IESM: Chairman's Desk

Date: Sunday, 14 June, 2009, 11:43 PM
Dear Colleagues,
The IESM Steering Committee met this evening from 1800 to 2130 hours as scheduled. Apart from discussion on other topical issues the concept paper on OROP was finalised.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Readers Responses
Dear Col Karan Kharab,
Thanks for the complements though I,personally, do not deserve the same. It is my organisation which has given me a chance to contribute a bit towards the welfare of my brethren. As for as the unity is concerned, we are open for unity on merit (R) merit with any organisation working for the same goal.
Root cause of dis-unity among the Veterans is none else than rank -consciousness and if we remove that every thing will be smooth. I am proud of my body ,Indian Ex- Services League ,Punjab and Chandigarh, which has emerged as First body of Veterans to shed the rank-consciousness. As a result, I am here in front of you working as President of the body in which a no. of Brigadiers are adoring the organisation as common members.Most of our Dist. Presidents are donning the Rank of Col and Lt Col. I joined this body as a common member about 34 years ago and on 21st December, 2008 my body has honoured me by electing me as 4th President, unanimously, for a term of five years.
Late Maj Gen Mohinder Singh (Retd) headed this body from April, 1978 to March, 1984 as 1st President when Late Lt Gen Gurbachan Singh 'Buch' (Retd) became its 2nd President and lead the body till July, 1998 when he was ordained by the almighty to leave this world. Lt Col Chanan Singh Dhillon (Retd) became 3rd President of this democratic body of Veterans and worked as such upto 21st December, 2008 when I was elected to shoulder the responsibility of leading this body of Veterans. Our organisation has, already, submitted a couple of communiques regarding the demands of Veterans to High Powered Committee headed by Mr SM Acharya Secy. Defence Welfare, on its own, since IESM could not entertain anything other than OROP. I had a long talk with Gen Kadyan and Brig Kamboj about three months ago. But I must say, earnestly, that every right thinking Veteran or a body of Veterans is contributing its might towards the welfare of Veterans.
God bless all
Sgt Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLs Retd.
President,Indian Ex-Services League,
Punjab & Chandigarh.

Date: Sunday, June 14, 2009, 4:30 AM
Dear Prabhjot,
I have read your mail giving information about how the 6th CPC went ahead while most of the ESM Organisations did not care to present their case to it as you did. I am indeed highly impressed about the vision and sagacity you have displayed in projecting the case most objectively. People like you who are genuinely focused are an asset to us all. I congratulate you and wish you many long healthy years so that the Veterans throughout the country can avail of your contribution in achieving our common goal.

I am sure when people like you, Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, Brig RKS Gulia and other friends who are actively involved in the on-going struggle join up together, no Government will be able to ignore our demands. But if we remain divided, we shall be brutally exploited like the monkey did to the two quarrelsome cats! Also, there are already sinister conspiracies silently at work to create a wedge between our ranks. We would give in- if we ever did- to these unholy temptations at our peril.

Let's rise above all one-upmanship considerations and move on with a single-minded concentration on our common Goal. I am indeed proud of you and admire the acumen you seem to have to handle complicated issues with requisite finesse and success.
Wishing you best of luck,
Col Karan Kharb (Retd)