Do As I Do and Not As I Say

Ladies and Gentlemen – A Man Of Courage and Convictions – Lt Col Arun Jha

It was a welcome surprise to have Lt Col (retd) Arun Jha, the author of General Salute, Manas Publications, come over to our apartment E – 102 Arborea Luxury Homes, Dehra Dun 248001 this evening. It was my first meeting with him and after having absorbed his physical presence and getting over the initial customary courtesies, Arun settled himself into the plush and expansive couch beside the wide Fenesta sliding window, in the southern end of our modest and spacious sitting room. I sat opposite him in a refurbished straight backed single seat sofa, having English patterned subtle and bright upholstery encasing it and was separated by a wide square teak - wood low table. Arun immediately got into a relaxed mood, bereft of any unbecoming and hypocritical formality, which consumes two strangers, when they meet for the first time. Our purpose, which we had earlier spoken and shared, probably induced and elicited that response from him, as it did in me. He and I were together, to discuss the contents of his book ‘General Salute’, which was released on 9^th April in Delhi. The officer who is a Psc, LLB and MBA, an alumnus of the NDA and IMA and was commissioned into 2^nd Rajput regiment in 1988, took premature retirement from the Army in 2008, after being finally superseded for promotion; owing to his penchant for probity and refusal to accede to a directive from his commandant to sign an impugned Board of Officers proceeding, which was steeped in financial impropriety. And he paid a price for it, for he was done in by his courage to stand up to and against this wrong doing. The cruel, demanding and wimp of a System, which unfortunately sides with and identifies with rank, was unwilling to uphold and acknowledge his contention, as addressed in his grievance. His passion to be ennobled by a higher truth and virtue than a cringing loyalty to his impervious and unrighteous superior, became his misfortune. I believed him without an iota of doubt, only because truth has an innate ability of establishing itself even without a hint of evidence or else corroborating proof, to assert its presence. It resonates in the quality and clarity of one’s voice and gets seen in the steadiness of the gaze of the person; which has always been my barometer for estimating the veracity of a statement or else a narrative. I was never belied in my manner and method of gauging the truth, because it is intuitive.

I was completely consumed by the deportment, vocabulary, honesty, intent and body language of Arun, while he narrated to me the motivation and purpose to write the book ‘General Salute’, which essentially and in substantial measure removes the blanket from the real persona of the man who occupied the exalted and enviable office of the Chief of Army Staff, till 30^th May 2012, General (retd )VK Singh . As his adjutant in the regiment ie 2^nd Rajput, with just about five years of service, Arun had taken the retired General to the Allahabad High Court, on a matter of principles. It was to vindicate his prestige and place in the regiment, as a regimental officer, that Arun took the extreme and drastic measure to rein in his Commanding Officer from misusing his authority to snuff out any dissent from brewing in the unit, even when it was sustained by an arbitrary and megalomaniacal behaviour of the latter. An unfortunate, but nonetheless brave and upright act flowing from the depths of his formidable and resolute spine; an exception and a rarity in the present times of ‘cringing servility’.  The honourable court’s judgement in the matter constitutes a chapter in the Book. I was easily able to identify with the officer’s conclusions, in most matters of unbecoming and reprehensible conduct of superior officers who wield authority, only because destiny had provided me with a life changing and elevating opportunity to dare the System, without for once measuring the depth of the whirlpool I had plunged myself into and stood for what I considered right and righteous in the given circumstances. Arun’s sense of righteous anger at the failing standards of rectitude and probity in the Army, in recent years, has urged him to write and publish ‘General Salute’, a daring, soldierly and character driven attempt to say things as they are, even while V K Singh was in office and was play acting with his motivated and telling articulations, about his desire to accost and punish wrong doing in the Army. According to Arun, it was theatre at its best, indeed an’ Oscar’ winning performance from a thespian of drama. VK Singh had mastered the art of the impossible in his eventful years of service and literally cocked a snook at authority, by riding on the infirmities of the human mind: working in an autocratic and hierarchical organization, such as the Army.

Arun’s narration of his feelings and views on the existing murky and distasteful environment obtaining in the Army, and his daring to confront it chest on, is a prognosis for hope and good to soon descend upon the young leadership of the Services and the Army; who are bound to be affected by the honesty of purpose and selflessness in his writing, and will be emboldened to bite the bullet against all and any wrong doings: especially those of their superiors, who either shamelessly exploit and misuse the credulity of their subordinates or else entice them with a quid pro quo, ensuring their prosperity, any which way. This is exactly what Field Marshal Viscount Slim had in mind when he said that “Leadership is a very personal matter: should it be spoken about, then it must surely be from one’s own experience or else it is rhetoric”. Arun is one of those rare examples of such leadership, which is premised on moral courage and borrows from the nobility of genuine soldierly virtues, than shameful and disgusting hypocrisy of double standards in public life.

It was interesting to learn from the author of the book ‘General Salute’ that, the veteran and inveterate soldier and officer that Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha is, was quite upset with his effort of writing and publishing the book, which exposes the truth that obtains in our Army. Because, in his estimate of things, it would be derogatory to the prestige and élan of the Army and hence was quite a fatuous and unworthy effort. But then, the freedom to put things in their correct perspective and benefit the organization at large is a matter of opinion, which deserves respect, either which way. While we may be as savage as we can to accept another’s view point, but it must not impinge upon his freedom to say so and vice versa. The book will become an eye opener for the younger generation of officers, who have not as yet been subverted by venality and been engulfed by the cancer of corruption, to take hope in their prerogative to act in keeping with the dictates of their conscience and seize the first opportunity, which comes their way to act with courage, character and competence – the philosophy of a ‘rebel with a cause’.  ‘General Salute’ should be a possession, with the young and courageous officer’s of our glorious and professional Army, which will inspire them to act with righteous indignation and a show of spine in the most adverse of circumstances and situations demanding moral courage; where victory is just waiting for them around the corner and may slip from their grasp should they succumb to any modicum of analysis, which will result in a paralysis to act. It may as well become a ‘Bible of Courage’, quite akin and analogous to the ‘Celestial Song”, which spurred a warrior prince to act against evil and wrong, some five thousand years ago. I drew courage from my own teachings and beliefs during my service career and defied the System to punish TRUTH, even when the Organization closed its ranks upon me: only because I was sustained in my fight against that,which is not right and honourable for a gentleman and an officer.

The choice for the young and inquiring leadership of the Army is to make a choice between reading ‘General Salute’ or else what is a biopic written by one ex Chief, which does not inspire me. Because, I have seen his conduct from close quarters, while he was in chair – quite mediocre, vacuous and flamboyant, and nothing more than ordinary to elicit any kind of admiration for him, or else his contribution to the Army . Happy Reading and become the game changer of the future, should you not want to wallow in self pity for not acting when the time was appropriate and conducive, and continue to show Dutch courage in the only moral preserve of the Forces – the ubiquitous BAR in the officer’s mess.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051.       

Kalmadi gets my goat, save us from his...

DO NOT ALLOW SURESH KALMADI TO HAVE THE LAST LAUGH – IT WILL HURT NATIONAL PRIDE

The audacity of Suresh Kalmadi, the shamed Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, New Delhi for cocking a snook at authority by requesting the Prime Minister of the country to sack the Sports Minister, Mr Ajay Maken; who in an upfront and just manner expressed his exasperation at the disgraced and discredited sports administrator, proceeding to witness the London Olympics 2012 as an invitee of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), is in the realm of vacuous and reprehensible stupidity. A case of the Devil citing the scripture.  The ignominious Kalmadi, who is out on bail given to him by the courts, while having cooled his heels in Tihar Jail for well over nine months, for alleged charges of blatant corruption and financial impropriety in the organization and conduct of the said Commonwealth Games; has the smirk reminiscent of another lesser sports administrator ex DGP Haryana, Shamboo Singh Rathore, who has accosted public wrath in the Ruchika Girhotra case of molestation and abetment to suicide: and coming on the electronic media to pompously plead and defend his right to attend the Games as the head of the Asian Athletics Association. The by now contemptible Kalmadi, who has the sole distinction of institutionalising corruption in sports at the highest level of its organization; deviously managing the accredited members of the National Sports Federations to support and vote for his candidature as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for the past 15 years or so, by offering them undeserving freebies and sops which are influenced, commanded or else available to him as the President IOA, and using the shenanigans of his political mind to upstage any competition whatsoever  from any quarter of sporting or else administrative excellence – are some of his inglorious accomplishments.

Suresh, it hurts my pride as an Indian and a sports aficionado of yesteryears, when I see your face on either the print or electronic media, in the context of anything which has to do with sports at any level; what to talk of International and Olympic Games. Do you not have an iota of shame and whatever self respect that there may be left in your thick and portly mien, to appreciate and understand the mood and feelings of the sports loving nation which holds you in absolute contempt for your greed, arrogance, incompetence and love for wine, women and song. The problem with you has always been that, your conceit and arrogance has foolishly made you to believe that you are the know all and be all of sports administration and management in the country; which was born of your belief that like in politics, sports too is administered by those who have nothing better to do in life and hence are available to exploitation by becoming a lackey, sooner than later, depending on what you were willing to offer to them from amongst the three Ws. With the moneys that is available with and to a person of your business acumen and the shameful political status which you have in a decrepit democracy such as ours, where septuagenarian politicians are a rule than an exception; it is no wonder that you disgraced the legacy of such people like Raja Bhalihdra Singh (ex president IOA) and brought the august position to International ignominy. There is no doubt that you will have a joyous rendezvous with many of your International sports administrator friends and supporters, including Michael Fennel, who entrusted you with the organization of the now infamous Commonwealth Games, with its mismanagement and humongous embezzlement of the  Indian tax payer’s money; should the government of India not intervene and declare you a national embarrassment – unfit and unworthy of being present there as a recognizable and known face from India, who hogged the limelight with the most stupendous Commonwealth Games, being hosted just  about a  year and a half back.

It is my hope that Kalmadi, whose presence in London during the Games will be extremely discomfiting for our athletes, should he manoeuvre his disgraced self into the presence of our contingent, which he will, and which will have many of his lackeys in it as delegates and officials: will be seized of the hurt that he will cause to the people of the country, whose sense of individual and national pride and dignity will be hugely compromised and as such, do a great service by regretting the invite from the IAAF. Should this not happen then the Prime Minister for once must show courage and prevail upon this man to either willingly decline to go to London or else put the provisions available to him within the scope of his government’s authority to stall his departure to coincide with the London Games. How can a man who is considered to be involved in corruption and loot of public money, preen about in front of the media and scorn the people of India by talking nineteen to the dozen on and about his not being charged or framed by the courts of the land and hence not being guilty of any financial misdemeanour; insult our collective intelligence under the guise of the long drawn and politically motivated investigations and trials, which seldom convict politicians. Mr Prime Minister, your sagacity and claim to probity and rectitude in your personal and public life is on test, in the instant matter of taking cognizance of the angst of the people whom you represent as its first executive and seize the initiative to act, by not permitting the disgraced and shamed Suresh Kalmadi to leave the country and who knows? Even present medals to Indian athletes who achieve a podium finish. There cannot be a greater tragedy for Indian sports and national pride. Where are we getting to as a Nation???.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051

Olympic Series

Olympics – 1996 Atlanta

To celebrate the Centennial Games, something more than a show choreographed by Americans, for Americans – even a faultlessly organized show – was needed. However, this was anything but...

The selection of Atlanta to host the 1996 Games was met with scepticism and disapproval: the United States again, and barely twelve years after Los Angeles. There was logic in the choice: the American chain CBS alone provided US $ 456 million of the US $ 898 million dollars in rights revenues. Atlanta is also the seat of Coca – Cola, faithful partner of the Games. However, the logic of the decision was seen by many to be deeply flawed.

But there were other symbols at play. Atlanta is the native city of Martin Luther King, the Baptist pastor with a dream who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. And in this Southern city, it was a black man, Muhammad Ali, who lit the Olympic cauldron. He was crowned world champion in Rome, under the name of Cassius Clay, and then went on to win the world over with his talent and charisma. And it was two black athletes, Michael Johnson and Marie – Jose Peree, who pulled off the most magnificent feats of the fortnight.

Yet for all the jostling imagery, the Atlanta Games will be remembered for overcrowded and chaotic transport, a defective computer system, poorly – prepared and often incompetent on – site volunteers, a disturbingly biased crowd and an extremely mercenary attitude, especially around the Olympic Park. This was the site of a bomb explosion early on 27 July, which left one person dead and more than one hundred injured. It was as if Atlanta had to pay the price for its original sin: being chosen for the Centennial Games, ahead of Athens.

Michael Johnson: ‘I Wanted to Go Down in History’

Thanks to his incredible 19.32, Michael Johnson won the Olympic Gold and broke his own world record – all just three days after winning the 400 meters. Having been knocked out of the competition in the semi finals in Barcelona, owing to food poisoning, his Atlanta double represented revenge and relief. Michael had bettered his world record of 19.65 by .33 seconds, a huge improvement by any yardstick. The track was fast and he ran real fast after a less than ideal start, in fact he nearly fell over when he came off the blocks.  Michael, who idolised Jesse Owens, received a letter from his widow Ruth, after the American trials; and from the first round of the 400 meters to the final of the 200 meters that letter never left him. He was under enormous pressure and that is what brought the best from him. Winning the double of 200 and 400 meters in the Olympics and beating the world and Games record was deserving of a place in history.

Perec Becomes a Legend

Even before completing her fabulous 200 and 400 meters double, Marie – Jose became the first athlete to retain her 400 meter title. It all started in 1991, when she won the 400 meters in the World Championships in Tokyo. In Barcelona she was the favourite, a role which she assumed perfectly. The 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart gave her the opportunity to satisfy her appetite for challenge. She ran the 200 meters, but finished fourth. In 1994 she moved from Paris to Los Angeles and joined the stable of legendary sprint coach John Smith. With this champion maker, she learnt self management, discipline and relaxation. Normally so tense before each race, so anxious she made herself ill, Perec learned to control her nerves. With the help of John Smith’s relaxation techniques, Perec became a different woman. On 29 July, by retaining her Olympic title in a race she dominated, Marie Jose Perec became a legend. A legend of a little girl with long, thin legs, who became the best athlete in the world in her discipline.

The Legend of King Lewis

Carl Lewis at the age of thirty five, took home his fourth long jump Gold medal, and his ninth in all, making him truly the athlete of the century. If someone wrote a novel based on his life, it would have all the ingredients of a bestseller. A career inspiring hate and respect. Blood, sweat and tears, often of happiness, sometimes of despair. Nothing would be missing. He has even left posterity a stunning photographic record. Fredrick Carleton McKinley Lewis, born July 1 1961, Birmingham, Alabama gave the world a new image, one of almost childlike emotion, on the podium where he received his Ninth Gold Medal of his phenomenal career. After jumping 8.50 meters, he became the quadruple Olympic champion, a feat which only discus thrower Al Oerter had achieved.

Me Sacha – Not Tarzan

As he did in Barcelona, Aleksandr Popov completed the 50 and 100 meters double, a feat achieved before him only by Johnny Weismuller, Tarzan. Beating the Americans on their home turf became an obsession, which he did by taking on Gary Hall of USA and winning the 100 meters. If ever one day one wanted to convert somebody to swimming, he should have shown them Aleksandr ‘Sacha’ Popov in action. Popov has all the qualities of the perfect swimmer, from the physique, the formidable strength in his arms and legs, the giant arm span, and perfect technique, described by Mark Spitz as ‘the genius of action’. Popov has two further qualities without which even the most talented swimmer will never become a champion: intelligence, and the dogged determination that allowed him to push an excellent Gary Hall, his American rival, out of the way, just as he had Matt Biondi four years ago.

The End of a Mighty Reign

Miguel Indurain bowed out with Gold against the clock. Modern sport is fertile ground for icons and myth - making, and especially cycling – that gruelling, grinding, solitary effort that attracts the obsessed and the bloody minded. After Chris Boardman in the Barcelona Games, four years later, an even greater cycling icon was brought to the Atlanta Games, carefully packaged inside the ribcage of that Spanish colossus, Miguel Indurain. At rest, Indurain’s massive heart was said to beat 28 times per minute. At peak performance it multiplied its spasms by more than seven times to 210 beats per minute. This remarkable organ, fuelled by great, flotation - tank lungs with a capacity of eight litres, lay at the centre of one of the most extraordinary physiques in sporting history. As if this incredible engine was not enough, Indurain was impervious to stress. The voracious hunger that brought him five consecutive Tour de France wins between 1991 and 1995 was disguised beneath an exterior that was reminiscent of nothing so much as a huge, friendly whale. In the summer of 1996 he had relinquished his Tour de France crown and finished eleventh, exhausted. Only a personal appeal from his Spanish compatriot Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) persuaded him to travel to Atlanta.

Karelin Saves Russia’s Pride

Even in front of his home crowd, Siamek ‘Matt’ Ghaffari, USA was powerless to stop Aleksandr Karelin, undefeated since 1989. Karelin lived up to his reputation, bringing back his third Olympic Gold medal in a row. Nothing less was expected of him, although a lot more was expected his Russian team – mates, far less dominant than envisaged. On the last day of the Greco – Roman wrestling, Matt Ghaffari the American born in Teheran, Iran, faced the Russian ogre Karelin. Ghaffari entered the mat to the strains of the theme from ‘Rocky’. Karelin walked undaunted by the wildly pro – Ghaffari crowd. Neither 130 kg super – heavyweight held back, and colossal blow followed colossal blow. ‘To beat Karelin, you’d have to be King – Kong’, explained Ghaffari after his defeat, with humour and respect in equal measure.  

The Games In Brief

Opening Date                                                19 July 1996

Closing Date                                                   4 August 1996

Host Nation                                                    USA

Nations Represented                                    197

Athletes                                                           10,320 (3,523 women, 6,797 men)

Sports                                                               27 (21 open to women)

Events                                                               271 (108 open to women)

Games Opened By                                          Bill Clinton, President USA

Olympic Flame Lit By                                      Muhammad Ali (boxing)

Olympic Oath Read By                                   Teresa Edwards (basketball)

IOC President                                                   Juan Antonio Samaranch (Esp)

Yachtsman Hubert Raudaschi of Austria became the first athlete to compete in nine Olympics, having first taken part in the Tokyo Games in 1964.

PS -: Matter researched from the archives of the Olympic Games museum in Lausanne.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

Extraordinary situations demand extraordinary actions.

LET THE VETERANS GIVE A VOICE TO THE CONCERNS OF THE FORCES – AKIN TO THE CIVIL SOCIETY MOVEMENT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT

The series of scams which have been put forth in the public domain;  courtesy the active and alert media, is an encouraging indicator of democracy maturing in the country and the growing middle class influencing and shaping  public opinion, like never before. While, social activism is and activists are, relentless in their single point pursuit of battling the nuisance and bane of corruption in public life, the NGO India against Corruption, under the stewardship of the soldier and veteran Anna Hazare, has brought this issue under acute focus. Notwithstanding the adamantine and obdurate polity, which continues to duck, obfuscate and sidetrack the subject, as it obtains in the people’s perception: Anna Hazare and his band of selfless followers continue to engage and badger the government, on the matter of passing a worthy and potent Lok Pal Bill and enact it as law. Moreover, the democratic process which goes into action every five years, to elect the people’s representatives, weighs on the minds of the political parties to carry out midcourse corrections to their policies, with the intent to respond to public demands for better governance. Thus, with the continuous apprehension of losing power, the government is slowly arm twisted into obedience and dutiful action to address the concerned issues. Even with the thought that the situation is not ideal and leaves a lot of room for improvement, there is hope for the future, because the burgeoning middle class stimulated by a resurgent and stable economy, is likely to enlarge its base and make a significant impact on the outcome of the elections – hopefully for the better.

While that is so, there is a need of something on very similar lines to be done with regard to the armed forces in general and the army in particular. The armed forces being a hierarchical and an autocratic organization enjoy absolute authority and power for good reason, which is unfortunately identified with rank alone; but when the same is overstepped and misused, it goes into a virtual Ferris wheel like trajectory – without a beginning and an end, impossible to stop, lest the power is cut/switched off. This analogy applies to the forces, because herein authority flows from top downwards, and while there are rules and regulations to cite and uphold by the subordinates, in the face of any untoward/unlawful/venal/immoral happening, the prudence and courage to abide by the same is generally absent. As it will tantamount to a virtual ‘hara-kiri’ for one’s career growth and professional prosperity. Let this be explained at greater length for easy understanding. When the senior leadership of the forces becomes bereft of rectitude and probity in their professional and private life and yet remain in authority over the subordinates; whom they assess and judge for potential growth within the organization and the ubiquitous system: who will then bite the bullet to stand up against the wrong doers who shape and promote careers and fulfil ill gotten ambition. There was a time when I was told and believed that, to cleanse and purge the system, one will necessarily have to do it from within, but today I stand corrected on my belief, in the wake of shameful wrong doing happening unabated, despite any amount of clarion calls by the authorities to stand up against what is morally and ethically undermining. This is not going to happen, for the simple reason that the system is hierarchical and rank identifies with it. Wrong survives better than right, in a material environment, which is governed by the ends, than the means.  The noticeable acts of corruption and embezzlement are committed where authority is reposed and the threshold for this is the rank of the commanding officer and its equivalent. The power to initiate an annual confidential report also rests with the same authority and the beginnings of most mischief starts from here.

Ever since I wrote on my URL passionforcourage.blogspot.com about the NDA job scam, I have received many mails and telephone calls, urging me to write more on similar inside stories to which I may be privy to; with the purpose of getting into the seam of the matter and exposing the issue without fear or favour. It is times that, we who are on the outside, by the power of our honesty and intellectual integrity, mobilize public opinion and help it to proliferate up to a critical level from where it cannot be ignored and the organization is coerced into initiating systemic changes. The social activists are replicated, albeit in a different profile, to shake up and jostle the powers that be by engaging these through the veterans, politicians, bureaucrats and civil society – with the one point aim of making repairs to the institution which is getting hollow from within. Let the sunshine disinfect all that is putrid and moth eaten within the system, without a strain of hypocrisy to deny and justify all that is wrong and finger point at others, for the problems which are our own creation than anybody else. The demand of the time is to come out without any hesitation or else self effacing reasoning to keep away from doing so, because the situation is unlikely to improve, should we not support the junior leadership of the forces and the army in particular, who have not as yet been bitten by the bug of corruption and have not transited into becoming spineless noodles , to stand up against wrong in the firm belief and full faith that, COURAGE, CHARACTER and COMPETENCE are virtues, which adorn men of substance. Let the young leader of today; be emblazoned with the passion, to live out a life in the forces and the army in particular with dignity, gumption and honour than becoming a general or its equivalent, who is mired in shame and disgrace. Let the guilty generals or their equivalents be made public specimens of, and we may be on the road of putting a stop to the spate of scams, which have besieged the brotherhood in recent times. Extra ordinary situations demand extraordinary actions. The various acts which are enshrined in the statute should be re examined, to calibrate the degree of the punishment according to the rank and public ignominy for the generals and their equivalents must be introduced.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051

Olympic series

Olympics – 1992 Barcelona

President Samaranch spoke of the best Olympic Games’, referring to the welcome received by the athletes and media and the conditions in which they worked. These Games were the first to be held under the new geopolitical order; Games organized by professionals for professionals.

Everyone was there, or nearly: post apartheid South Africa, after a long absence from the Games; the Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, alongside another fifteen nations emerging from the disintegration of the Soviet Union, reassembled in the Commonwealth of Independent States, although their national anthems and flags were used as a matter of protocol. The Germans competed under one nation after the absorption of East Germany in 1990. North and South Yemen had merged. Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia came separately, as war still raged in Yugoslavia. Their enemies from Serbia and Montenegro were also present.

Only the Palestinians were missing: they would not be represented at the Olympics for another four years. Everyone was there, then, or nearly: amateurs, of course, but professionals, too – admitted for the first time. This meant that even more of the greatest athletes in the world could be seen in action: Luis Enrique or Guardiola in football, Chris Boardman in cycling, and above all the inspirational American basketball players of the NBA, together in an unbeatable Dream Team.

Everyone was there, then, or nearly, and Juan Antonio Samaranch, the Catalan president of the IOC, was proud of these first Catalan Games and the enthusiasm they provoked. The organization was impeccable. Not even the extraordinary security measures could chill the atmosphere.

Dream of Dreams ….

Displaying their inspirational skills, the United States took back what they considered their birthright: the Olympic basketball title. The Dream team was tucked in bed early for the first time of their Spanish vacation, for the day ahead – the finals. They had played their last training match against members of the Spanish police to thank them for taking care of security. Now they were ready. The Croatians were ready too. The half time score of 56 – 42 meant the Americans still had to play carefully. Croatia made a game of it, after a fashion: the result was never in doubt, but there was at least a game to watch, which was a sort of moral victory. The contest ended 117 – 85.

Magic Johnson’s happiness illuminated the Olympic tournament. Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, a natural leader, steered the Dream Team towards Olympic glory, while keeping his childlike spirit, the spirit of a child delighted to be living in a land of giants. ‘Magic’, basketball demi - god touched by the demons of Aids, once more defied logic. He not only declared himself HIV + to the entire world, he was quite simply a kid, 6 feet 8 inches tall and strong (218 lbs) for his age … You forgot he’s 32 and has his torments. All you noticed were his mischievous eyes, spontaneous laugh and his simple shared happiness. ‘I really enjoyed myself’, he said leaving the court. ‘I experienced an extraordinary feeling and when the national anthem was played, I felt really emotional on the podium!’ At the final whistle, the US team gathered round their emblematic star.

A Triumph of Humility over Technology

Chris Boardman’s athleticism was overshadowed by his equipment. The relation between sport and technology is double – edged: sometimes athletes and coaches drive technological progress. Sometimes, the technologists themselves revolutionize sport. Whatever way it happens, technology is invariably easier to understand than the vagaries of the human machine. The bike designed for Chris Boardman by Mike Burrows and built by Lotus, the Formula 1 car designers, was a carbon composite monocoque with low drag aerodynamic cross sections, formed with unidirectional and stitched high strength carbon fiber in an epoxy resin matrix; it was something the press could really get its teeth into. In the preliminary rounds of the men’s 4,000 meters individual pursuit, Boardman rode the new machine to world records, demoralizing the other contenders. In the final, he lapped world champion Jens Lehmann. It was unprecedented. For much of the media it was a triumph for technology over muscle power, despite Lehmann’s insistence: ‘I was beaten by the rider, not the bike’.

Outrunning His Demons

Always placed, Linford Christie, the British athlete born in Jamaica, had become the oldest 100 meters champion in history. Linford capped the best season of his life with the Olympic 100 meters title. Aged 32, he was the oldest 100meters champion in Olympic history, by four years. His second place in the semi final behind former world record holder Leroy Burrell (USA) was his first defeat of the year. In the final, Burrell was blamed for a false start, and, with his nerves in tatters, never threatened. He had won his first major title, the 200 meters in the 1986 European indoor Championships, aged almost twenty six. ‘People have always said that I’m too old. But it’s never too late. If the mind is willing, the body will follow.’ He was second in the final in Seoul, after Ben Johnson’s disqualification. Christie had maintained his competitive edge at an age when most sprinters had long given up.

The Exemplary Hassiba Boulmerka

She was the symbolic figure of the woman who gave Algeria its first Olympic title. Her victory in the 1500 meters, confirmed the world title she achieved a year ago in Tokyo. With her country’s national flag tied around her neck, she took the traditional lap of honor. Since the start of the year, this woman from Constantine had been on the move and in training. Even if she did not say so, life as a role model for women cannot be easy in a country of rampant religious fundamentalism. Her first words to the press were surprising for a young woman proud of her independence and determined to live her own life. ‘I do not get involved in politics. I am just an ordinary woman defending my country. I have run for the martyrs of my country and I offer this Olympic title to the father of our country, President Mohammed Boudiat, a true democrat, assassinated at Annaba. I run for a peaceful, free and tolerant Algeria.’

Queen Krisztina

Hungary’s triple champion, Krisztina Egerszegi, was the star of the Olympic pool. If the Danube was ever as blue as Krisztina’s blue eyes, then all the music written in its honor was well worth it. With her perfect figure, long legs, brown locks of hair and beaming smile, she had lit up every corner of the pool during the six – day Olympic swimming programme. Since winning her first Olympic title at Seoul for the 200 meters backstroke, when she was fourteen, this child prodigy had grown three inches and now weighed 121 pounds. She won the 100, 200 meters backstroke and the 400 meters individual medley, and in Hungary was called the mouse – the literal translation of ‘Eger’.

Scherbo Has Every Right to Be Proud

Belorussian gymnast Vitaly Scherbo took six Gold medals. In Olympics history, only Mark Spitz had won more at a single Game. Vitaly Scherbo had always been a player. A showman, even, to quote his national coach Aleksandr Arkeyev, and one with a particular penchant for the Olympic Games. He came to Spain hoping to come away with the Gold medal in the All – Around competition, but left with six Gold medals.

Lady Rambo

There are two halves to Jackie Joyner Kersee. There’s her brother Al Joyner, Olympic triple jump champion at Los Angeles and husband of Florence Griffith Joyner ( Flo Jo). Then there is Kersee, as in Bob, Jackie’s husband and coach to the glittering world of athletes. Talking about Jackie, Bob had said, ‘if there’s a female version of Rambo, it must be her’. She won the Heptathlon in both Seoul and Barcelona and significantly exceeded 7000 points, thus becoming the only one to have done so. Born on 3^rd March 1962, her parents named her Jacqueline after President Kennedy’s wife. Her grandmother once said ‘one day, this girl will be First Lady of something’. At 30, Jackie Joyner – Kersee had proved her right.

For Cecilia

The deeply religious Mexican – American boxer Oscar De La Hoya won for his mother, who died of cancer. In the ring the 19 year old, 5 feet 5 inches, knelt and, with a light touch of his glove, blew a kiss to the one he had lost. Oscar was the Olympic lightweight champion for her. After the contest, De La Hoya held the Stars and Stripes aloft in one hand, and a Mexican flag in the other; and the people loved it.

The Games In Brief

Opening Date                                          25 July 1992

Closing Date                                            9 August 1992

Host Nation                                              Spain

Nations Represented                               169

Athletes                                                    9,344 (2,708 women, 6636 men)

Sports                                                       25 (17 open to women)

Events                                                       257 (101 open to women)

Games Officially Opened By                    King Juan Carlos of Spain

Olympic Oath Read By                             Luis Doreste Blanco (sailing)

Olympic Flame Lit By                               Antonio Rebello (archery, paraolympian)

IOC President                                           Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP)

PS -: matter researched from the Olympics Games Museum in Lausanne.

Brigadier (retd) S  D Dangwal

+919410900051             

These acts are no aberrations. But a habit.

The NDA Job Scam – When The Fence Eats Into The Garden

The Times of India edition of 5^th July 2012 published a story on the civilian employees recruitment scam, in the premier pre commission training establishment for defence services, National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. The matter related to moneys taken from the prospective candidates for 40 vacancies in the group ‘C’ posts of cooks, waiters, cadet orderlies, gardeners, attendants, library assistants  etc, and ensuring their employment by tweaking the process and blatantly cheating at the level of the Board of Officers (BOO), constituted for guaranteeing a fair and merit based selection. The case, which is presently being investigated by the CBI, involves two army colonels, civilian officers and employees, touts and local civilian contractors, who schemed and connived to cheat and profit from the opportunity. The Ministry of Defence, in a bid to ensure a fair and proper investigation into the matter has removed the Commandant, NDA who has come under suspicion, owing to the fact that his staff officer, one Kulbir Singh, is one of the main accomplices in this scam. So far, so good. My story, is about the other accused colonel and who is Anil Kumar Singh, the Physical Training Officer, NDA and  is the Presiding Officer of the BOO.

This officer, like many others transferred from the Mechanised Infantry into the Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) and has served under me, while I was in service. While I was his superior and the Head of Service of the APTC, A K Singh was always and ever on the lookout for any opportunity which came his way to ingratiate himself to me as also others, who mattered. The officer, an ex NDA himself and from India Squadron, is of an average calibre but ambitious to the extent of going to any distance, for self seeking positional and promotional gains. On an occasion, when I was the Deputy Director General (DDG) in the Integrated Head Quarters of Defence (Army), he wrote to me an unsigned demi official letter, requesting for an undue favour regarding his posting, which was most unbecoming in the circumstances, keeping in mind the turnover of officers in the interest of the Corps and the Organization. This was seen by me in a very adverse and poor manner, and I recommended suitable administrative action against him, to his superior officer and the commandant. The commandant doled out an innocuous warning to the officer, as a matter of routine compliance to my observation, probably because of his closeness to the officer for whatever good reason or otherwise. Given the unbecoming alliance between some senior officers in the Army institute of Physical Training (AIPT) and the Directorate General of Military Training, A K Singh managed to get his way with regard to his posting, with tacit support from the then Director General of Military Training, who also happens to be the ex officio Colonel Commandant of the APTC and who prevailed upon the parent Military Secretary’s branch, to do the needful. By the time I learnt about this, The DGMT and the Colonel Commandant was on his way on promotion to command a Corps in the Northern Sector. I, then wrote to the Deputy Military Secretary (Dy MS) about the grave wrong which was about to get done, should the officer’s request be upheld with regard to his posting, notwithstanding the favourable recommendation of the erstwhile DGMT and Colonel Commandant, who, was by now comfortably ensconced in his new appointment, on promotion. My letter was also forward to the ex DGMT, apprising him about my request to the Dy MS, to ignore the former’s directions on AK Singh’s request about his posting. The Dy MS saw good reason in my recommendations to undo what had been done and posted out the officer from where he wanted to remain for another year or so.

Besides the above, the officer is so obsessed with the thought and desire to somehow succeed, that he can stoop to a level of cringing subservience – just for the sake of that annual report which could well become his gateway to the next rank. And, this is exactly what his undoing became in the instant matter of getting detailed for and provided with an opportunity to ingratiate him to some superior authority, who had a vested interest in the murky BOO, since known as the ‘Job Scam’, to become a camp follower of the commandant NDA. AK Singh came to the NDA as a PTO, in very controversial circumstances from the AIPT, Pune, following an equally embarrassing inquiry involving the commandant of the AIPT and some other officers, wherein he was the complainant against his own commandant and others on frivolous matters. The case was closed, without anything substantially wrong getting established and the officer posted out from the institution.  AK Singh’s report from his Initiating Officer, against whom he had in a spell of Dutch courage and false bravado made a report against; was rendered lukewarm because of his suspect integrity. This, made him into an ideal bait to be exploited and used, to further the perverse interests of whosoever is at the fount of this scam; in a probable quid pro quo - of unethically acquired lucre for someone, in return for a thumping and outstanding report, to compensate and undo the damage suffered at the hands of his previous commandant in the AIPT. A K Singh smelled the opportunity, ingratiated himself through the staff officer to the commandant NDA, and emerged as the prime candidate to be assigned the responsibility to become the Presiding Officer of the now infamous BOO.  All else apart, I had not known A K Singh to be a corrupt officer who looted public and regimental funds/property like many others from the APTC, but yes his propensity to somehow or the other, attain his next rank and look after his self interests at the cost of his organizational obligations, was always a dangerous tendency, which was hardwired into his psyche.  And, it is this, which probably made him succumb to do something as stupid and venal as what he has, by taking the signatures of the shortlisted candidates, on the basis of the money paid beforehand, and then subsequently filling up the answer sheet with the correct answers; to make the selection look genuine and proper.

What gets my goat in the entire episode of this sordid happening is the use to which senior and corrupt officers put their subordinates through, for their own vested and murky interests. And, the subordinates willing to sell their soul to the devil, for a puny gain of some additional adulterated metal on their shoulders. Where are we headed for? This has been the story with many others too, where the subordinate either encouraged his wife to befriend his superior and encouraged her to have an illicit relationship with him, for the sake of a better grading or a report; the subordinate officer became the handmaiden of the superior to acquire ill gotten money or else indulge in various low down and grotesque acts by proxy – for the ultimate benefits to accrue to the faceless superior. But, with a motive to ingratiate oneself to ones superior, for a better report – the gateway to becoming a free loader and a wimp. The top leadership is thus in a win - win situation, of pocketing the ill gotten wealth as also being away from the scene of the act, only because there are enough subordinate officers who are willing to be inveigled into committing theft, larceny, loot et al for the superior, who wields the pen.  Is this the type of leadership that, the Army is aspiring for? It’s a shame, by any measure or yardstick. And, for this to have happened in a pre training establishment, is all the more reprehensible; where young minds start their day by everyday reciting the non sectarian prayer, wherein they invoke the grace of the almighty GOD to help them to practice the ‘harder right than the easier wrong’. Could there be a greater travesty being enacted and accomplished in the CRADLE FOR LEADERSHIP. Major General (retd) Gagan Deep Bakshi, I am not willing to believe you when you defend the corrupt and the arrogant in the Army, by always finding an escape route for yourself from a vulnerable situation, during a debate on the sliding standards of probity and rectitude in the Armed Forces, by becoming patronising towards the anchor and sermonising him on how the day starts for a cadet in the NDA, by reciting the PRAYER of, truth, courage and values.

When the guardians and custodians start eroding the value system themselves, just akin to the fence which grows and eats into the lawn, what will be the credibility of an officer and a  leader, who commands and leads, not by example but by the positional authority vested in him by the Rashtrapati. The making of a revolt or else a mutiny in the rank and files of the Army, is not a distant possibility. Beware!

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051     

The Enigma of V K Singh

General (retd)Vijay Kumar Singh, ex COAS – A Chimera And a Disgrace to The Army

It was on a rainy afternoon in Dehra Dun, while I was just about lazing and getting up from my afternoon siesta, a veteran’s luxury and a privilege that, the ringer of my Nokia cell phone brought me awake, sooner than I would have. It was from an unknown caller, who after checking with me my credentials introduced himself as Lt Col Arun Jha. After the exchange of the usual pleasantries, Arun spoke about my blogs which he had read on my URL passionforcourage.blogspot.com on various subjects in general and the V K Singh episode and controversy in particular, which occupied copious media space in the past year or so, quite uselessly. The one specific blog he chose to talk about was the one in which, I had written about the late Major Dharam Pal Kukreti incident that, involved him as his officiating Commanding Officer and V K Singh in 2^nd Rajput regiment, while the unit was deployed on the International Border in Poonch, J&K. Major Dharam Pal was cashiered from service, for displaying exemplary courage of his convictions in standing up for eternal military values and in a most bizarre turn of events unfortunately faced the unjust might of the monolith System – the Army, while V K Singh manipulated and maneuvered his way to become the Chief of the  very same Army, with political intervention and by tempting providence.

Arun has come out with a revealing and no holds barred book, titled ‘General Salute’, by Manas Publications, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, Delhi comprising 200 pages; which brings to light the unbecoming and immoral shenanigans of the officer who rose to become the Chief of the 13 million strong Army. The author who was the adjutant of V K Singh when he was the Commanding Officer of 2^nd Rajput, in the rank of a colonel, had the opportunity to see him at very close quarters practicing what he was best at, double standards in his official conduct. Arun had taken premature retirement from the Army in 2009 and has now dedicated himself with a single point agenda of bringing to public notice the hypocrisy, deceit, Machiavellian scheming and lack of morals and ethics which adorned the personality of the retired General.

This book is a must read for all those who were swayed by the moral grandstanding of V K Singh during his date of birth controversy and other issues which followed, only because they will then realize the extent to which this man worked in a Goebellian fashion to swing public opinion in his favor and emerged as a maverick who had the gall and gumption to take on the Government he served and dragged it to court, an unprecedented act in the history of Armies across the globe.  He played to the galleries and came out with all guns blazing, to court public appreciation and applause.’ General Salute’ traces and brings forth the officer’s growth from a young, middle rung and to a general officer and brings out in open gaze all the various acts of venality and indiscipline he indulged in and yet got away with, to reach the pinnacle of the Organization, whose hierarchy is perversely pyramidical in construct and design. An impossible task to achieve, given the various filters an officer’s career growth is subjected to.

It will be well worth one’s money spent to procure this book to read and know in details the reality behind the persona of the man; who made a virtue out of his failings and fooled the people of the country and lead them to believe that, he was indeed a crusader whose single point agenda was to cleanse and purge the Army of corruption, muck and lack of probity in its officer ship. The author has made himself vulnerable to any defamatory proceedings against him in the courts of the land or else charges of libel and criminal proceedings that can be initiated against him. The work is a narration of facts as seen, understood, implied and conjectured by the author and to which he remains committed, irrespective of what V K Singh can do to him, should any of it be disproved and disallowed.  Truth cannot and must not be made a casualty and law must not make any exceptions for military rank. It is only a matter of time, when the dirty linen which was often spoken and talked about in the recent past, will truly spill out into the public domain and ‘The Chief’ who had come into South Block to cleanse the Augean Stables will probably go down in history as a chimera, who not only disgraced the institution which he represented but also brought it to great disrepute.

After my conversation with Arun Jha, the author of ‘General Salute’, I think all those who had similarly put their honor and credibility at stake to side with and stand up for V K Singh; must introspect and shake their conscience to reconsider and realign their position on the matter of defending the indefensible, which is General (retd) Vijay Kumar Singh, ex COAS. He has been a disaster who should have been thrown out, as suggested by the ex National Security Advisor, Brajesh Misra in his interview with one of the TV channels.

All through the past year that, I was writing on various aspects of V K Singh’s doings and their fallouts, it was my gut feeling that a person who had failed on a Ranger Course at Fort Benning, USA and not only managed to do it again, but was awarded the coveted ‘dagger’ for excelling in it, had filled up his IMA dossier in his own hand with the year of birth as 1950; overstayed leave granted to him and used political patronage to escape punishment, was commanding 2^nd  Rajput when his troops went into a hockey stick wielding fracas with another unit, 7 Kumaon in Ferozepur during a sports event, and many more misdemeanors; could become the Chief – then he could not be what he was projecting himself to be – a man of honor and integrity. In my estimate and understanding such people are categorized as frauds, who are able to understand the failings of an organization and then exploit it to the hilt by practicing situational ethics, an anathema by any stretch of imagination, which an officer and a leader should condemn and shun. We do hope that the civil society movement which is spear headed by the Gandhian Anna Hazare, a veteran and a soldier, is seized of the truth in so far as General (retd) V K Singh is concerned, and wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole. Because, otherwise, it will seriously impinge upon the credibility of the movement, which India Against Corruption is committed to.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051