TREAD WITH CAUTION

India’s Armed Forces have a reputation worldwide of being tough, resilient and disciplined, and capable of executing any task assigned to them. The 1971 war, in which the Indian Armed Forces helped liberate a country in less than a fortnight—a feat unmatched by any Force in the world, was not just a saga of military acumen, but also a message to the world on how a military force should conduct itself. Coming after the brutal murder, rape and genocide of the local population by the Pakistan Army, the conduct of the Indian troops was a model in stark contrast, remembered fondly by the civilian population of Bangladesh till this day.

Armies achieve greatness by the quality of leadership that they possess and here too, the Indian Armed Forces are second to none. Turning the tables on Pakistan after being surprised in Kargil was yet another saga in courage, heroism and frontline leadership. This has consistently been displayed in all the operations conducted by the Armed Forces, whether they be counter terrorism operations within the country or providing assistance to the Sri Lankan Government in Operation Pawan, neutralising a coup attempt in the Maldives or the numerous missions in providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief during natural calamities.

What has sustained the Forces through the various tribulations that they have faced since independence are the strong bonds of camaraderie which exist among the officers and men. The much spoken of Chetwode motto is one that is taken seriously by the officer corps, which finds its resonance across the country. That is why military personnel are instinctively trusted all across the country, regardless of the few blips which one encounters at infrequent intervals. Ultimately, it is the cohesiveness of the Force which gives it its strength, and nothing must be allowed to erode that ethos which has bound us together since decades.

There is disquiet among the very large veteran community about the government of the day shortchanging the Armed Forces. That perception, whether wholly or partially right, is simply a reflection of the bonds which the fraternity has with the organisation they once served and which they continue to regard as their own. However, the manner of expressing their angst is not only not helping their cause, but contributing to distrust between the serving leadership and the veteran community. This situation calls for serious introspection by all concerned as it does no good to the military and leads to erosion of morale and capability of those donning the colours.

It needs to be appreciated that the way the military is structured in the national power hierarchy, they have but a limited voice in matters which pertain to them, with the civilian bureaucracy willy nilly ruling the roost. How this situation can be changed should be what the veteran community should look into, especially as they all have been through this process and so, with hindsight and reflection, should be able to come up with a viable action plan to rectify perceived injustices. As a first step, it would behove both the serving leadership as well as the large veteran community to be circumspect in speech. Let us live as role models and effect change with dignity, keeping the national interest in mind.

Published in SALUTE, Vol 11, Issue 11.