Left- NEW PERSONAL KIT ITEM FOR THE ARMED FORCES
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
The First Time is the Hardest
"What I don't know can't hurt me!"
Blessed are the service pers who profess ignorance about the treatment meted out to the armed forces by the 6th pay commission and its aftermath. Sitting on a distant ship/ in a field location, getting to read 4 days old news, it is easy to ignore the ignominy being harped upon the forces.
Blessed are the service pers who profess ignorance about the treatment meted out to the armed forces by the 6th pay commission and its aftermath. Sitting on a distant ship/ in a field location, getting to read 4 days old news, it is easy to ignore the ignominy being harped upon the forces.
However it is more likely that we come back in limb to a family station and come across the non functional (weren’t they always so) officers of the group/ class ‘A’ services of this great nation who have carried out a coup upon us with the active support of the elected representatives. He will look at your shoulder stripes, snicker and will try to show you losers down at the first instance. If only he could put the amount of his NF Grade pay on the plate in front of his staff car!!
The service bosses, few of them at least, objected the blatant skullduggery/ daylight robbery, but the result of the election gone by, is a clear smack on our faces by the people of this great nation whom we strive to serve with our blood. I continue to believe that the poor public was unable to look beyond their daily bread and the better bakers won the elections.
In a UN mission some years ago, I happened to inquire from an officer from a small South American nation which had a meager and ceremonial army, their strategic plan in face of hostilities from their neighbours. His reply- “We telephone Uncle Clinton”. Has this nation found a dear uncle? Or the Thakur, indeed has got for himself a ‘hijron ki fauj’.
Ours is not to question why- and so is it for our wives and children. An attentive child does notice that his father has now started getting a lower salary than Sh XYZ, who spends precisely 40 hrs per week in his official seat while his pop is out 20 days on the ship or months altogether in the field exercise. And then he notes that his father is an M-Tech from an IIT while Sh XYZ is a B-Com graduate who happened to pass a written test 15 yrs ago, the same year when his own father could not be around to witness his own birth, being involved in a border patrol.
The ‘quality of life,’ is another turn of phrase. It is good that a large no of those with such great ‘quality of life’, mostly the HQs’ lot, are getting ensnared into inquiries involving misappropriation (which got that ‘quality’ in the first place) and are asked to quit. Bye!!
Then there are “volunteer army/ welcome to leave” type HR statements, mostly coming from the half baked and ‘cautious as hell’, how-do-i-climb-0n-your-shoulder-lot. Sirs, if at the onset, you knew your HR beans, sitting on your bums at the Sena Bhavan, we would not have arrived at such a pass.
A few apologists state that a poor nation such as ours cannot afford to pay the army more even if it deserves so. But sirs, even if we die for the cause, a large no will still question the cost of our pall and suspect if we have died to collect the medal. And, in any case it is a question of proportion. Poverty needs to be shared by all govt departments and the politicians themselves
Anyway, as any psychologist will tell you, the first time is the hardest. So it has been difficult for the armed forces (at least for some of us, who can put value on the caliber of our counterparts on the civil side) to accept the blatant injustice. But in course of time we will learn to accept injustices as they come along. In due course, injustices from ___ ___ will also be taken in our stride.
I pray not.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Boot Diplomacy
"Boot Diplomacy" is a real phrase, though the context of its use differs entirely from as illustrated in the recent episode which caused a dear union minister to smell leather.
Smelling leather happens to be a traditional Indian way to wake people up from epileptic seizures and in this episode it did have the intended political effect almost immediately. But I happen to be a non-political person (as has been drilled into me on account of my profession for past 24 years) and so the cause-effect for a particular political dispensation is not the subject of this discussion but what is interesting to note is that the "Boot Diplomacy" has a quicker response than even the RTI Act.
So is it the time to write the BOOT Act-2009 to make the sloth filled and malice inclined leadership to mend its way as regarding the armed forces of this nation?
This blogger has always been a faithful advocate of the non-violent, legal method of Booting out the non-performers which is through the vote- however there is no denying the shock value of a size 10 DMS followed by the quote-
" Yeh 2.5 Kg ka BOOT jab kisi pe padta hai toh veh uthta nahin uth jata hai"- Applause!!
Just take the strategic voting path for now- DO IT! (Cut it out- No I am NOT hinting at a size 10 Nike).
Also visit http://jaagorefauji.blogspot.com/ to learn the basics.
I hold no brief for one of the major national political parties, but it has at least mentioned our grievance in its menifesto. So go through it and maybe we can vote strategically and hope for the best.
The other way is to continue being a non-entity and hope that the crumbs will be tasty, if at all, they come our way! Good Luck.
You may be interested to learn from the past election statistics- There are a whole lot of parliamentary seats which were decided by wafer thin margins. The sitting incumbent will be willing to offer you the moon and his opponent- two of them!
Read- http://acepost.blogspot.com/2008/11/where-few-votes-matter.html
You are the citizens
Smelling leather happens to be a traditional Indian way to wake people up from epileptic seizures and in this episode it did have the intended political effect almost immediately. But I happen to be a non-political person (as has been drilled into me on account of my profession for past 24 years) and so the cause-effect for a particular political dispensation is not the subject of this discussion but what is interesting to note is that the "Boot Diplomacy" has a quicker response than even the RTI Act.
So is it the time to write the BOOT Act-2009 to make the sloth filled and malice inclined leadership to mend its way as regarding the armed forces of this nation?
This blogger has always been a faithful advocate of the non-violent, legal method of Booting out the non-performers which is through the vote- however there is no denying the shock value of a size 10 DMS followed by the quote-
" Yeh 2.5 Kg ka BOOT jab kisi pe padta hai toh veh uthta nahin uth jata hai"- Applause!!
Just take the strategic voting path for now- DO IT! (Cut it out- No I am NOT hinting at a size 10 Nike).
Also visit http://jaagorefauji.blogspot.com/ to learn the basics.
I hold no brief for one of the major national political parties, but it has at least mentioned our grievance in its menifesto. So go through it and maybe we can vote strategically and hope for the best.
The other way is to continue being a non-entity and hope that the crumbs will be tasty, if at all, they come our way! Good Luck.
You may be interested to learn from the past election statistics- There are a whole lot of parliamentary seats which were decided by wafer thin margins. The sitting incumbent will be willing to offer you the moon and his opponent- two of them!
Read- http://acepost.blogspot.com/2008/11/where-few-votes-matter.html
You are the citizens
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Pillars of the Kashmir House
A few incidents, wherein senior army officers, in their official capacity, reportedly, ran foul of the majesty of law and were deemed to be in contempt of court, brings forth a long held apprehension that as the nation integrates the armed forces into the main stream, our senior functionaries will be blinded by intensity of the media glare and public scrutiny, akin to a rabbit, who tends to freeze to the spot, blinded by headlights of an incoming car .
In the recent incident, well not so recent, the DGBR (Not the incumbent) was found frozen to the spot for last 4 years. He has been found to have acted against the orders of the Gauhati High Court in not equating the SE(FG) with a full colonel. For those who have the opportunity to serve a tenure in the BRO as young subordinate officers, the strife and discord among the service and GREF oficers is amply evident as overbearing and invasive throughout the tenure.
A few naysayers would scoff, but rest assured they would be the ones who served in a Project headed by a service officer.
Coming back to the issue of the high court, (read the judgement here) or http://idse.org/judgement.pdf
(Do note the web address above- because this is from the other pillar of the corps of engineers, which may bring the (Kashmir) House down!)
You got to hand it to the hon'ble judge Roy at Gauhati. He was able to gather the intent behind the original govt notification of 2005 and sift through the ECM/ flares. Those officers who served in the BRO, circa 2005- did bring the issue of the Rajpatra (Gazette Notification) and the inner Shenanigans of the GREF clique to the attention of a few senior service officers. A layman could see the intent was to ensure that the GREF cadre officers were moved up one rank vis a vis their existing army equivalents without so much as 'by your leave' of the head of that organisation, the Director General.
The GREF officers could achieve this coup since they belong to the MoRT&H and not MoD. But the collective brasspot response was to put their heads into the ostriches’ nest. That the Notification was "only for the purpose of the Army Act", was obviously a lie floated for internal consumption. It would have been hilarious, if the matter was not this serious, that an order of the Government given in such clear language and adequately elaborated upon by the courts, could be handled such cavalierly.
IMHO, the release of this Gazette Notification in Feb 2005 was a watershed event in the history of disconnect between the armed forces and the civilian bureaucracy and along with the non compliance by the army in releasing the Muslim personnel data, (which alienated the politicians) should count as the two immediate precursors to the present 6CPC imbroglio, which has put armed forces at loggerheads with the executive.
Further, negligence of the kind exhibited in the above court case, sows sense of doubt amongst the judiciary and ultimately our masters, the common public! Surely we have a special army with bright, talented functionaries.
A Personal Aside-(From a verbal briefing by a BRO veteran!)
Remember, ye all youngsters
When under a GREF officer- the first rule of engagement is to make sure that you allow the colour of your uniform to morph into a dirty shade of khaki while at the same time scrub your inner-self so as to rid yourself of any vestige of Chatwodian principles and brotherhood of the armed forces. (Each one on his own, sir, and the most slimy, survives!).
In the recent incident, well not so recent, the DGBR (Not the incumbent) was found frozen to the spot for last 4 years. He has been found to have acted against the orders of the Gauhati High Court in not equating the SE(FG) with a full colonel. For those who have the opportunity to serve a tenure in the BRO as young subordinate officers, the strife and discord among the service and GREF oficers is amply evident as overbearing and invasive throughout the tenure.
A few naysayers would scoff, but rest assured they would be the ones who served in a Project headed by a service officer.
Coming back to the issue of the high court, (read the judgement here) or http://idse.org/judgement.pdf
(Do note the web address above- because this is from the other pillar of the corps of engineers, which may bring the (Kashmir) House down!)
You got to hand it to the hon'ble judge Roy at Gauhati. He was able to gather the intent behind the original govt notification of 2005 and sift through the ECM/ flares. Those officers who served in the BRO, circa 2005- did bring the issue of the Rajpatra (Gazette Notification) and the inner Shenanigans of the GREF clique to the attention of a few senior service officers. A layman could see the intent was to ensure that the GREF cadre officers were moved up one rank vis a vis their existing army equivalents without so much as 'by your leave' of the head of that organisation, the Director General.
The GREF officers could achieve this coup since they belong to the MoRT&H and not MoD. But the collective brasspot response was to put their heads into the ostriches’ nest. That the Notification was "only for the purpose of the Army Act", was obviously a lie floated for internal consumption. It would have been hilarious, if the matter was not this serious, that an order of the Government given in such clear language and adequately elaborated upon by the courts, could be handled such cavalierly.
IMHO, the release of this Gazette Notification in Feb 2005 was a watershed event in the history of disconnect between the armed forces and the civilian bureaucracy and along with the non compliance by the army in releasing the Muslim personnel data, (which alienated the politicians) should count as the two immediate precursors to the present 6CPC imbroglio, which has put armed forces at loggerheads with the executive.
Further, negligence of the kind exhibited in the above court case, sows sense of doubt amongst the judiciary and ultimately our masters, the common public! Surely we have a special army with bright, talented functionaries.
A Personal Aside-(From a verbal briefing by a BRO veteran!)
Remember, ye all youngsters
When under a GREF officer- the first rule of engagement is to make sure that you allow the colour of your uniform to morph into a dirty shade of khaki while at the same time scrub your inner-self so as to rid yourself of any vestige of Chatwodian principles and brotherhood of the armed forces. (Each one on his own, sir, and the most slimy, survives!).
Finally, as always-
'VOTE' to be relevent.Else continue on a wing and a prayer.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The last Refuge of the Scoundrel
For Starters:
Bravery, like beauty, lies in the eyes of the beholder.
And again like beauty, bravery can launch a thousand ships/ warriors.
The Ashok Chakra is the highest arbitrator of patriotic bravery in this country while we may consider the 'Miss India' title, its equivalent, where judging physical beauty.
IMHO, if we discount the unfortunate loss of life at Mumbai, the award of AC to the three police officers, can be counted as an exercise in political expediency whose equivalent would be an award of 'Miss India' title to Kumari Mayavati.
Now talking of politics and patriotism, a few months ago- prior to the 6CPC award, there was a lot of hullaboo on the blogs about the people of this nation sitting in towns and cities, not appreciating the sacrifices and patriotic acts of the army personnel. There were angry retorts that the servicemen are not the only patriots in the "sare jahan se achha" .
There can be no denying that patriotism is NOT a sole preserve of the armed forces and a common citizen, what to say, the common politician can be equally patriotic. However, talking of the later, did Samuel Johnson state so wonderfully (and which has been so often misunderstood) that-
Bravery, like beauty, lies in the eyes of the beholder.
And again like beauty, bravery can launch a thousand ships/ warriors.
The Ashok Chakra is the highest arbitrator of patriotic bravery in this country while we may consider the 'Miss India' title, its equivalent, where judging physical beauty.
IMHO, if we discount the unfortunate loss of life at Mumbai, the award of AC to the three police officers, can be counted as an exercise in political expediency whose equivalent would be an award of 'Miss India' title to Kumari Mayavati.
Now talking of politics and patriotism, a few months ago- prior to the 6CPC award, there was a lot of hullaboo on the blogs about the people of this nation sitting in towns and cities, not appreciating the sacrifices and patriotic acts of the army personnel. There were angry retorts that the servicemen are not the only patriots in the "sare jahan se achha" .
There can be no denying that patriotism is NOT a sole preserve of the armed forces and a common citizen, what to say, the common politician can be equally patriotic. However, talking of the later, did Samuel Johnson state so wonderfully (and which has been so often misunderstood) that-
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel"
Sirs, Samuel Johnson later clarified that what he meant by the above quote was that a vested show of patriotism by politicians is the last resort of the scoundrel.
Make no mistake, these awards are motivated, not with any noble aim of promoting a cult of bravery but by petty ulterior motive to draw votes.
Can you believe 11 Ashok Chakras in an year when the nation is not even at a (declared) war?
For sake of comparison, during 1971 Ops, the armed forces received a grand total of 4 Param Vir Chakras. There were 4 others at Kargil 1999, but then there were 7 ACs at Delhi 2002.
For those interested in records-
Does the colour of blood change in this country with the uniform you wear, the place you serve at and the media interest you generate?
If our media has been bought out by sundry awards, foreign jaunts and gifts, then who questions the misuse of gallantry awards and petty shenanigans of these scoundrels?
We all believe that, in 1991, a capable financial wizard, caused a turnaround in the Indian economy. If memory serves me right, Sh Manmohan Singh, used to accept only Re 1 as his salary as Finance Minister in the Govt of India. This was an indicator of his commitment. However his actions as a PM, in the wake of 6CPC and now the gallantry awards episode are troubling. Because two things matter to a soldier- Izzat and the value of the indicators of the Izzat.
Here is hoping that the recent bypass surgery at AIIMS would have put his heart back at the correct place.
Else let's help vote this government out.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
AN ALBATROSS AROUND OUR NECK
Now, a number of times during the past few months, our friends from IDSE have complained that since the Lt Cols are being posted as GEs which is an appointment tenated by their EEs who are in pay band 3, thus Lt Cols should also be in PB3. Logical! But is it?
Imagine a scenario- India is involved in large scale, extended hostilities with its major adversary. There is a need to make up the deficient force level and raise and mobilise new units. What will the government do?
Recollect similar situation from the world wars. Circa 1942, Maj Charles Orde Wingate, a career soldier becomes Brig Wingate, almost overnight. And he was not an isolated case. Not by far. The combatant officers under him, were government employees from the other departments- freshly trained and equipped with a smart haircut. Maybe one of the Engineer Platoon Cdrs is a director from CPWD, and another is a Superintending Engineer of the transport department who may, after a crash course, is made the Tank Tp commander. Their peace time pay is protected while they don uniform of a lower rank.
Plausible and practical? Or would these gentlemen insist to be placed in command of a unit being equal in status to a full colonel?
Thus, the experience and continuity in a particular type of job, is also a contributing factor for placing the officer on a lower job profile while on posting to a works tenure or a deputation while his pay is protected. Hence a Lt Col, posted as GE, gets the pay of a Lt Col. How is the Govt standing to lose anything by this arrangement?
It is clear that the great Dr Kohli, gold Medal Economics, LSE, has been taken on a right royal ride.
Anyway, that time of reconciliation is now passe. I sincerely request the powers that be to rid ourselves of this millstone around our neck, but do not throw the bathtub along with this stillborn baby (IDSE). We can yet save this organization (MES).
For the uninitiated-
The issues with the IDSE lobby and the service officers of the Corps of Engineers in MES is a long standing and acrimonious one.
At various times in the past, the IDSE lot has approached the courts with their grievances, but have been returned suitably admonished. This has been amply elaborated by Navdeep over the past few months.
Therefore, this time around, they have 'reportedly' resorted to some serious gratification in the power circles with the AFHQCS acting as willing conduits.
Now, the kind of statement which has been reportedly issued by the PMO- seems to be a pitiful dictation by this IDSE/AFHQCS lobby, who were throwing words like "combat ready" during informal tea time banter, much prior to the actual release of the PMO's decision on 01 Jan .
It is now incumbent upon the fraternity of uniformed citizens to realise that this motivated act will not affect the Corps of Engineers officers in MES units, as such, since that department is directly under the E-in-C's Br. Further, officers regularly undergo battle field proficiency tests (BPET) and are appraised annually by at least one service officer (as IO/ RO/ SRO) on the same CR parameters as would an officer who is on combat duties. But on the other hand, feel for the unwitting infantarian who would have hoped for a bit of a chance to spend some quality time with his family at a DRDO/ DGQA/ Ordnance Factory campus after a grueling tenure with RR.
This makes this act of theirs unpardonable.
Imagine a scenario- India is involved in large scale, extended hostilities with its major adversary. There is a need to make up the deficient force level and raise and mobilise new units. What will the government do?
Recollect similar situation from the world wars. Circa 1942, Maj Charles Orde Wingate, a career soldier becomes Brig Wingate, almost overnight. And he was not an isolated case. Not by far. The combatant officers under him, were government employees from the other departments- freshly trained and equipped with a smart haircut. Maybe one of the Engineer Platoon Cdrs is a director from CPWD, and another is a Superintending Engineer of the transport department who may, after a crash course, is made the Tank Tp commander. Their peace time pay is protected while they don uniform of a lower rank.
Plausible and practical? Or would these gentlemen insist to be placed in command of a unit being equal in status to a full colonel?
Thus, the experience and continuity in a particular type of job, is also a contributing factor for placing the officer on a lower job profile while on posting to a works tenure or a deputation while his pay is protected. Hence a Lt Col, posted as GE, gets the pay of a Lt Col. How is the Govt standing to lose anything by this arrangement?
It is clear that the great Dr Kohli, gold Medal Economics, LSE, has been taken on a right royal ride.
Anyway, that time of reconciliation is now passe. I sincerely request the powers that be to rid ourselves of this millstone around our neck, but do not throw the bathtub along with this stillborn baby (IDSE). We can yet save this organization (MES).
For the uninitiated-
The issues with the IDSE lobby and the service officers of the Corps of Engineers in MES is a long standing and acrimonious one.
At various times in the past, the IDSE lot has approached the courts with their grievances, but have been returned suitably admonished. This has been amply elaborated by Navdeep over the past few months.
Therefore, this time around, they have 'reportedly' resorted to some serious gratification in the power circles with the AFHQCS acting as willing conduits.
Now, the kind of statement which has been reportedly issued by the PMO- seems to be a pitiful dictation by this IDSE/AFHQCS lobby, who were throwing words like "combat ready" during informal tea time banter, much prior to the actual release of the PMO's decision on 01 Jan .
It is now incumbent upon the fraternity of uniformed citizens to realise that this motivated act will not affect the Corps of Engineers officers in MES units, as such, since that department is directly under the E-in-C's Br. Further, officers regularly undergo battle field proficiency tests (BPET) and are appraised annually by at least one service officer (as IO/ RO/ SRO) on the same CR parameters as would an officer who is on combat duties. But on the other hand, feel for the unwitting infantarian who would have hoped for a bit of a chance to spend some quality time with his family at a DRDO/ DGQA/ Ordnance Factory campus after a grueling tenure with RR.
This makes this act of theirs unpardonable.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
RISE- Sardar Manmohan Singh 'Rangeela'
It is often stated that those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.
Let me recollect for you what brought about the demise of the Mughal Empire- an empire which had 22% of the world's GDP at that time (Much greater fraction than the US has presently). Its coffers were full, its reputation of being the 'Sone ki Chiddiya' brought traders from across the world to seek their fortune here.
A seminal historical research by William Irvine, ICS- The Later Mughals,Vol -II- published by MC.Sircar & Sons-1922, elucidates that it was when famed mughal warriors became jobbers and 'izzat' became a hypothetical word laughed at by the courtiers of the Delhi fort.
This was the difference between the armies of Nadir Shah of Persia and our Mohammad Shah 'Rangeela' in 1739 when the Indian empire was routed inside a single day.
The Indian empire had the larger army but the foolish emperor was misled throughout by his ministers and the wholetime civil servants of Delhi. Finally he had no army loyal to himself and was left dependent on his ministers who had their own agendas.
Kohli - What you are doing is converting a whole generation of warriors into jobbers-
We had offered to forego part of our Military Service Pay in exchange of the correct Grade Pay, so that no one accuses us to be after money. An individual can chuck the Army career but can the Army chuck the Nation. No- Not even if you pay us nothing. But this you won't understand because we have seen you as a blatant politician lying through your teeth to save your government on more than one occasion.
Beware , Your folly may compel the future historian to judge you as another 'Rangeela'.
And those countrymen gloating in the new-found economic prosperity- Just remember- The Shah took everything in ransom.
The State Secretary's figures are of the highest authority :
Gold and silver plate and cash ... ... 30 krors
Jewels ... ... ... ... 25 ,,
The Peacock Throne and nine other thrones, also several weapons and utensils all garnished with precious stones ... 9 ,,
Rich manufactures ... ... ... 2 ,,
Cannon, stores, furniture ... 4 ,,
Total ... ... 70 krors
In addition to these, 300 elephants, 10,000 horses and the same number of camels were taken away.
Should I also mention that after Mohammad Shah Rangeela died in 1748, the next emperor, Ahmed Shah, was blinded and deposed by his own chief minister and his successor, Alamgir II, was used and then murdered by the same minister.
GOOD LUCK my beloved nation
Let me recollect for you what brought about the demise of the Mughal Empire- an empire which had 22% of the world's GDP at that time (Much greater fraction than the US has presently). Its coffers were full, its reputation of being the 'Sone ki Chiddiya' brought traders from across the world to seek their fortune here.
A seminal historical research by William Irvine, ICS- The Later Mughals,Vol -II- published by MC.Sircar & Sons-1922, elucidates that it was when famed mughal warriors became jobbers and 'izzat' became a hypothetical word laughed at by the courtiers of the Delhi fort.
This was the difference between the armies of Nadir Shah of Persia and our Mohammad Shah 'Rangeela' in 1739 when the Indian empire was routed inside a single day.
The Indian empire had the larger army but the foolish emperor was misled throughout by his ministers and the wholetime civil servants of Delhi. Finally he had no army loyal to himself and was left dependent on his ministers who had their own agendas.
Kohli - What you are doing is converting a whole generation of warriors into jobbers-
We had offered to forego part of our Military Service Pay in exchange of the correct Grade Pay, so that no one accuses us to be after money. An individual can chuck the Army career but can the Army chuck the Nation. No- Not even if you pay us nothing. But this you won't understand because we have seen you as a blatant politician lying through your teeth to save your government on more than one occasion.
Beware , Your folly may compel the future historian to judge you as another 'Rangeela'.
And those countrymen gloating in the new-found economic prosperity- Just remember- The Shah took everything in ransom.
The State Secretary's figures are of the highest authority :
Gold and silver plate and cash ... ... 30 krors
Jewels ... ... ... ... 25 ,,
The Peacock Throne and nine other thrones, also several weapons and utensils all garnished with precious stones ... 9 ,,
Rich manufactures ... ... ... 2 ,,
Cannon, stores, furniture ... 4 ,,
Total ... ... 70 krors
In addition to these, 300 elephants, 10,000 horses and the same number of camels were taken away.
Should I also mention that after Mohammad Shah Rangeela died in 1748, the next emperor, Ahmed Shah, was blinded and deposed by his own chief minister and his successor, Alamgir II, was used and then murdered by the same minister.
GOOD LUCK my beloved nation
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