I joined the Indian Military Academy, in Jan 1976, and took premature retirement from the Army while still commanding my own battalion on 17th June 1998. During my tenure of over two decades, I had an experience of positive as well as negative situations, and felt that while not everything can be perfected, someone has to make a start. It is only now when people have access to the internet and social media that a BSF jawan can post a video complaining about the food and corruption in his organization. Many people who have no knowledge about challenges of soldiering tend to make strong comments and post their views, from condemning the soldier who posted that information to condemning the organization itself.
My aim is to educate the youth of the nation; who would be the most affected section of our society to understand the problems of soldiers and join the Shradhaa Movement to contribute to the betterment of our armed forces. I have told the site administrator to allow the posting of your comments and suggestions. Your positive and negative feedback will be well received. It is said that “ a good officer should be scared of nothing, not even a new idea”. I can only promise one thing, that I will be absolutely honest in expressing my views, without prejudice, fear or favor. We will keep the identity of some people hidden; to keep the best interests of the organization in view.
I would also look forward to the volunteers who can translate the blog to Hindi Language so that even our Jawans and those citizens who don’t understand the English language can read it and contribute with their comments and suggestions. The progress of my blog might not be as fast as expected due to my career obligations and my passion to serve the community in every capacity I can. I don’t think shortage of time should be an issue; for if one is determined, the time would be available; avoiding procrastination would be the challenge we have to confront.
So what has changed in the profession of soldiering since independence. When India got independence the total number of soldiers in the country much less than the number we have today. Most soldiers did come from the rural areas, with most officers coming from the ex military families or families who were able to send their children for education to English Medium Schools, or say the Convent Schools. Services was a profession that attracted the youth, and soldiering was the profession that could well be the first choice profession for majority of youth. Things have changed since then. No one want to work in remote areas, separated from their families and with the danger of life every moment.
The philosophy of non-alignment and Panchsheel dictated that our nation was not even of great need to have a professional or strong army. Our first Prime Minister had said that why would we need too much of forces, since we don’t intend to attack anyone. In fact we never attacked anyone. But what our leaders in 50’s failed to understand that we do need a strong army to protect our nation from external aggression. Our lackluster attitude towards army led to 1962 debacle. Memories of massacre at Namka Chu will chill your bones. In retrospect, I believe that defeat in 1962 was perhaps the best thing happened for the armed forces. It corrected the perspective of the political leadership, and gave some kind of importance to the defense forces. The change in attitude of the political leadership, resulted in mass scale recruiting and indigenous production of the war material, like Gnat air crafts and Vijayanta Tanks. Both these machines did wonders against their much superior adversaries against Pakistan in 1965 War.
