Indian Defence Review

On the April 25, 2015 Nepal was hit by a deadly earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter’s scale killing and maiming thousands. A worst tragedy in 81 years for Nepal.  In the last decade we have seen India executing complex humanitarian missions. Be they in South Asian region post 2004 tsunami or the recently conducted rescue of 4000 odd people from Yemen. India continues to grow in power and capacity. With each passing year she is getting stronger and more effective. Today India has emerged as an effective first responder, to be relied upon, in the region stretching all the way from the Gulf of Aden to Strait of Malacca.

Ability of any country as in this case what India has displayed has enhanced her geo strategic relevance; mustering various civilian and military resources at a short notice and literally deploying them before the world gets to know of the calamity. It reflects upon the sophisticated capability that we have developed in carrying out humanitarian and disaster response activities.

Be it Yemen or now Nepal, they have not only boosted our foreign policy but India has marked itself into reckoning as a rising power with the fastest growing economy that can no longer be ignored at the geo-political stage. Under these trying circumstances a great nation not only rises collectively to save the unfortunate and recover from the damage suffered but also extend all the necessary assistance in its region of influence. Thus conveying to the world of its invincibility, even in the face of nature’s rage and provide confidence amongst neighbourhood. India has passed the litmus test.

The complexity involved in overcoming these trials and tests lies in statesmanship at political level; leadership and unity at legislature level; foresight, forethought and organisational ability at executive level. All these factors contribute towards mobilising the national resources into selfless service towards the distressed and the devastated. The true character of a nation is thus reflected in the manner it deals with its disasters.

It may be recalled what happened in China few years ago. An earth quake hit South Western Sichuan province that killed 2,40,000 people. The Chinese mobilised 1,30,000 troops to carry out relief and rescue effort. The world saw this effort and analysed the performance of Chinese military. Though the PLA was mobilised immediately, however it took 72 hours to save the first life. The fastest growing economy in the world, having strong central leadership soon realised the deficiencies of the military and undertook measures to overcome them. The strength of this nation was visible during the world’s largest evacuation led by the PLA evacuating 8,00,000 people during the floods of 2010 and subsequent quick recovery.

Similarly in India’s case what the world witnessed during the Uttarakhand crisis in June 2013 was shameful for a country like ours. It brought forth the lack of statesmanship both at the centre and the state level in responding to the challenge thus resulted in the death of hundreds who otherwise could have been saved.  Our political leaders representing the legislature failed miserably and so did the executive. This disaster had proved the incompetence of the government’s machinery in analysing and displaying a foresight and fore thought in tackling such a crisis.

However India has today shown the world that it can handle crisis like the one she faced in Yemen in evacuating its beleaguered citizen from an active war zone amidst firing and shelling alongside a constant threat from Al Qaeda. And in Nepal where massive humanitarian assistance effort by India is under way. India has mounted a mammoth relief effort deploying 13 military aircrafts including C-17 Globe Master, C-130 Hercules, IL-76 and three civilian aircraft of Air India and Jet Airways, six Mi-17 helicopters, two Advanced Light Helicopters while two more Mi-17 choppers are kept on standby.

Indian Air Force has air lifted mobile hospitals, engineer task force with special equipment, specialised teams of National Disaster Relief Force along with tons of relief material including blankets, tents, tonnes of food, paramedics, stretches, and medicines. As I write the death toll has risen to 4000 and the injured more than 6000.