Army's
Deepening Crisis of Amorality
By Lt Gen (Retd)
Baljit Singh
Of late, the Indian Army’s proud image has been severely dented. The discerning Indians as well as the aam-admi is beginning to question whether those who lead the Indian Army are men of straw? A few years ago, a Maj General commanding an infantry Division pleaded guilty of misappropriating CSD liquor and was cashiered with seven years RI in a civil jail. About a year later, another Maj General was served a show-cause notice for acts of omission and commission while ironically he headed the Army’s Judicial Department. In 2009, the CBI filed a charge-sheet against yet another Maj General (since retired) and his spouse for possessing assets to the tune of 3.37 crores while in service, grossly disproportionate to their known incomes and family inheritances. In 2010 a General Court Martial cashiered a Lt Colonel and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment for irregularities upward of ten crore. And now 30 officers are facing trial; surely a dubious record for any army.
Of late, the Indian Army’s proud image has been severely dented. The discerning Indians as well as the aam-admi is beginning to question whether those who lead the Indian Army are men of straw? A few years ago, a Maj General commanding an infantry Division pleaded guilty of misappropriating CSD liquor and was cashiered with seven years RI in a civil jail. About a year later, another Maj General was served a show-cause notice for acts of omission and commission while ironically he headed the Army’s Judicial Department. In 2009, the CBI filed a charge-sheet against yet another Maj General (since retired) and his spouse for possessing assets to the tune of 3.37 crores while in service, grossly disproportionate to their known incomes and family inheritances. In 2010 a General Court Martial cashiered a Lt Colonel and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment for irregularities upward of ten crore. And now 30 officers are facing trial; surely a dubious record for any army.
It is a common
human trait to stand up for one’s entity, no matter what. But there are
moments when truth stares at and stabs the viewer so hard that he cannot
evade the moment of reckoning. Recently, I was dumb-struck when a young
lady in the family group I was traveling with, asked politely but
candidly "Now, is that not a misuse of the Army, uncle? "I had not
noticed but when I turned to face where she was looking, I was shocked
and dismayed. Gathering composure, I responded, "Wait a minute. Let me
enquire". Well, there was this load-carrier of the Army which had
ferried to the site, materials needed perhaps for a grand regimental
function? There were heaps of carnations, rose-buds, gerberas and
gladiolus, so fresh and sparkling in different colours that
they had to be the pick-of-the-best, from top-of-the-line florists. And
of course, mounds of plastic chandeliers and mountains of furniture in
poor Chippendale design and gaudy tapestry, covering a space the size of
a hockey field.
The time was about 3.30 pm and a smart young lady stood issuing instructions to her staff to arrange the "marriage-palace" to her design and time. Three soldiers in Army uniform stood close to the load carrier (a Jonga and a Gypsy were partially hidden behind) and jaded looks on their faces betrayed that they were on a regular, routine mission. On inquiry whether they were preparing for a regimental memorial function, they replied promptly and matter-of-factly, "Nahin. Hamaari madum nay yehaan contract lay rakkha hey." We had entered this imposing courtyard in need of a public convenience. The guards at the entrance readily informed us that an evening’s charges for using the establishment (exclusive of meals and drinks) are a neat four lakh rupees. It would not be far fetched to assume that the organiser ("Hamaari madum") would have a net earning of at least ten percent of the rental. And if at an average there are four such engagements for the month that would be an impressive income; close to the month’s basic salary of the Army Chief, post the sixth pay commission.
That Army spouse has every right to work and earn. But was there no one to guide her that for a mere one per cent of her earnings (hire for a civil truck), she was besmearing in dirt the Army’s ethos of "Izzat, Imaandari and Wafaadri"? And jeopardizing her family’s future? And corrupting the three army drivers and countless others? Not many can deny that the Army’s leaders are fully intent upon rooting out moral and material corruption. But punishment alone seems perhaps not an adequate deterrent any more. May be the Army now needs to delve deep into the mind-set of its wrong-doers by commandeering the services of the best psycho-analytical experts. The defenses of the guilty must simply be pulled down (even at the promise of remitting their punishment) so that we can get to know their motives for corruption. The sooner we understand their compulsions the better will we be able to rid the Army of this all devouring monster.
Philip Mason, an officer from the erstwhile ICS wrote an absorbing history of the Indian Army entitled "A Matter of Honour" in the 1980s. The book begins with the statement, "Fidelity to an oath, loyalty to comrades and courage on the battle field are the qualities without which an Army is nothing...". And from there he launches into the genesis of the beginnings and the growth of the Indian Army of today, having all the attributes required of a force which can never be vanquished by any foe!!
It is time that the country also stood by and proved itself worthy of its splendid Armed Forces, that is, not to constantly erode their inter-se status vis-à-vis the other Central Services as was the unwritten convention till August 1947. Our Armed Forces are a breed apart and if the India of post 1947 procrastinates on this issue further, the evil of moral degeneration may spread so deep and wide among their rank and file that the foundations of the structure built assiduously over the previous two hundred years, may crumble in a heap.
Courtesy: http://www.purpleberet.com/
The time was about 3.30 pm and a smart young lady stood issuing instructions to her staff to arrange the "marriage-palace" to her design and time. Three soldiers in Army uniform stood close to the load carrier (a Jonga and a Gypsy were partially hidden behind) and jaded looks on their faces betrayed that they were on a regular, routine mission. On inquiry whether they were preparing for a regimental memorial function, they replied promptly and matter-of-factly, "Nahin. Hamaari madum nay yehaan contract lay rakkha hey." We had entered this imposing courtyard in need of a public convenience. The guards at the entrance readily informed us that an evening’s charges for using the establishment (exclusive of meals and drinks) are a neat four lakh rupees. It would not be far fetched to assume that the organiser ("Hamaari madum") would have a net earning of at least ten percent of the rental. And if at an average there are four such engagements for the month that would be an impressive income; close to the month’s basic salary of the Army Chief, post the sixth pay commission.
That Army spouse has every right to work and earn. But was there no one to guide her that for a mere one per cent of her earnings (hire for a civil truck), she was besmearing in dirt the Army’s ethos of "Izzat, Imaandari and Wafaadri"? And jeopardizing her family’s future? And corrupting the three army drivers and countless others? Not many can deny that the Army’s leaders are fully intent upon rooting out moral and material corruption. But punishment alone seems perhaps not an adequate deterrent any more. May be the Army now needs to delve deep into the mind-set of its wrong-doers by commandeering the services of the best psycho-analytical experts. The defenses of the guilty must simply be pulled down (even at the promise of remitting their punishment) so that we can get to know their motives for corruption. The sooner we understand their compulsions the better will we be able to rid the Army of this all devouring monster.
Philip Mason, an officer from the erstwhile ICS wrote an absorbing history of the Indian Army entitled "A Matter of Honour" in the 1980s. The book begins with the statement, "Fidelity to an oath, loyalty to comrades and courage on the battle field are the qualities without which an Army is nothing...". And from there he launches into the genesis of the beginnings and the growth of the Indian Army of today, having all the attributes required of a force which can never be vanquished by any foe!!
It is time that the country also stood by and proved itself worthy of its splendid Armed Forces, that is, not to constantly erode their inter-se status vis-à-vis the other Central Services as was the unwritten convention till August 1947. Our Armed Forces are a breed apart and if the India of post 1947 procrastinates on this issue further, the evil of moral degeneration may spread so deep and wide among their rank and file that the foundations of the structure built assiduously over the previous two hundred years, may crumble in a heap.
Courtesy: http://www.purpleberet.com/
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