“ sitting on volcano of discontent ”
In early 1850s, many prominent officers , drew attention of their seniors to the maladies the East India Company’s Army suffered from, but they were rudely silenced that the so called ‘maladies’ were a figment of their imagination. Soon there was ‘ Mutiny’ of 1857 , major factors of which were ; ill treatment of Indian Soldiers by the British Officers, perceived impending loss of religion (with rumours of imposition of Christianity on them), withdrawal of ‘Bhatta’ (Field Allowance), deposition of their mentors (like Kings of Awad) and laxity in discipline . The ‘Greased Cartridge’ that sparked the ‘waiting to explode’ mixture of pent up grievances was just an immediate provocation. Ironically , similar factor are again present now. Bureaucrats and politicians have replaced the British officers for ill-treatment of the Indian Soldiers . Even the service Chiefs are not spared by mindless politicians. Enormous lowering of military’s status has resulted in their lack for ‘IZZAT’ (honour) . “IZZAT”, in fact , is a ‘Soldier’s religion’ . Since they can not bribe their way through the bureaucracy , they are treated like dirt and are at the receiving-end every time they go to civil offices in pursuit of their most genuine problems.. Fraudulent withdrawal (denial) of ‘Rank Pay’ by the bureaucracy after 4th Pay Commission’s award, is worse than withdrawal of ‘Bhatta’ in 1850s. Their mentors , the Commanding Officers are rendered totally powerless to do any thing for their soldiers . Their pleas for the welfare of their men fall on deaf bureaucratic ears eliciting no response , forcing many soldiers to commit suicide out of sheer hopelessness when their most pressing domestic problems are not resolved by a callous civil administration. Strangely, rich NRI’s property in many states is protected but not that of poor Soldiers . Also; army is being grossly mis used, even for mundane tasks. Earlier only men used to desert, now in last few years dozen of officers have ‘deserted’. The Sixth Pay Commission Report (SPCR) has driven the final nail in the coffin of Soldiers’ aspirations for reasonable emoluments commensurate with their harsh service conditions and truncated career . To keep the army young , which is a ‘National Requirement’, about 94% soldiers are ‘Forcedly” retired in their mid 30s and early 40s without any rehabilitation. The recommendation about their ‘Lateral Induction’ in to Para- Military Forces, will never materialize due to ‘Vested Interest’. Reacting to collective protest by all the three Services Chiefs about the SPCR , the govt has constituted a ‘Review Committee’ , but there is no hope of any major benefits since the ‘Review Committee’ is composed of IAS only with no member form the Military , who form bulk of the govt employees. Under the given circumstances, only a ‘Greased Cartridge’ is missing . Hope the govt doesn’t provide the same .
By no stretch of imagination, “Mutiny of 1857” is likely to be repeated in the same form , the Indian Army being far too disciplined and the officers and Jawans dedicated to each other. However a stage is getting set for a “Silent Mutiny”, or a ‘Mental Mutiny’. If fratricides, suicides, (amounting to loss of over 100 lives annually), etc, are any indicators, the Indian Army appears to sitting on a “Volcano of Discontent” and “Mental Mutiny” in the Army may well be underway . Collective ‘Sense of Hurt’ (inflicted by the SPCR) may lead to ‘Collective Alienation’ of the military from the govt and may unleash a “Silent Tsunami” in their relationship based as it is on distrust of the former . Military ‘Top Brass’s inability to ensure a ‘Fair Deal’ to their subordinates, while they themselves are reasonably ‘rewarded’, will erode their ‘Credibility ’ and ‘Standing’ in latter’s eyes . This will lead to ‘Collective ‘Bickering and Heart Burning’ . Such a “Mental Mutiny”, may render a (still) very fine army dysfunctional. If the maladies like the loss of pride and willful neglect by the state are not attended to vigorously, a “Paralysis of Will” may engulf the entire military leadership . Material well being and concrete actions to ensure“ IZZAT-O-INSAAF” to our defence forces are inescapable. Cosmetics will not do , a visibly ‘Caring State’ is a must . General Omar Bradley once remarked. “Second rate incentives attract second rate people, but , the defence of a country can not be entrusted to second rate persons” If the ‘incentives’ don’t improve amply , defence of our country, is likely to go into the hands of second rate persons Ominously , a vital difference between “1857 Mutiny” and impending “Mental Mutiny”, is, that while the former was a leaderless one, in the latter, officers may involuntarily get involved , committed as they are to their subordinates’ welfare . This scenario can be ignored only at Govt’s own peril .
However, the situation can still be redeemed. Since all our institutions are based on the British pattern, the Indian Military’s “Precedence” , Pay and all other allied aspects should be similar to the British military vis a vis their bureaucracy. Military’s courteous conduct usually gets misconstrued as ‘Servility’. While they must continue to be true gentlemen at heart, yet, they may have to change their out ward posture. They need to be “Assertive” and “Demand” rather than “Submit”. They may have to shed their obsession with ‘Courtesy’ and invoke the “Principle of Reciprocity ” while dealing with bureaucracy. Finally , least the Services Chiefs can do is to make clear that they are NOT available for any post retirement assignment , like late Gen BC Joshi , the then Army Chief , had done.
[Brig HARWANT SINGH (Retd)]
54 , Phase -7 , Mohali (Punjab)
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