Commonwealth Games: Salvaging National Honour

Exterior view of Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex
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A disastrous failure of the Games would not be just a failure of an incompetent India. We as a nation are not incompetent. It would be the failure of an emerging India and the damaging of its image as a democratic nation worthy of emulation due to the alleged incompetence of a small group of people who had the control of the Organising Committee. The world would not want India to be seen as a bungler in the face of an authoritarian China which made a spectacular success of the Olympics of August 2008.

Thanks to the dithering by the Prime Minister, we seem to be left with no other option but to sink or swim with Mr. Kalmadi and his Organising Committee. Swim we must and swim we can, if the Prime Minister gives up his bureaucratic ways of dealing with a crisis, steps on to the deck and takes control of the damaged ship. Only he can save the ship of our national honour at this late hour. No one else can. He has to take control now without further delay.

India is not bereft of managerial wizards in the Government and the private sector. The Prime Minister should set up a committee of consequence managers chaired by him to mount an exercise for the salvage of the national honour. Specific responsibilities should be allotted to the members of the committee relating to the venues of the games, the maintenance of the Games Village, the welfare of the participants, the physical security and public relations. The Organising Committee should be told to carry out its instructions. Any attempt by the Organising Committee to undermine or sabotage its functioning should be ruthlessly put down. The Committee should be given all the powers and resources it needs. The young and enthusiastic officers of the police and the Armed Forces, who passed out last year, should be placed at the disposal of the Committee to have its instructions carried out. The Prime Minister should hold meetings of the Committee every evening to review its work and give appropriate follow-up directions. The Prime Minister should make himself available for instant meetings with the members of the Committee.

It is too late for us to hope for a spectacular CWG, which could compare with the spectacular Beijing Olympics. We could even now make it a decent CWG and salvage our national honour if the Prime Minister acts and acts decisively and makes it clear that hereafter he will be in charge till the Games are over.

The salvaging of our national honour depends on one man, the Prime Minister. Will he step onto the deck?
B. Raman is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai and Associate, Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-mail: seventyone2@gmail.com
Commonwealth Games: Salvaging National Honour

Bridging the Gap: General Colin Luther Powell

The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.

Consider this:
Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere.

With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.
"A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses."

The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad.

Note: Be not mistaken. This is applicable to family as well as friends. Yes...do love, appreciate and be thankful for your family, for they will always be your family no matter what. Just know that they are human first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above.

"In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us. In Adversity We Know Our friends."

"Never make someone a priority when you are only an option for them."
"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude..."
Colin Powell

We thank Brig PT Gangadharan for sending us the link
Bridging the Gap

National Anthem rendered by a young girl

The national anthem of India so beautifully rendered by a very young child (we don't know her age). Really cute - God bless her.
I wonder how many of our politicians know the words correctly!
Brig BU Kumar (Retd)

Tales of honour and uniform

In Army career, we come across various incidents. Apart from the battle field, the emotions expressed by the characters involved are typically human and that also peculiar to our own soil. In this series, I want to bring out some such tales. May look like fiction. But are true.

The year was 1979.
This is the story of Gunner Sardhool Singh form Punjab and Havildar Abdul Hameed from Chennai, Tamilnadu. Sardhool Singh was from Artillery and Abdul Hameed was from Army Service Corps. They met each other in tragic circumstances. They were travelling in a 3 ton Vehicle, which was part of a convoy from Srinagar to Jammu . Both were proceeding on their annual leave. Short of Udhampur, their vehicle skidded in the snow & plunged into a deep ravine, 300 feet down. Most of the occupants of the vehicle died. But, both the characters mentioned above survived and were evacuated to MH Chandigarh, by helicopter.

Sardhool had both eyes damaged and escaped with slight bruises. But, Hameed was in a precarious state. At the Hospital he was placed in DI List, admitted in the ICU. By mid night, he came to his senses and asked the Sister attending him, as to the fate of “the tall handsome Sardar Gunner”. She told him that he was out of danger but both his eyes were damaged. Out of curiosity she asked him as to how he knew him. Hameed said, “while travelling, that boy was quite anxious to get home fast, because he told me that he was married just six months back. He wanted to present his wife with the Pashmina Shawl he bought in Leh.” After some thought, he requested the Sister to kindly let him know of his condition in the morning.

After two nights, Sister Anasuya Theresa, was on duty again in the ICU. Hameed’s condition had further deteriorated. He was in life support system. With great difficulty, he gestured her to remove his mask so that he could speak. The Sister placed her ear close to his mouth. Hameed told her that he wanted to donate his eyes to the ‘Handsome Sardar’ if that could help him getting his vision back. The sister immediately rushed to the Office Cub board and came back with a form. He signed it. Then he made one more request. He wanted to meet Sardhool immediately. The Sister, knowing from her experience that this might be the last wish of the patient, brought Sardool in a wheel Chair. Sardhool was overwhelmed and tears were pouring from his bandaged eyes. Hameed was quite composed, like most of the human beings who reach their final moments. “ Sardhool, I had an ambition to make a pilgrimage to Haj, in my life time. Now it is impossible. Though you will have my eyes, being a non Muslim you cannot make it either. But, try and visit Nagoor Dargha once, any time convenient to you”.

Years rolled by. Indra Gandhi was assassinated in 1984. The anti Sikh sentiment led to many meaningless violence across the Nation, reverberating even in the South as far as Coimbatore . The Surgeons could save one of his eyes, with the other getting partial vision. In December 1988, Sardhool decided to fulfil the ambition of his benefactor. He found out about the Nagoor Dharga, which is visited by the people of all faiths. He reached Chennai by train. Colonel Sarma, who was his Battery Commander in 1979, was in Chennai, with the IPKF. Learning from Sardhool, who was a Havildar by now, the purpose of his visit, he immediately arranged for his onward journey.

Sardhool returned from his trip looking emancipated. Sarma called him over for a dinner at his flat. After a couple of drinks, Sardhool opened up.
“Saheb, after the accident, I felt that I also should have died instead of living as a blind man. Suddenly the Sister in the Hospital told me about the offer made by Havildar Hameed, whom I befriended only during our short journey together. I could only hear his voice. I felt that it was not Hameed but one of our own Gurus speaking. His last wish was so simple and practical, considering the great sacrifice he was making. I till today revere him as my eleventh Guru. To me it was not a request. It was a command from our own Guru. But, it had taken me nearly 10 years to fulfil his request. I am really ashamed. The Visit to Nagoor Dharga taught me many great lessons. In every religion, there are outstanding men, who live a normal, ordinary life, but full of pure thoughts. The man who is devoted to his own Religion will never dare to insult the other Religions. In Nagoor I saw the people from all the faiths paying their homage, but none sacrificed his own faith. I went around the Dharga four or five times, as if showing Hameed through his own eyes, the place he revered so much".

Sarma was impressed by his narration. Simple but great truth coming from a Sikh Soldier. “Okay, Sardhool, what have you resolved after your visit to the Dharga. Every one who visit the Dharga, I am told, take a vow”. “Saheb, I have taken two vows. First, to follow the foot steps of Hameed in helping others”. “That is commendable. What about the Second Vow?” “ Shaeb, I will never trim my beard in future”.
(Veteran Raman)
Col (Retd) TN Raman

Sahidi Samman Samaroh at Parliament House on 01 Apr 2010

Dear Veterans,
Sahidi Samman Samaroh at Parliament House on 01 April 2010
1. Sahidi Samman Samaroh will be held at Parliament House at 10 AM on 01 Apr 2010. War Widows have been invited for a cup of Tea.
2. Shri JP Agarwal, Hon’ble Member of Parliament and President, DPCC will be the Chief Guest.
3. Invitation card is as above.
4. You are requested to confirm your participation if you desire to attend the same.
5. Please fwd your name with Mobile & address through E Mail .
6. The consolidated list will be fwd to Chief Security officer, Parliament House for security reasons.
With kind regards,
Maj (Dr) TC Rao
Chairman
DPCC (Ex-Servicemen Deptt)

Platinum Jubilee Honours and Awards

Retired army officers, who have completed 75 years of age, are entitled to a grant of Rs 50,000.00 from the Army Officers Benevolent Fund. Kindly share this information among the retired Army Officers in your city. In case of demise of an officer, during service or later before completing 75 years, this amount is payable to the next of kin immediately after the demise of the officer. It is also applicable to officers settled abroad.

No formal application is required for claiming the platinum grant. However the retired officers are required to intimate their postal addresses and Bank Account Numbers as and when they enter their 75th year at following address for updating the records:
Director Accounts, Ceremonial & Welfare Directorate, Adjutant General's Branch, Army Headquarters, South Block, Room No 279, DHQ PO New Delhi - 110011, Tel:011- 23375138
Col RP Chaturvedi (Retd)

SCPC: Lt Col left high and dry

I have often heard retired officers commenting that the fight for status and equivalence is a battle which is to be fought by the serving community and it is the One Rank One Pension (OROP) demand which really concerns retired personnel.

This is a misconception. The pension of retired personnel is directly linked to the status and pay of serving personnel. Some instances may be absolutely glaring and some may not, but the fact remains that the two issues are intertwined. I’ll explain how.

Whenever Pay Commission recommendations are implemented, it is provided that the pension of earlier retirees (for example, pre 1-1-2006 retirees) would not go below a value @ 50% of the starting rate of the new pay scale for every grade or rank. To take an example, after the 5th CPC, the minimum basic pension admissible to a Major could not be less than Rs 6,400/- (that is, 50% of starting of Rs 12,800 – the start of a Major’s scale). But now see below how things changed for retired personnel this time due to a change in the pay equation of serving officers - especially for the rank of Lt Col :-

Situation till now
Minimum Basic Pension admissible to a Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) Officer of the Civil Services (Director to Govt of India) : Rs 7150/- (that is, 50% of start of scale – Rs 14,300/-)

Minimum Basic Pension admissible to a Lt Col : Rs 7550/- (that is, 50% of start of scale – Rs 15,100/-)

Situation after the 6th CPC
Minimum Basic Pension admissible to a Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) Officer of the Civil Services : Rs 23,050/- (that is, 50% of start of scale – Rs 37400 + Rs 8700 Grade Pay)

Minimum Basic Pension admissible to a Lt Col : Rs 11,600/- (that is, 50% of start of scale – Rs 15,600 + Rs 7600 Grade Pay)

Or Let’s put it more simply :

Minimum possible basic pension of an NFSG Officer after the 5th CPC : Rs 7150/-
Minimum possible basic pension of a Lt Col after the 5th CPC : Rs 7550/-
Minimum possible basic pension of an NFSG Officer after the 6th CPC : Rs 23,050/-
Minimum possible basic pension of a Lt Col after the 6th CPC : Rs 11,600/-

Could you spot the difference? Oh really? Don't tell me!

Though practically speaking the pension of Lt Colonels who retired prior to 2006 after full pensionable service (33 years with or without weightage) would be around Rs 17,000, officers who retired pre-maturely in the rank of Lt Col prior to 1-1-2006 would be the worst hit. Another category facing the heat would be disability pensioners. The service pension part (service element) of disability pensioners invalided before completion of pensionable service would be fixed at Rs 11,600/- flat and this shall be applicable both to pre and post 1-1-2006 cases, while the service element of their erstwhile civilian counterparts (pre and post 1-1-2006) would now be fixed at Rs 23,050/-.

Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 10:32 PM
Status, equivalence and pay parity: does it affect pensioners and retirees? It damn well does!

How bureaucrats perceive Warrant of Precedence
Since the declaration of 6th CPC, a campaign is continuing in print and electronic media stating that CPMFs Officers are paid much more than what they deserve. It is also pointed out that status of Armed Forces Officers’ has been lowered. Status is directly linked with the role played. The warrant of precedence mentioned below and is being quoted by Armed Forces repeatedly, need amendment. During 1939 Lt was commanding a Company, in 1966 Captain were commanding Company and Lt Col were commanding Battalions. In 2008, Lt Col is commanding a company and Col is commanding a unit/ battalion. In CPMFs, Asstt Comdt performs the duty of a Company Commander. There has been dilution in the rank structure and role performed by a particular rank in Army, similarly there has to be dilution in the warrant of precedence.
The Armed Forces need to restore the original (pre 1962) rank and command structure if the warrant of precedence is to be preserved and not slide downhill at the behest of the successive pay commissions.

Battle of Longewala 1971 Honouring Heros

We all know what happened in the Longewala area during the '71 war. And I'm not talking of the movie 'Border' here. My Battalion was close to where Brig KS Chandpuri (then Maj) was, and he and his men took the term 'holding the fort' to new heights. With sheer grit and determination, this company of Punjab Regt held on and being in the area, we knew it was no easy task.

The controversy emerged after the release of 'Border' where Sunny Deol played the role of Chandpuri. Certain people started comparing reel with real life. Chandpuri never claimed the movie to be a true depiction of what actually happened, in fact if I remember correctly, the movie contained a disclaimer that it was inspired by the events at Laugewala and was not a true blow by blow account. Of course there had to be exaggeration of facts if the movie was to become a hit.

That we all know that in the movie the Army had a centre stage and this rankled certain Air Force and Air OP officers but the mudslinging campaign against the gallant men of 23 PUNJAB in Hindustan Times (by Rahul Singh of HT) and certain other media orgs recently was uncalled for. They in 2008 called the battle a 'fake' and claimed that not even a single round was fired in Longewala. Nothing could have been more untrue and they have done disservice to the lives lost in the area buckling down to the greed of sensationalism. Many men were lost in Longewala and here were people saying that there was no evidence of fire in the area ! The least they could have done was consult people who had served in the region during those times. I met Brig CHandpuri - he may not remember me, but I've never seen a war hero more humble in my life. The man is a grounded person and son of the soil and it pained me and the defence community a great deal to see his humiliation in the media whereas he maintained a dignified silence. It was also unfortunate that the Army did not come to his rescue by issuing any official media statement.

But now, when I opened my paper this morning, I felt very happy and relieved. The humble farmer- soldier has decided to fight a war again after 37 years. He has filed a case in a Chandigarh Court for redeeming his honour and you know how much he has sought as damages – Rupee 1/-. A great man and a great step. May the Lord be with him and the souls that were lost that night in Longewala.

Brig Chander Bhanot (Retd)
BATTLE OF LONGEWALA: BEST OF BRAVES
Battle of Longewala

I had stood watching ahead at the Lngewala post, it was some time in 1986. There was a burnt-out tank, obviously, a casualty of a R C L round, its gun pointing out straight at me. I could see rightin it's barrel: even in a burnt state the sight of the tank so near, was frightening. there was also a burnt out tank recovery vehicle just behind it. Unfortunately, fifteen years past there were no empties for me to count. My heart goes to those brave solders who stood ground and died there.

Brig Lakshman Singh, VSM (Retd)

Impassioned Plea by a Patriot

During the last few months, we have noted with concern the extraordinary pent- up anger finding expression in many muted ways from the war veterans and retired officers and jawans of the armed forces. The issue goes beyond the temporal concerns of pay rise recommended or not recommended by the 6th Pay Commission.

The issue is about the utter lack of sensitivity and response from the Empress of 10 Janpath and the surrogate PM, Hon'ble Manmohan Singh and his cabinet. The situation has clearly gone beyond all tolerable levels in any civil society which respect to the jawans. Have the slogans Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan become mere slogans driving the jawan to fury and the kisan to suicide?

Who is in charge here? Is there a working constitution -- samvidhaan -- or not?

Isn't there someone out there who can talk to the war veterans, retired officers and jawans- with compassion and with pride for the contribution they have made to the highest call of office in any reckoning- be prepared to lay down their lives for the security of the rashtram?

I am reminded of what Justice PN Agarwal said in the Supreme Court in a case related to the DMK government's bandh- call in defiance of the SC order. The learned judge said: "Don't play with fire." These are sage words which should reverberate in the corridors of South and North Blocks and in every office. Don't play with the lives of Kisans and Jawans. Don't play with fire.

I accuse the worthies of UPA Government with an utter lack of sensitivity. Absence of any visible signs of response from the worthies of UPA Government to the life cry of the jawans is beyond despair. It calls for a demand from every citizen of Bharat for the dismissal of the UPA Government forthwith.

UPA, if you can't govern, quit office. gaddi chhodo. In the name of dharma, GO. Quit office. Read Dayal's impassioned cry and weep before you GO.

Vande Maataram.
Namaskaram.
Dr S Kalyanaraman

Comment:
Dr S Kalyanaraman, Phd, is a former Executive Director, Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philippines. He 'loves' the 'Forces' for its 'discipline' and 'patriotism'.

Received from Cdr KRISHAN PUNCHHI (Retd)
Raghu Dayal: India in the Red

SCPC: Victory They Had Said

Kargil Defending the Nation
The government’s attitude towards the sixth pay commission brings into question its concern for the army’s welfare.

A nation that compels its army veterans to express public anguish at the treatment meted out to them needs to introspect deeply. We have progressively robbed our servicemen and women of their izzat and iqbal. We have failed to see the writing on the wall even as the admission into the armed services has declined. We have failed to understand the sentiment behind requests for a separate pay commission or at least to have a service member in it. The result was inevitable and we have only ourselves to blame.

To all those who have spent their entire working lives defending the territorial integrity of our country, April 27 was a sad day. It was a day when the slogan jai jawan resounded loudly in the psyche of the nation, all the more because it is fast becoming memory. Much like the grand loan waiver scheme to take care of the distressed kisan, the government may choose to please the disillusioned jawan with a few generous rupees. But if it does not give serious thought to those who guard its borders, ‘Jai Hind’ may just become the next casualty.

Writes Brijesh D Jayal in the Telegraph, Calcutta dated 14 June 2008

Click: Victory, They Had Said

Remembering 1962 debacle

Terrain
The Karpola (16,000 feet) and Hatungla (18000) Pass, the three rivers Towang Chu, Nayamjang Chu and Namka Chu are intimately connected with the trials, tribulations and travails of Seven Brigade Troops during Op Leghorn.

Motivation
Pushed and prodded relentlessly, threatened ruthlessly with a long stick, Seven Brigade staggered into the valley of River Namkachu, struggling up the formidable Karpola pass, only to face the massive Chinese build up across the River Namkachu on the Thagla ridge. The men bereft of equipment, heavy weapons, mines, barbed wire, digging implements, rations, ammunition, snow clothing. Ill equipped either to take an offensive action against the Chinese or take effective defensive positions and more importantly without a cause and motivation to fight.

Valley of death
The valley deceptively serene all this time suddenly bared its fangs on 20th October 1962 and turned into the valley of death.A valley of death for those who perished on that fateful day strung along the river line. For those herded across, to languish in the prisoner of war camps. It was worse still for those mortally wounded, lying unattended in the valley, on the riverbank, up the slopes, life slowly draining out, without food, water or medical aid, in abject misery, unbearable pain. With no one to provide succour and no hope, they could only wish for a quick and early merciful end.

Haunting question
Those who did manage to escape from the valley of River Namka Chu on 20th /21st some, had to once again negotiate the Karpola pass, others the Hatungla pass, cross the river Nayamjang Chu near Shakti over a half demolished rope bridge and finally the River Towang Chu on the night of 23rd into the uncertain safety of Bhutan. Survivors who managed to crawl out also did not return intact, losing their pride and self respect in the process. All that they brought out was vision of comrades dead and dying, a nightmare which refuses to go even after more than 40 years. The eternal unanswered question still haunting why were we sent in and why the manner in which we were sent in?

Valley of no return
The Valley of River Namka Chu was indeed the 'Valley of No Return' for all those who had ventured into it. Equally for those who perished and also those who survived. The Seven Brigade Signals was deployed with the brigade at Towang the HQ of Keming Frontier Division of Northeast Frontier Agency (NEFA). It also moved forward, consequent to the Sino- Indian conflict starting 8th September 1962, along with the brigade.

Travails
The less told story 'Letters from the Border' pertains to The Seven Brigade Signal Section, for the simple reason that the author was involved in the trails and travails of the Section from the beginning to end, the other 'Less Told Stories' are equally relevant and pertinent in bringing out the devotion to duty, unquestioning obedience and feelings of those who did not form part of the decision making loop of the higher echelons of military or of those who had political compulsions and priorities to keep and maintain.

Brig Lakshman Singh, VSM (Retd)

Veteran victory and honour for religious tradition

Five WW II turbaned Veterans including me were refused admittance to the Lounge of Newton Legion Branch, Surrey on Remembrance Day in 1993 - even though they were invited guests. The door was barred to them unless they agreed to remove their turbans - something that observant Sikhs would never do, and even though advance clearance for dress to be worn was obtained from Parade Commander Newton Legion. Because of the ill-treatment meted out to the Veterans, a number of white Ministers, MLAs and Councillors scheduled to make speeches inside the Lounge, refused to enter in protest and walked away.

Public insult, embarrassment and humiliation of invited World War Veterans being extremely serious, the issue was picked up by local, national and International media, spreading all over the World. Not only that, it also was discussed in the Canadian Parliament, British Columbia’s Legislature and Surrey City Council and unanimously passed supporting the Veterans and condemning the Newton Legion President’s undesirable action.

Being fully involved in the episode, I spearheaded it. I wrote personal letters to the Queen, Governor General and many other dignitaries, giving full details of the incident and my views on it. The Queen very kindly sent my letter to the National Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Legion for action, who immediately amended the Legion Bylaws, permitting turbaned Veterans in all 1720 Legion Branches across Canada. Later, when I met the Queen at Victoria on August 20,1994, she asked me about the progress of the Legion’s turban issue. I thanked her for her intervention and said that the issue was resolved immediately by amending the Legion’s unscrupulous bylaws. She was though pleased to know that but remarked “ But they should not have treated you in the manner they did in the first place“. Due to intensive pressure from the Royal Canadian Legion, the three levels of Governments and the public at large, Mr Frank Underwood, President Newton Legion apologized unconditionally to the five Veterans on BC TV on December 1, 1993.

Having seen me handling the case in question, in Indian media, Reeta Sharma International Reporter of Chandigarh English Tribune came to my house in Surrey, Canada. She interviewed me on the incident for over two hours. She sent her Story to Chandigarh Tribune for publication. Her story as published in her newspaper on July 29, 1994.

Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd) WW II Veteran

Reeta Sharma (Reporter) says: THE 73-year-old War Veteran Pritam Singh Jauhal would put many lazybones to shame. Once offended and humiliated, he fought the battle of his pagri, symbolic of his honour and religion like a warrior.

Lesson Learnt. The five pillars of self- discipline are: Acceptance, Willpower, Hard work, Industry, and Persistence. If you take the first letter of each word, you get the acronym "A WHIP" — a convenient way to remember them, since many people associate self- discipline with whipping themselves into shape. Our bureaucracy needs a high dose of discipline to be injected into the system to enable them comprehend the ethos of a serving or a retired soldier.