"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
Showing posts with label army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label army. Show all posts
Thursday, April 9, 2009
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
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Together- We Can
It will be foolish to assume that after the happenings of the last couple of months, the GOM will be not clear about any aspect of our pay status vis a vis any other service of the govt. These gents can sell ice to an eskimo and to think that they require any further explanation on this issue will be surely living in a fools paradise.
In the past two months here, we have shown varied emotions to a singular problem- bewildered, scandalised, sanguine, hopeful, in denial, flustered, desperate, rebellious, hapless and even resigned....
I hope, for the sake of our training, we do not approach an operation with this variety. Remember to Vote sensibly and vote together so that we stay relevent to safeguard the izzat and future of services
In the past two months here, we have shown varied emotions to a singular problem- bewildered, scandalised, sanguine, hopeful, in denial, flustered, desperate, rebellious, hapless and even resigned....
I hope, for the sake of our training, we do not approach an operation with this variety. Remember to Vote sensibly and vote together so that we stay relevent to safeguard the izzat and future of services
In the coming general elections service pers have options to
A) Vote at their native place or
B) vote at their place of service
Take a constituency such as Dehradun, Pune, Chandigarh where reasonable No of Sevice pers have settled. Also these stns host large services establishments. Take a station with 20000 service pers posted . All be requested to vote for one common candidate, say 'X'. Now if this major stn is also the native place/ place of settlement to another 20,000 service pers and their families, All to nominate one single Indl as the nominee for their proxy vote. The indl is further instructed to vote for the chosen candidate 'X'.
We shall have a bank of 40,000 votes at these places. This is adequate to make these people sit and listen. Isrealies do it all the time. The question is Can we look ahead together or we expect alms from the ungrateful
Sunday, November 23, 2008
PB-4 or Not
PB-4 or not.
army's got to vote
It keeps the leaders tight
It is our democratic right
One of nation's greatest institutions
Groans under sundry insinuations
blokes,get ready to fight
It is our democratic right
Vested Interests, aiming to shame
Maybe our own past antipathy to blame
But atleast now, see the light
It is our democratic right
It is a debilitating game
Don't be a beggar, lame
The future will be bright
It is our democratic right
PB-4 or not.
army's got to vote
It keeps the leaders tight
It is our democratic right.
army's got to vote
It keeps the leaders tight
It is our democratic right
One of nation's greatest institutions
Groans under sundry insinuations
blokes,get ready to fight
It is our democratic right
Vested Interests, aiming to shame
Maybe our own past antipathy to blame
But atleast now, see the light
It is our democratic right
It is a debilitating game
Don't be a beggar, lame
The future will be bright
It is our democratic right
PB-4 or not.
army's got to vote
It keeps the leaders tight
It is our democratic right.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Where a few votes matter
I wondered, if the armed forces had two assured votes in the Lok Sabha (very much in the realms of possibility), and the govt was surviving on a razor edge, as this one does, would it have dared to be so insensitive and moreover, unjust.
I have listed a few constituencies where we can make a significant impact. These are not necessarily the closest fought (Which Incidently is Lakshdweep where the difference was a mere 71 Votes) but from where we can expect a sizable no of Service Voters and Veterans and their families.
Closest Lok Sabha Results- 2004
Katihar (Bihar) NK CHOUDHARY (BJP) SHAH TARIQ ANWAR (NCP) 2565 Votes
Amreli (Guj) VIRJIBHAI THUMMAR (INC) DILEEP SANGHANI (BJP) 2030 Votes
Dohad (Guj) Babubhai Katara (BJP) Dr PK Taviyad (INC) 361 Votes
Hamirpur (Himachal) SURESH CHANDEL (BJP) THAKUR RAM LAL (INC) 1625 Votes
Rajmahal (Jharkhand) HEMLAL MURMU(JMM) THOMAS HANSDA (INC) 2974 Votes
Alleppey (Kerala) DR K S MANOJ (CPM) V M SUDHEERAN (INC) 1009 Votes
Muvattupuzha (Kerala) ADV P C THOMAS (IFDP)ADV P M ISMAIL (CPM) 529 Votes
Osmanabad (Maharashtra KR NARHIRE (Shiv Sena) LK DHOBALE (NCP) 1649 Votes
Aligarh (UP) BIJENDRA SINGH (INC) SHEELA GAUTAM (BJP) 2791 Votes
Chail (UP) SHAILENDRA KUMAR (SP) VACHASPATI (BSP) 630 Votes
Farrukhabad (UP) CHANDRA BHUSHAN SINGH (SP) LOUISE KHURSHID (INC) 2745 Votes
There are another 20 seats where the difference was less than 20000.
I hope you understand, it is POSSIBLE, only thing is to awaken now. Take the trouble to register yourself and the families.
I have listed a few constituencies where we can make a significant impact. These are not necessarily the closest fought (Which Incidently is Lakshdweep where the difference was a mere 71 Votes) but from where we can expect a sizable no of Service Voters and Veterans and their families.
Closest Lok Sabha Results- 2004
Tumkur (Kar) Mallikarjunaiah S(BJP) Jagadeesh D L(JD(Secular)) 2351 Votes
Raichur (Kar) Venkatesh Naik A (INC) Raja Madangopal Nayak(JD(Secular)) 508 Votes
Hindupur(Andhra) Nizamuddin (INC) B.K.Pardhasarathi (TDP) 1840 VotesKatihar (Bihar) NK CHOUDHARY (BJP) SHAH TARIQ ANWAR (NCP) 2565 Votes
Amreli (Guj) VIRJIBHAI THUMMAR (INC) DILEEP SANGHANI (BJP) 2030 Votes
Dohad (Guj) Babubhai Katara (BJP) Dr PK Taviyad (INC) 361 Votes
Hamirpur (Himachal) SURESH CHANDEL (BJP) THAKUR RAM LAL (INC) 1625 Votes
Rajmahal (Jharkhand) HEMLAL MURMU(JMM) THOMAS HANSDA (INC) 2974 Votes
Alleppey (Kerala) DR K S MANOJ (CPM) V M SUDHEERAN (INC) 1009 Votes
Muvattupuzha (Kerala) ADV P C THOMAS (IFDP)ADV P M ISMAIL (CPM) 529 Votes
Osmanabad (Maharashtra KR NARHIRE (Shiv Sena) LK DHOBALE (NCP) 1649 Votes
Aligarh (UP) BIJENDRA SINGH (INC) SHEELA GAUTAM (BJP) 2791 Votes
Chail (UP) SHAILENDRA KUMAR (SP) VACHASPATI (BSP) 630 Votes
Farrukhabad (UP) CHANDRA BHUSHAN SINGH (SP) LOUISE KHURSHID (INC) 2745 Votes
There are another 20 seats where the difference was less than 20000.
I hope you understand, it is POSSIBLE, only thing is to awaken now. Take the trouble to register yourself and the families.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
