The officer to men
ratio in the Indian Army is approximately 1 is to 160, however during the
Kargil conflict the ratio of the casualties was 1 is to 10. These are not mere
statistics but speak volumes of the quality of the officer cadre that led their
men-from the front.
Leading from the front
requires raw courage, undying zeal and relentless enthusiasm. How do these
boys, no more than 23 years old, an age when their counterparts in the civil
society have not even figured out what they want to do in life, are able to
muster such a strong sense of purpose as to lead men into fire? This comes from
the rigorous training that they are made to go through, toughening the mind,
body and spirit. An aggressive spirit is ingrained in them that makes these men
to lay down their lives for the cause of a forgetful and ungrateful nation.
The case in question is
the recent unfortunate turn events took in Pune resulting in confrontation
between the Defence Forces, egged on and catalyzed by the media. The aim is not
to discuss the events but to give an insight into their cause. Owing to
operational and security reasons the defence forces are generally shrouded in a
cloud of mystery evoking curiosity and speculations. This not only provides the
media with a sea of unexplored opportunity to dig their nose into any issue
concerning the Armed forces but also places on them the responsibility to
exercise discretion in the publication of any such issue. Care should be taken
to ensure that the media’s role does not jeopardize the security of personnel
or information and most importantly tarnish the image of the Forces.
A country’s Defence
Forces symbolize not only its strength but also the character of the nation. A
blow served to the image of the Defence Forces not only lowers the morale of
the force but also the faith of the common man in them, the biggest boost for
the morale of any soldier. No denying the fact that the course taken by the
Army officers in this case was not the best one, neither the wisest-but a
careful analysis of the facts will reveal that the belligerents were all young
officers in their early twenties. When these officers initially introduced
themselves as ‘Army Officers’ all it implied was that they deserved to be
treated in a dignified manner, they really were not asking for too much. These
men spend months and years of their lives in god forsaken places guarding our
frontiers or training-totally aloof from civilization, the only communication
to the outside world being occasional letters from near and dear ones. So when
a person declares himself as an ‘Army personnel’ it does not mean that he
considers himself above rule of law, it only means-
- I have been living
far away from civilization in a place you could hardly spot on a map for months
so that you can stand here without fear, grant me that respect.
- Expect me not be
conversant with the changes that have taken place recently or new signboards
that you may have put.
- I have no permanent
home and neither do my family and every some years it’s a new town or city I’ve
to call home.
- I will someday put my
life in peril for you and all my countrymen, expecting nothing but respect and
gratitude in return.
- I put my life so
often in peril that I know no fear (often misinterpreted as arrogance). These
young men lacked thoughtfulness agreed and with some provocation got aggressive
but remember here that these men are trained to be such.
A seasoned and
reasoning man lacks the spontaneity to jump in the way of fire without heeding
for personal safety for no personal gain of his own. It is these young men with
this aggression who led the Indian Army to historic victories and for God’s
sake not criminals. A matured handling of these officers by the police and
subsequent handling of the issue by the media could have averted tarnishing the
image of the Armed Forces in the eyes of a gossip happy nation
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