy of war-fighting, to higher defence management, civil-military relations and even the benefits and welfare of professional soldiers. This newspaper’s commitment to the soldiers’ cause is also shared by its readers.

The finest examples of that commitment are the two war memorials that have been built, in Pune and Chandigarh, with contributions of nearly Rs 2 crore, raised entirely by the readers of The Indian Express and, indeed, members of its staff. And the logic behind that ambitious — and ultimately successful — fund collection drive was that our governments, or rather politicians, are much too cynical and self- centred to even extend such elementary courtesies to the armed forces as a proper memorial to their martyrs. This, when other democracies honour even who died in unpopular wars — the Vietnam war memorial in Washington is an example — and even animals, dogs, horses, camels who perished in war — see the British armed force’s touching “Animals in War” memorial, sculpted by David Backhouse, between Hyde Park and Park Lane in London.

It is because The Indian Express considers itself to be so much a soldier’s paper, and because of the kind of affection it has received from the armed forces over the decades, that it’s been traumatic for it to take a view of the ongoing tussle between the top brass and the Union cabinet that could be considered most unpopular — if you go by the evidence of so many SMS polls on TV channels and even on this newspaper’s front page. You ask the people of India to choose between the political class and the soldier, and the latter will win 95 to 5.
Shekhar Gupta
Chain of command, demand
Expression of our gratitude: All personnel of the Defence Forces Serving as well as Veterans, will ever remain indebted to the Citizens and the Indian Express team, who have erected the Memorials as an "Eternal Tribute" to the Soldiers who have laid down their lives, to preserve the freedom and sanctity of the Nation.

Rejoinders and Responses

Dear sir,
Apropos 'Chain of command, demand' (4th Oct 08); all the perfumes of Arabia cannot sweeten the odour emanating from the core message conveyed by your leading article. According to its view, when the cynical, scheming, vindictive (your adjectives) politico-babu nexus, stabs the Defence Forces in the back, the Service Chiefs should politely request them to allow our Armed Forces to be subjected to yet another 10-yr Anomaly-resolution plan just because they are so-honourable, apolitical, nation-before-all (your adjectives). This, after many anomalies of 4thCPC were never resolved and 75% of the 5thCPC remain unresolved even 12 years later.
Office-bound people cannot comprehend the Forces' ethos. Service Chiefs are required to and do give orders that put at risk the life and limb of their subordinates – our fellow countrymen. Consequently, it is vital that they and other Commanders retain moral authority over subordinates - a prerequisite for eliciting unquestioned obedience, which may even result in some more brave sons being martyred at the altar of Bharat Mata. Therefore, they cannot stand by when two key ranks are double-downgraded and PBOR deprived of 33% pension through unashamed and unprecedented bureaucratic skulduggery. Despite the gravest of provocations, they have exercised admirable restraint and performed their duty to their men by entirely constitutional means.
'An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.' (Arab proverb). The flagrant threat bureaucrats have conveyed through your paper, seeks to transform our lions into pussy-cats. If the nation is to preserve its national security in the most dangerous neighbourhood on earth, we must nurture powerful lions to lead the forces or be doomed to repeat history and face national dismemberment.
Furthermore, as a nascent N-power with major-power aspirations, we need to emulate the stature enjoyed by military commanders of other democracies and even China, specially when they conduct military diplomacy around the globe and particularly in our neighbourhood. Hence all patriotic Indians and media need to support our lion-hearted Chiefs in their struggle for justice and MoD would be well advised to desist from inter-departmental wars against the Forces.
Additionally, Indian Express should introspect whether to change its mast-head to Bureaucratic Express – or remain in consonance with over 95% Indians (your poll results).
Yours etc.
Maj Gen Pushpendra Singh, (Retd)

To,
Shri Shekhar Gupta,'Indian Express',New Delhi.
"REVENGE OF THE 'PETTIFOGGERS"
Sir,
The 'inspired' lead editorial in IE on 3 September, severely admonished the Armed Forces for their temerity in seeking a fair deal, for retaining their pre-existing parity with the "superior" civil services. Now your 'op-ed, with screaming head-line "DisService Chiefs" (IE, 4/10/2008), unabashedly becomes a vehicle to convey to the 'offending' soldier, a dire warning and a threat of the oncoming retribution from these 'superiors'- "behave or else!" A great role indeed, for the "Journalism of Courage"!

Moral percepts are credible only if seen as honest and sincere; otherwise these are treated as so much humbug, and sophistry. Notwithstanding many column-inches of the 'op-ed' admittedly proving your record of support for the Armed Forces, you have failed to examine the issue on it's merit - your failure lies in not seeking answers to some basic questions, before castigating the Service Chiefs for doing their bounden duty. First, what National imperatives dictated at this point of time, that the pre-existing civil/military equations be distorted to the detriment of the military ? Were the operational and moral implications of this disturbance analysed, understood and discussed with those responsible for the country's defence ? Second, Who is responsible (and accountable) to let things slide to such a desperate pass, when the Chiefs have been making their representations right from the MoD upwards, to the PM ? And most importantly, exactly which individual(s) is/are responsible (and accountable) for the distortions and skullduggary in the proceedings, after the Cabinet had approved the 6th CPC report ? As the self-appointed 'guardians of National Interest', it was morally incumbant on you to obtain the answers, before insulting the Chiefs.

Statute restricts the Fundamental Rights of speech and assembly, for the soldier, and thus it the institutional duty of the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee to be, what you call the 'union leader' of the Indian Armed Forces and of the Service Chiefs, for their Services. It should be a matter for great satisfaction and pride for all thinking citizens, that our Chiefs have fulfilled their bounden duty of safeguarding the interests of those they command, and the three Services speak with one voice. This is the 'jointness', for which the armed forces world-over, strive. It is too bad, if those with who place the country's interests after personal and parochial interests do not like it; and shame on those, who for a moment cast aspertions on the staunch loyalty, fidelity and honour of the Indian Armed Forces. Administering their commands and and keeping all ranks informed is an established command function. So this contrived alarm and brouhaha over normal informatory signals sent by Service HQ to Commands is nothing else but pettifogging by ill-minded, who have no intimate knowledge of Services functioning. All honour to the Chiefs !

Soldiers with high 'elan' win battles; those with low self-esteem, don't! Let Indian Armed Forces be proud of themselves, their uniform. By belittling our Chiefs, no one is doing any favour to this country.

I know that this letter will not be published in the IE, but I trust you will read, it to learn what we think of you!

Yours faithfully,
Maj Gen Rajendra Prakash (Retd)

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