Dr Manmohan Singh appreciates the Gallant Armed Forces

Extract of PM’s Valedictory Address at the Seminar on the Occasion of Golden Jubilee of National Defence College

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh delivering the valedictory address at the International Seminar on “Role of Force in Strategic Affairs”, at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of National Defence College, in New Delhi on October 22, 2010. King of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Defence Minister, Shri A. K. Antony are also seen. Photo no.CNR - 34194

The Defence Minister, Shri A. K. Antony addressing at the International Seminar on “Role of Force in Strategic Affairs”, at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of National Defence College, in New Delhi on October 22, 2010. Photo no.CNR - 34196

Our development ambitions need a favourable external environment. Global interdependence of nations is a growing economic and political reality. It is therefore essential for India to remain actively engaged with the rest of the world so that we can access capital, high technology, energy and knowledge to propel our growth process.

However, we have to be conscious that just as military power alone cannot assure national security, growth by itself is not the ultimate answer to the multiple challenges we face as a nation. Our ability to develop at the pace and in the direction that we wish to will depend on how well we are able to maintain the internal stability and cohesion of our country.

Naxalism and Left Wing Extremism today pose a great threat to our national security. We recognize that there is a development deficit in all parts of our country. But we should be equally clear that the Indian State cannot and will not allow its authority to be challenged.

Our country has been a victim of terrorism for the past more than two decades. Terrorism has been used as a means to destroy the values on which our nation is built. Terrorist groups enjoy patronage and sanctuaries and do not lack in resources. We therefore have to ensure that our capabilities to combat terrorism remain a step ahead of those of the terrorists. They should be left in no doubt whatsoever about our ability and resolve to defeat them.

We have to be prepared to deal with threats to our security from non-state actors and groups. The problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden is a case in point. Non-state actors are becoming increasingly fused and employing the best technologies to target open and democratic societies like ours. We have therefore to modernize our defence doctrines to respond to new and non-traditional threats to our national security.

Cyber warfare is an area of emerging concern. I am glad that our Armed Forces and our other agencies are paying increasing attention to building capabilities and expertise in this very essential area.

Assuring our energy security is another major challenge. We do not have the luxury of choosing between one source of energy and another. We must keep all options open, including that of the nuclear energy. Till such time as we are dependent on fossil fuels we must have the capability of safeguarding the security of the sea lanes of communication. The bulk of international oil cargoes pass through the Indian Ocean and this therefore happens to be a region of vital interest and concern to us.

The scale of social and economic transformation that we seek to achieve for our country is unprecedented. If we succeed in this ambitious enterprise within the framework of an open, democratic and pluralistic society we will I sincerely believe profoundly influence the history of nations in the 21st century. For this to happen, we need peace in our hinterland and in our neighbourhood. We need to strengthen our efforts to make the world a more level playing field. The reality of international relations is that power is unevenly distributed. We should not expect those who have power to willingly part with it. We have therefore to stand up on our own feet to defend the values that define us as a nation.

I would like to conclude by placing on record our country’s deep appreciation to our gallant Armed Forces for their professionalism, valour and contributions to processes of nation building. The military preparedness and modernization of our Forces are matters of the highest priority for Government.

I end by wishing the National Defence College even greater glory in the next half century.”
click here to read full address of PM at NDC

"The Third Eye": Recollection of Bhutan

Dear friends,
No one seems to be talking about Lobsang Rampa now, and "The Third Eye" has long since been forgotten. It was considered a fantasy even when it was a best seller, fifty years ago. I was in Bhutan as a young officer in the early sixties. During that period, I wrote a piece which surfaced recently. A very brief excerpt from that some what long article is attached for those who care for the world of the Lamas.
What appeals to me is the last sentence of the piece. And it makes me chant:

"Buddham sharanam gachhami
Dhammam sharanam gachhami
Sangham sharanam gachhami"
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)

“THE THIRD EYE” By Lobsang Rampa
I beseech you to forgive me for my jaded memory. I am a senior citizen and no one is willing to hire me for even a worthless job. Here, I seek apology for a very minor offence: I have forgotten whether I read the captioned book before 1964 or after that. And the reason why I seek this concession is that I am not sure whether I read Lobsang’s book before I went to Bhutan or after that.

Be that as it may, there are two events which have left a profound influence on my psyche: reading the above book and my service in Bhutan during 1964-65 where I met a lot of thoroughbred Buddhists in Trashigong Dzongkhag. I was a little more that 22 years old then, and very impressionable. What I saw in that tiny Kingdom has left a lasting memory. I learnt a great deal from their unorthodox social order and it caused me to doubt the propriety of our social system.

Permit me to share something which I observed there. I was told that if a man was caught after having committed a crime in the Buddhist world, he was tried by the appropriate authority and, if found guilty, he was thrown into the prison cell. That is much the same as the rest of the world. The difference is that, in their system the term of the imprisonment was not specified. I was stupefied, and sought to know the reason for this. A learned Lama told me,

“A criminal is like a sick man. In the prison we ‘treat’ him. And as soon as he is ‘cured’ of his malaise, we let him go back to live with his people”

I probed further, and asked, “How do you find that?” and he said,

“Just like how you are able to discharge a patient from a hospital. Do you specify the period for which patients suffering from different ailments must stay in the wards?”

The argument makes a lot of sense to me. We human beings respond differently to treatment: some get cured early, others take time. If that be so, why should the prison term be specified?

I was also told that the condemned men were thrown into ill lit dudgeons and the ‘prisoners’ were made to undergo indignity. But in the evenings, they were allowed to take a stroll on the streets of the town, and breathe fresh air. The people are taught to look at them with a kindly eye, because, the Buddhists believe that, we would all be criminals, had we been caught!
Surjit

India China conflict 1962: 4 Grenadiers Operational Role

Narrated by Gen Kahlon: Continued from earlier post

The Escape
There was another bridge short of the bridge at Bleeting, this was guarded by the Chinese on both sides. We decided to cross Twang Chu and in to Bhutan at night. I have never seen 150 or so men, coughing and in bad shape move so silently. We crossed at about 75 yards distance from the Chinese Camp quietly in the night, we could see the lights burning in their tents. Like ghosts we slithered past, moving fast as we had a track to move on and a guide. There I see a 9 Punjab jawan with his boots removed and gangrene set in his feet, when I told him that your CO is ahead, not too far. Look at this Punjabi boy he says 'Saihab CO Saihab hain fir to mare liya bhi koi bandobast ho jai ga (CO is there then some thing will be arranged for me also)' . I don’t know how long the boy survived because as he removed his boots his soles also came with them and yet he had so much faith in his CO. That is what has made this army tick all these years.

Bhutan
Ahead of Bleeting, which was totally deserted, we came to a village called Khini where the villagers looked after us well and we spent a night there, however being in bad shape we could hardly eat what was offered by the villagers. Ultimately after walking in Bhutan for ….days, we reached Tasigang Dzong . Here we were told to hand over our weapons to Bhutan Government, I tried to hide my pistol but Oscar Thomas insisted that I had to surrender it .

The Home Coming
Rakesh Jha of Engineers, my course mate saw some of my men walking through the town and enquired about the identity of the battalion. On learning it was 4 Grenadiers, he came running from the other side in search of me. He banged into me as we were walking up. I held him in my arms, first time I realised that I was safe and alive having come through this terrible ordeal. With the shock of realisation hitting me hard, I broke down and cried like a child. Rakesh held me tight in his arms, saying you are safe, you are with me now, remember me, I am Rakesh your batch-mate from NDA. He did not let me go with battalion, you stay here with me for a day or so. The rest of the people were put in vehicles and taken away. I stayed with Rakesh for one more day. He kept on feeding me and I kept on vomiting as my stomach had shrunk due to the long bout of starvation. It may sound strange but once again I took a helicopter flight, but this time back to Darranga . The Engineers were building a bridge there and had helicopter support Rakesh had organised a place for me on a return flight. At Darranga I ran into Brig KK Singh the BGS of 4 Corps; he asked me a few questions and I replied very curtly 'Sir, you should know better'. We were all so angry with the powers that be.

Recovery
We were finally taken to Tezpur hospital, our clothes, dirty and filthy, were taken off and burnt. We were looked after rather well at the hospital. Maj Rachhpal Singh Mann the 2 IC came to see us, by the time he reached Tawang the show at Bridge One on Namka Chu was over and he had returned from there only, and asked what did we want; Imagine what the four or five of us asked, we asked for our special cook, please send us Rehman our cook special, we are famished. Rehman would keep cooking and we would keep eating, The stomach would say no but the brain would not say no. I bloated from a 120-pound lad to a nice fat young man. Drinking and eating for a long time was the hobby. Being alive was too good to be true.

President visit
I recall the President of India visiting us in the hospital. How do you feel about the visit of the President?, I was asked by a press reporter and I said 'His visit will put us on our feet faster' a well quoted statement, reflecting the morale of 4 Grenadiers.

Brig Lakshman Singh, VSM (Retd)

Comment: Two of the world’s fastest growing economies with different Political Concepts are starting to think of themselves as partners and as competitors. Both countries have great scope for bilateral trade. It is not that two countries should not or will not compete in the future, it is already happening. Only that the scope of cooperation, so far unexplored, is tremendous. Our Defence Forces could effect a savings of over 30% by making intelligent purchases from China starting from basic and quality products and items like tentages for the troops. The list is endless.

Gorkhas in the Indian Army

Gorkha ESM
The salary and other benefits received by Gorkhas from Nepal in the Indian Army are the same as provided to their Indian counterparts. Many Indian Gorkha ESM living in Pokhara and Jhapa in Nepal and from Bhutan, admit this. They receive exactly identical extended facilities received by Indian soldiers. The ESM of Indian Army living in Nepal are provided welfare support comparable to what is available to their Indian counterparts. According to the same source, the Gorkhas in the Indian Army receive over Rs 6 billion (600 crores) per annum as salary.

Benefits
A large proportion of this amount is repatriated into Nepal as the serving soldiers are provided free ration, accommodation, medical benefits, educational facilities, and so on. Indian Army disburses approx Rs 5000 million as pension to 0.103 million ESM living in Nepal every year. The direct benefits received by the Nepali nationals in the Indian Army and ESM living in Nepal exceed Rs 11 billion per annum. This amount is more than the total foreign grants received by Nepalese Government each year as budgetary support.

Historical roots.
Gorkha Battalions in the Indian Army are well known for their bravery and are respected worldwide for their battlefield skills. They are royal warriors and remain undefeatable. We are proud of their noble achievements.