IN WHOES HONOUR IS THE LINEN BEING WASHED IN PUBLIC?

The reading of the article; “The birth of a controversy” by Brig. (retd.) V.Mahalingam in Opena Page of The Hindu today (22nd Januaray) prompted me to write this note. I also had the pleasure of watching and hearing the Brigadier in various national English channels wherein the controversy is being debated in full vigour. All said and done, whichever side is right, quite a bit of dirty linen is now being washed in the public. This is not a good trend when it comes to matters related to our security forces. One cringed at the tweet read out by the anchor of the show that both in India and Pakistan, the Army and Government is at loggerheads with each other. Whatever be the truth of the situation, this matter need not have come in the open for which, though the Government is equally responsible, I find the Army chief to be more responsible for the present impasse.

One is not sure whether the application to the Indian Military Academy was filled by the General himself or his parents, but the fact of the matter was that the mistake was committed from his side. It is not the IMA or the Government which made the wrong entry. The present state affair is solely due this wrong entry committed from the Generals side, when he was the candidate. But we should realize, by virtue of the wrong entry, neither his admission to the Academy was denied nor any of his promotion in the Army was curtailed. Considering the pyramid structure followed in the promotions to higher ranks in the services, though it was his own mistake, the General must be singularly lucky to have reached the Pinnacle of his career, which is a dream of every entrant of any defense academy in the country.

The Brigadier refers to the lack of synergy between the Adjutant General’s branch and the Military Secretary branch on the correction of dates, both being part of the Indian Army. While application for correction of the date of birth was furnished by the General, it did not result in the correction being effective. And this definitely throws up lack of clarity in the matter. Also, it is something that happened in the past and when so many head of armies and defense ministers of the past have been preview to it, why blame the present minister of defense for the impasse? Does one see a political ambition behind the actions of the Army chief? In these days when higher ups in the bureaucracy and services aspire higher political positions, one cannot close his eyes to such a view.

Having reached the height of his vocation within the army and being there for considerable period of time, the General could have let go the controversy and retired gracefully from the services. Many of us would have valued his spirit of sacrifice and held him as the true hero. But what has he done? In the name of honour (what and whose honour?, one doesn’t understand), he goes into litigation and allowed the matter to boil over, to the consternation of every well-meaning citizens of the country. His actions had brought the army that he heads, to be compared with a very political and corrupt army of Pakistan. But really is there a comparison? Definitely not! However, just look at the state of affairs now!

It is now evident that the general is seeking tenure in the mask of honour. If he retires in May 2012, the country could get 2 more Army Chiefs after him. If his tenure is extended, those two would retire before he demits office. As mentioned, it is the dream of every officer in the Army to sit in the Chief’s chair at least for one day, in his career. It looks like there is elements of jealousy/apathy in the Generals’ actions.

Lastly I must confess about lack of social skills in the part of the retired senior officers whom I had watched on the TV channels. They simply are not willing to look at the other’s view with any empathy. Most of them, including the Brigadier had been very dogmatic in their approach. Some of them used very aggressive (is it abusive?) language on the Ministry. Having seen officers using aggressive and abusive language on the subordinates, though one is not surprised of their action, one must lament on the sense of propriety from the part of these once senior defense personnel in public communication.

I dread to imagine these retired officers leading the citizens of the country. I could then only repeat the sentence that the Brigadier had closed his article with.

God save the country!