Rapidly changing military sociology

By RSN Singh
Current Issue: Vol 24.3 Jul-Sep 2009 Indian Defence Review

The Post-Independence Indian Army continues to struggle with the British colonial model, ways and traditions, which served us well to a point. In fact, we were so enamored by the British ethos that we ceased to introspect about any adaptations that the uniqueness of this land and its changing values demanded. More so, because, at least for four decades and may be even more, the changes in the country were slow, therefore imperceptible.

Lack of Governance and the Growing Tendency to Challenge the Authority
The State’s failure to deliver on governance, the thriving corruption with money being demanded in some cases in the very first phase of an army career, i.e. recruitment, makes army personnel cynical towards established authority. This is rather being witnessed in other areas and organizations as well. The political culture and its by product mob culture have also demeaned the executive organs of the state.

The impact of the above has resulted in growing aspirations in the civil society and consequently the armed forces as well. In this regard, two examples are apposite:

at some places there have been demands for membership by personnel below officers’ rank for ‘golf clubs’.

the increasing number of ORs and JCOs buying flats through the AWHO.

This change in cultural hierarchy has been engendered by the growing corporate culture, awareness and relatively easy access to means and resources. The cumulative impact of the changing socio-economic conditions has been that like their countrymen the army personnel are not contend with just ‘pay and perks’, but also want certain privileges- the most important privilege being the avenue for growth. For them quantitative welfare measures are not enough, the emphasis being increasingly on quality. The leadership therefore has to be more imaginative and of much higher order than in the past. It is not that the army is not adapting to the imperatives of the fast changing times, but the process is slow. The army has been, and needs to continue as the bedrock of national integration and progenitor of some very effective and enduring institutional ethos, traditions, and practices.

RSN Singh, Associate Editor IDR and author of the book Asian Strategic and Military Perspective. His latest book is The Military Factor in Pakistan.
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Rapidly changing military sociology