Soldiering has been a noble profession since ages. The princes and boys from the royal families joined the Army since the profession of arms was always associated with pride, dignity and highest form of nationalism, since times immemorial. Many of us left well paying corporate jobs to join defence forces and considered it a proud privilege to don the combat uniform. Most youngsters join the defence forces are fired with the resolve to fight for their country and return as victors to their villages. If fate does not support, then the glory of death is as honourable as the pride of victory.
History is full of examples glorifying the profession of arms. Indian mythology, including the epics – Ramayana and Mahabharat, have ingrained fighting tenets in our people where the profession of arms is considered a tradition and an ultimate goal in a person’s life. These epics predate all modern religions and form the bedrock of Indian culture, traditions and rich national heritage. It’s a great feeling in soldiering to live with core human values of Valour, Self-sacrifice and Honour of the Country. If the soldier is martyred in defending the nation, then such a death is only blessed to the bravest of the brave.
ROLE OF SOLDIER – CHANAKYA
The role of a soldier in nation-building has been clearly defined by great Indian Strategic Thinker Chanakya, about 2300 years back. Chanakya writes-“ While the Magadha citizenry endeavours to make the State prosper and flourish, the Mauryan soldier guarantees that the State continues to exist! He is the silent ’sine qua non’ of our very being!”
Again, Chanakya warns the King that soldiers due should be given and all requirements of a soldier and his families welfare should be met without asking:-
“If ever things come to a sordid pass when, on a given day, the Mauryan soldier has to look back over his shoulder (simhawalokana) prompted by even a single worry about his and his family’s material, physical and social well being, it should cause you and your Council the greatest concern and distress. The day when the Mauryan soldier has to demand his dues or, worse, plead for them, will bode ill for Magadha. It will also be the beginning of the end of the Mauryan Empire”!!
RECENT DOWNGRADINGS
Wise people learn from history. The teachings of Chanakya have been forgotten by the present leadership. It’s very unfortunate that the expenditure on defence forces is not seen as insurance by having a force of deterrence but seen through the prism of an auditor. As we say- War over, the soldier is soon forgotten. The auditor forgets the bodies and devastated families and starts counting the pennies. In the recent past we have seen high rhetoric on nationalism, soldiers sacrifices and pride as a political narrative but erosion of values, pride, pay, pension, perks and privileges of defence forces, thus damaging the pride in soldiering.
In the recent past, our armed forces are slowly being marginalised by bringing one rule after another with resultant damaging the martial streak in our country. A few samples of the same are highlighted here-
- Taxing disability pensions and statements by senior officers to say that disability is all fake. Now the society looks at decorated war-wounded soldiers also as a thief who manipulated to the system get disability pensions.
- Not giving NFU status while the same is being given to civilians.
- Granting truncated OROP to ESM and taking all the credit for the same.
- Gradually reducing avenues of post retirement settlement by imposing unrealistic restrictions or reducing the welfare schemes through Directorate General of Resettlement.
- Stopping rations to officers in peace areas and then restarting it as gratis.
- Imposing additional restrictions on CSD Canteen purchase and statements that the privilege is being misused. It paints all serving and retired soldiers as profiteers.
- Throwing open the cantts to civilians, thereby ruining the pristine oasis called lungs of the city. The privileged status of soldier is undermined.
- Starving ECHS of funds, thereby reducing empanelled hospitals and making the scheme almost
- Discrimination amongst arms and services by preferential treatment.
- Proposal to reduce pensions on the name of ballooning defence pension bills. Detailed analysis indicates to the contrary.
- Proposing to reduce leave of soldiers in peace tenures.
- Proposal to Close down ceremonials like Army Day Parade and mounted Cavalry units. The joy and pride, which is the hallmark of soldiering, will be dented. Ceremonial are part of all Armies in the world.
- Proposal to close down or curtails Officer’s Messes and Clubs which gives a feeling of privileged class to the officers. It’s one of the motivations to join defence forces inspite of lesser emoluments.
- The J&K Allowance for military is far below that of CAPF and police. Same is the case of other allowances including the Siachen allowance vis-à-vis hazard allowance for CAPF/police at Leh or Guwahati. This indicates apathy of Govt towards defence forces. The same mistake was done by Govt prior to 1962 debacle.
PENSION TO SOLDIERS – EYESORE
The state is never able to pay the soldier who stands as a sentinel to the nation’s growth and prosperity. He guards the frontiers facing all hardships and prepared to make the supreme sacrifice, if the need arises, to defend the motherland. The citizens sleeping peacefully in air-conditioned houses living in metro comforts will never be able to fathom the hardships involved in the profession of arms. The soldier is paid less compared to the corporate world but paid higher pension which is in-fact a differed salary itself. Also, adequate pay and perks are paid after retirement to ensure that the one who gave his youth for guarding the country should be able to live a decent life in the sunset years of his life and his pride is not compromised due to financial constraints.
“Pension is neither a bounty nor charity, but an indefeasible right of an employee.” – The Karnataka High Court. Defence Services have historically been the recipient of higher rates of pension, irrefutably with a view to attracting talented and motivated youth to serve the country to the peril of their lives, if so required. Reducing the same, unilaterally, without seeking feedback from the environment, is bound to have a severely adverse effect on the morale of individuals and future induction of quality youth. The Armed Forces are already ailing with mediocrity due to want of incentives to attract talent. The auditors and babus will never understand this and therefore, the King (read political leadership today) should rise above the staff recommendations and uphold the dignity of soldiers.
WHERE IS GENERALSHIP
We all talk about deficiencies in the Armed Forces. The deficiency of equipment and weaponry can be made up in the face of war but I feel the deficiency is of Generalship or higher leadership. We do not have Generals today like Field Marshal SAM Manekshaw or of the same ilk. This has happened because of decay in moral fibre over the years, abetted by lollipops offered by successive Govts to parrot their views. It will take a long time to fill up this deficiency. Military leadership should have firm conviction and determination to fight for what is our right without bothering about future prospects. The seniors must develop the courage of conviction to stand for what is right and learn to place service before Self. Sadly, nobody is even working towards it.
The Arun Singh Committee after the Kargil War recommended the creation of a post of CDS for coordination amongst three forces and as a single point contact with the Govt. The same was supported by all serving and retired senior officers, very vociferously as if CDS will be the panacea for all ills. The Govt cleverly delayed it to the date, time and person of own choosing and finally created CDS after 20 years, taking all the credit for it. Thereafter, CDS does all the talking for the Govt. The Defence forces and ESM said- NO!! We didn’t want it to happen this way.” But Govt smiled back and said-“You asked for it!!” Today, the serving and retired soldiers wait for every day with bated breath as to what will be the next order cutting down on their pay/pension/perks/privileges and worst of all, damaging their pride.
TO CONCLUDE
The Armed Forces have created a niche for itself, in the society due to their NATION FIRST ethos, highly secular and non-political credentials having merit-based organization and projecting itself as a role model in the crumbling edifice of present social structure. Even the Ex-service-men are highly respected in the society, since they stand out due to their disciplined life, nationalistic attitude and helping nature which they carry home from Army life, even after retirement. More than two million young boys and girls appear in UPSC exams for defence forces, every year. Large crowds, almost unmanageable, gather for recruitment rallies all over the country. This is testimony to the fact that defence forces is a career of dreams for the youth even today.
It is the duty of the society and nation to ensure that the pride sustains and there is always a passionate romanticism in soldiering. By undermining the Armed Forces and depriving them of one benefit after another; Let’s not damage the pride in soldiering, the noblest profession since ages.
