“Rebel with A Cause” – To Inspire The Gentlemen Cadets of IMA, Dehra
Dun
I am a veteran from the 48th regular course of
Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, which was literally and figuratively born
into battle. Our training was truncated and we passed out earlier than usual,
only because war was imminent. That, it did so happen on 3rd
December 1971, and we got blooded into service with a dream reception which
every soldier hopes for, was too good to be true, but it was so. 2nd
Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC was from our batch of ’71 and attained martyrdom in the
fierce tank battle fought in Jarpal, Shakargarh Sector. His last words to his
squadron commander who ordered him to leave his hit and burning AFV were, ‘My
gun is still firing. I will not leave my tank. I will get some more of these
bas..... ‘. There were others too, who made the supreme sacrifice with their
lives, for the cause and honour of the country during this war. The KHETARPAL
auditorium, which today stands across the road and complements the grandiose
CHETWOODE, overlooking the parade ground with its Victorian architectural
facade; is a befitting memorial to the courage and leadership of the young
gentleman officer and soldier Arun – a role model for the future generations of
GCs who take their ‘Last Step’ to become a commissioned officer.
Be that as it may, I am today besieged by a feeling of
extreme despondency and anxiety, at the pathetic and disgusting levels to which
functional leadership in the Army has deteriorated to; almost in keeping and
abreast with the murky, outrageous and sickening political and civil society
standards of rectitude and probity. While it is true that, India today has reached
a level of degradation, which it has never in the past, the Army has also kept
pace with such depravity in tandem and sullied its reputation in public
perception, to a painful all time low. It will be an insult to our martyrs and war
heroes, if I try and be economical with the truth, in the matter of expressing
my repugnance at the sorry and painful state of affairs, in which, the Army in
particular is embroiled with. There has been a flood of scams, involving senior
and high ranking officers of the Army, who did not for a moment bother to think
about the shame they would bring upon the institution by their scurrilous deeds
of commission. The dishonour list of such officers is replete with the names of
Generals, Lt Generals, Major Generals, Brigadiers and some Colonels; the top
rung leadership of the Army which is expected to set examples by their conduct
and behaviour, for the juniors to emulate. No alibis or else justifications in
this regard is maintainable by the guilty or else can be explained by the pseudo
social scientists , who are forever finding excuses for the existing depravity,
which consumes and completes every aspect of public life, steeped in
corruption. Hypocrisy is the hallmark of our character, from top to bottom,
without exceptions. One needs to be wary of this failing, because there is none
worse than this to destroy and annihilate character. We Indians have succumbed
to the convenience of this tendency, because it masks our intent and deeds in a
shroud of organizational respectability and social acceptability. We would rather
be ruined by praise than be saved by criticism, only because of all the lies
ever told flattery is the greatest. This is where we stand today, as
individuals and collectively, because corruption got institutionalised in
public and corporate life by the likes of Indira Gandhi and Dhirubhai Ambani,
respectively. Both very tall and recognizable names in the country, who created
their own legacies in politics and business.
The Armed Forces in general and the Army in particular,
owing to its size, expanse and role got sucked into this quagmire of venality,
like never before. Liberalisation and a vibrant resurging economy ushered in a
climate of burgeoning fiscal health with its trappings of material affluence
and a raised standard of living. The expansive middle class became greedy and
in a country where there is’ too much government and too little administration;
too many laws and too little justice; too many public servants and tool little public
service; too many controls and too little welfare’, became an ideal breeding
ground for corruption to proliferate exponentially. The leadership in the Army
too got afflicted by this malaise: where political leaders sermonised and
lectured to little purpose other than short-changing their constituency and
siphoning public monies: and military leaders similarly aggrandising themselves
from whatever advantage they can accrue, from what is available in their respective
domain. Rations, meat, eggs, equipment, stores, liquor, recruitment, regimental
and public funds, real estate, property, weapons et al have been bungled with,
misappropriated or else sold for profit. The lure of lucre has stifled the
conscience of these officers, who were/ are supposed to set examples of
rectitude and probity in their professional conduct for the others to emulate
and up hold.’ If the System violates intelligence, it is bad. If it injures
character it is vicious and if it injures the conscience it is criminal’.
With all this happening around, I am certain that it must
be equally painful for the young Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) who aspire to a
soldierly and challenging career in the Army; to choose their model from. Will
it be a one/two/three/ four starred generals, alike those who have risen to the
exalted ranks which they held/hold and got unfortunately discovered for their depravities or else the upright,
resolute, character driven and courageous officer who adorns the pages of the
glorious history of the Indian Army. For a young mind and a novitiate into the profession,
it is a decision which must find expression from the very threshold of his
military career and must continue to remain his inspiration, to live by these
principles which provide the cornerstone for military doctrine, irrespective of
the consequences thereof. No justifications of whatsoever measure or nature can
ever defend unrighteousness in one’s conduct, because principles are eternal
and remain unchanged quite unlike values which adapt to the social reality in
which we live. Therefore, it is the principles of leadership which must become
your beacon to guide and help you to grow in your career. You need to believe
in your inner self and have faith in your abilities to achieve what you wish
to, but without compromising on the essentials of character that sustains
personal leadership, quite unlike positional, which flows from rank and
authority. Only when you are willing and passionate about living life on your
terms and in keeping with the dictates of your conscience, which embraces and
celebrates human dignity and honour; will this monster of corruption and
unbecoming conduct, which thrives and fattens on 82% of the Army’s leadership
(junior and middle rung) either remaining quiet or else becoming a party to;
will be slaughtered and overcome in the coming years. It is to be confronted in
numbers collectively and with resoluteness, with sacrifices to be made, should
it so demand. But then imagine, what a memorable deed would have been done, in
displaying moral courage and conviction to stand up against any wrong, which
posterity will behold and salute; quite akin to the valour shown by 2nd
Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC – a real hero by any standards of recognition. Remember,
and as Victor Hugo said “Life, misfortunes, isolation, abandonment, poverty,
are battle grounds which have their heroes, obscure heroes, sometimes greater
than the illustrious heroes”. Make a choice to become a man of courage, who
makes his way for other’s to see and edify.
PS -: Passion For Courage – A Winner’s Creed, is a book
which was written by me and elaborates on removing the yawning gap between
precept and practice; the crux of the problem in practicing functional
leadership – the sine qua non of an Officer’s personality.
‘Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal
+919410900051
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