Indeed, these are landmarks which distinguish soldiers from the rest. That is why a soldier has to be sacked for misdemeanours which may be routine in the society, for, unlike other undertakings of the state, mistakes in the military have severe and perpetual ramifications. That is why it is a fallacious tendency to seek application of standard societal norms over the military institution; you cannot ask for extraordinary degree of probity, skill-at-arms and commitment to the nation’s mandate from the soldiery and yet equate them with ordinary professions.
Finding Defenders of the Nation
In recent times, societies have progressed in leaps in terms of economy, technology, services and living comforts as never before. Obviously, why would an instinctively peace-loving and self-aggrandising citizen opt for a soldier’s life with all its extraordinary exactions, when safer, remunerative and comfortable alternatives are available? Mature nations have, accordingly, in all seriousness, found new ways to maintain their armies in fine fettle through offer of attractive prospects, good living facilities, medicare and education, care of veterans, best weaponry, equipment and protective gear, transition to second career, and above all, bestowal of honour and status.
Some countries have even gone to the extent of lowering their strategic sights to balance the high expenses of keeping their military motivated. In Indian context too, much has been, and is being, done towards that end. But when it comes to finer points of redressal of problems that are intractable under routine dispensations, there is near-absence of alacrity.
“¦the saga of its (Indian Army) rise and fall is synonymous with the manner it is treated ““ defeated when run down by the state ““ victorious when celebrated in societ”¦
Even if the masses remain firmly supportive of their Army and lack of employment opportunities remains its sole life-line of recruitment, it needs to be appreciated that the nuances of modern war-fighting cannot be addressed by superficial rhetoric or ranks made up of second-rate societal simpletons anymore – more needs to be done to find competent defenders of the nation and empower them with modern hardware.
In Search of of Peace and Prosperity
Army is made up of people drafted from the society. In this respect, all armies of India – of Hindu, Muslim and British periods – are eternal in characteristics. It is that army which deterred Alexander, chased away the Shakas and the Huns, defeated Muhammad Ghori, was in turn defeated by him, then by Khilji and then the first Mughal, later carried the Mughal sword to all over the subcontinent, spread the mastery of the Union Jack over most of Asia, won two World Wars for the Allies, was mauled by China, mauled Pakistan, and lastly, has held the Indian Union from breaking apart. Truly, the saga of its rise and fall is synonymous with the manner it is treated – defeated when run down by the state – victorious when celebrated in society, cared for by the state, manned by “good men” and led by a motivated, competent officer corps.
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The situation is grim. The state is increasingly being seen as weak and helpless. Thus the inimical elements in the neighbourhood, imported terrorists and the lumpen elements among the people are encouraged to strike at will. Assam is boiling on account of illegal migration, tribal have taken to Naxal ways, fanaticism on religious, ethnic and linguistic issues is gaining strength and hooliganism in defiance of state authority manifests in routine acts of destruction of public property. Meanwhile, Chinese loudly claim an integral part of us, as do Pakistanis of another, while some others await opportunity to do so.
Thus harried by inimical forces from within and without, the nation is obliged to commit more than one lakh crore annually on upkeep of its armed forces – obviously at the cost of uplift of its citizenry. It is therefore imperative for those at the helm of decision making – both, in the civilian and military hierarchy – to appreciate the complexities of tangibles (material wherewithal) and intangibles (training, discipline, efficiency, confidence and morale of the soldiery) of the military institution. Only then would accrue a corresponding peace dividend.
It is the time to strengthen our state institutions. In so doing, the state may ponder over its ultimate whip – the Army- to negotiate through the troubled times, while the Army hierarchy would do well to introspect upon its cultural afflictions.
Notes
- “Another Bloody Century”, Colin S Grey, Phoenix, London, 2005.
- “The Indian Army: Its Contribution to the Development of a Nation”, Stephen P Cohen, Oxford University Press, 1990.
- Christine Tipping, “Understanding Military Covenant”, RUSI, London, 2008.
- Matthew J Morgan, “Army Recruiting and the Civil-Military Gap”, Parameters, 2001.
- “Geoffrey Regan’s Book of Military Blunders”, Guinness Publication Ltd, GB, 1991.
- “War and Power in the 21st Century”, Paul Hirst, Blackwell Publishers Inc, USA, 2001.
- Kalevi Holsti, “The State, War and The State of War”, Cambridge Study, UK, 2000.
- Lt Gen AF Klimenko, “Globalisation and its Impact on Military Politics and Military Strategy”, Military Thought, 2004.
- “War and Origin of State”, Rudolph Holsti, London, 1913.
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