The Quagmire of IOA

The Imperious and Bizarre Mindset of the IOC: Will Jacques Rogge Wake Up!

The imperious manner in which the IOC is bullying the IOA and the Government of India, in the procedure to be followed for the upcoming elections to be held for the office bearers in the executive committee of the IOA, must be resisted, at all cost by the GoI and wait for the outcome of this defiance and for how long. It is most bizarre that, the IOC, while having the provisions for regulating the age, duration and tenure of the members elected to the executive committee on a 70, 12 and 8 model in its own charter and constitution, is expressing umbrage and interpreting a similar practice by the IOA in keeping with the government’s sports code, as interference in the autonomous functioning of the association. Nothing could be more outlandish, ridiculous and vacuous on the part of the IOC to read into the entire matter, as one of imposing a government diktat upon the IOA, in contravention to its charter and constitution.

The whole story plays out like this, the office bearers of the NSFs and the SOAs / IOA were having it as good as it gets, by hanging on to their chairs in their respective executive committees, for near perpetuity and without accountability to the country and its sportsperson. Age, duration and tenure were of little concern to these sports administration and management aficionados, who were running the NSFs, SOAs and the IOA as their personal fiefdoms, without any regulation from an outside authority, more so the government, through its sports minister. The idea was to reign in these office bearers, who were making merry at the cost of the tax payer and the marginalised sportsperson. Sick with the goings on in these sports bodies, eminent and well meaning sportsperson came together to form an organization Clean Sports India (CSI), as a pressure group to prevail over the government and push it to do something about the goings on in the administration and management of sports bodies, wherein, sports had been largely politicised and management best practices were literally thrown out of the window. The erstwhile sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyyar , made an attempt to do this during the run up to the Delhi Commonwealth Games, but was axed from his charge owing to a fait accompli situation, which then prevailed and India’s prestige was at stake for failing to live up to its commitment to the Commonwealth Nations. The chairman of the Organizing Committee, the bombastic and hot air and nothing else Suresh Kalmadi, was mainly behind this change. It was then that MS Gill stepped into the shoes of the sports minister and saw the conduct of the Commonwealth Games, in an exemplary manner. However his halcyon days were short lived, and in the wake of the tomes of scams which emerged from the office of the Chairman Organizing Committee, he too was eased out from his ministry. It was MS Gill who had the proud distinction to be the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, smelled the coffee and accordingly introduced the government’s Sports Code, for implementation in the functioning and procedures of these sports bodies. Where had he faulted in articulating and codifying, what already exists in the IOC charter and its constitution? It was a management best practice, which had seen the strangle hold of Avery Brundage and Juan Antonio Samaranch, which ran for years and years, as the President / Chairman of the IOC come to a thankful end. This provided an opportunity to young and fresh blood to make a foray into the coveted office of the IOC, and which essentially brought in new ideas and practices, for the good of sport and athletes, round the world. The Delhi High Court upheld the contention of the government, when this was challenged by the IOA, who premised their argument and defence on the escape clause in the charter and constitution of the IOC; forbidding any government or third party interference in the affairs of the IOA. Therefore, while VK Malhotra, who has been heading the Archery Association for more than 40 years and had thus become ineligible on grounds of age and tenure, shot off a letter to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland), informing them about the situation as it obtains and the elections being held in accordance with the government’s directive as enshrined in the Sports Code. This immediately evinced a response and reaction from the IOC, who averred this as government interference, notwithstanding the fact that the same model of 70, 12 and 8 is being followed in their own charter and constitution. A mischief had been played by this blubber nosed politician and acting president of the IOA. How? It also made Randhir Singh, who is the present Secretary General of the IOA, ineligible to contest for any office in the executive committee, owing to the embargo of duration and tenure, which he succumbs to. This brought in the corpulent Abhay Singh Chautala, a politician from the INLD party of Haryana and an associate of the NDA as well as the Chairman of the IABF, into the fray. Keeping in mind the muscle and money power, which is available to Abhay Chautala, all others who had a desire to contest for the office of President IOA, gracefully withdrew from the contest, leaving the field open for him to get elected un opposed, as and when the elections are held in the IOA. Randhir Singh, who is also an executive member of the Olympics Committee of Asia (OCA), is looking at the IOC’s threat to derecognise the IOA, to put pressure on the government and leverage his chances to get elected as the President. This is his only ploy to scuttle the wicked and gross act of VK Malhotra, who could as well work out an understanding with Chautala to let him contest for the office of the President, this time and then pass on the baton to him subsequently, when age will probably take its toll and have him tottering and unlikely to hold the same office.

So how does the scenario, unfold itself, in light of the calculus which exists in the IOA? Jacques Rogge the Chairman of the IOC is hell bent on bullying the Indian Government and behaves in a most imperious manner by arm twisting it by the threat of de recognising the IOA, and to follow its policy on non interference in the affairs of the IOA, even when its take on the matter of age, duration and tenure is congruent to what the Sports Code encapsulates. VK Malhotra, the wily old fox of politics, is licking his jowls on the sidelines to see what happens and give him a very probable and likely chance to become the President of IOA. Chautala is keeping his cards close to his chest and is planning on how to upstage both Malhotra and Randhir, depending on how things play out in the National and International domains. And, the shameless, Lalit Bhanot has his fate in the future executive committee, very closely linked to the fortunes of Chautala.

I, would rather prefer that, the government dig its heels on the issue and see how it can manage the crisis which engulfs Indian Sport. When a push becomes a shove, it demands of our government to show its strength against the colonial mindset of the IOC. Should the government give in to the most unrealistic appeal and action of the IOC, it would have surrendered an excellent opportunity to cleanse Indian Sport of rampant politicking and unscrupulous politicians, who exploit the forum for expediency than genuine love for sports.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051

The Mess in the IOA

The Destruction of Sports in India

Ever since Suresh Kalmadi, the disgraced and criminally charge sheeted erstwhile President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), made his foray into the management and administration of first the Indian Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) and subsequently the IOA, the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the State Olympic Associations (SOAs) were politicized and made into the personal fiefdoms of politicians; who did little else than exploit their charge for making their presence in their political constituency, for political gains and advantage. The other minions who bent over backwards to please and help sustain these pseudo sports leaders for near perpetuity, enjoyed the loot that was on offer as a quid pro quo for the trust reposed in them through the instrument of the vote cast in their favour, in the democratic dispensation that governs the constitution of sports bodies. The present imbroglio which has ensnared the elections to the offices in the executive committee is a disaster which was waiting to happen, sooner than later. The corpulent and vernacular Abhay Singh Chautala, who is the sole aspirant to the post of President IOA and is most likely to be elected unopposed in the elections, as and when these are held in the immediate future, is himself involved in a controversy for the arbitrary manner in which the elections in the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) were held, wherein his brother in law has been passed on the baton for a period of four years to preside over the future of the pugilists, who will train and compete under the aegis of the said federation. Not only that, to add insult to injury, he has supported the candidature of a tainted person, who made national headlines by philosophically espousing different hygiene standards of Indians and Europeans, during the turbulent build up to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, 2010. He is none other than the scam embroiled Dr Lalit Bhanot, who is contesting un opposed for the office of the Secretary General IOA.

Like the politics of the country and its disgraced politicians, the fate of the IOA and the NSFs / SOAs is no different, wherein criminals who were lodged in the country’s Tihar Jail, continue to take shelter behind the facade of not having been proven guilty in a court of law, which moves like a donkey in dispensing judgement. While a judgement awaits promulgation, the interim period is used to advantage by the accused, under the labyrinthine tenets and provisions of law. The argument is used to justify assertions of little minds, which hide behind the canons and procedures of Indian jurisprudence. The political leadership of the country is replete with examples of such lumpish persons, who become a precedent to quote when arguing in favour of venality in public life. Lalit Bhanot and his future first executive in the IOA are persons who flog this argument to their positional advantage. What has sports management and administration in the country come to? Where the country is at a loss to find such suitable persons to tenant the pivotal offices of the President and Secretary General of the apex body, IOA. There couldn’t be a bigger shame to engulf the country’s sport, at a time when things are looking bright for its sportspersons in the wake of their performance in the just concluded London Games. The prospect of the IOA being de recognised by the international conglomeration of national sports associations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and being debarred from participating in events held under its aegis, is a loaded possibility that stares Indian sportspersons.

Having anticipated the existing situation as it seizes Indian sports today, I as the Secretary of the Army Sports Control Board (ASCB) had put up a proposal to the Chairman Integrated Staff (CIS) to the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CSC), way back in 2004, to restructure the sports organization within the Armed Forces and make an attempt to seek affiliation of each of the Services, viz Army, Navy, and Air Force to the NSFs and the IOA. This would enable the Services to leverage its interests within the federation and the association and take control of the happenings, as these would affect and impact sports and sportspersons. By making this happen, each of the Service would have had three votes in the election process to any of the office bearers in either the NSFs or else the IOA. In a democratic dispensation where numbers and correspondingly votes is an imperative ingredient to acquire authority or else enable to make a good choice of people to steer sports bodies for the larger good of sports and sportspersons, ours would have been a major presence to contend with. But it was most unfortunate that, the proposal was dropped for considerations which emanated more from the colour of the uniforms than any objections to its inherent merits. Well, that is how many a good suggestion or else a recommendation is dropped, only because it stems from abject parochialism than a larger good that encompasses the interests of the multitude. And history is replete with such instances, which spring up from time to time, only to be ignored by those who could have shown some sagacity and vision for a noble cause, which serves the interests of a much larger spread of people. Had we exerted our will at that point in time to go with the proposal of seeking individual affiliations for the Army, Navy and The Air Force, ours would have been a conglomerate which would have called the shots in cleansing the Augean Stables of Indian Sports.

The threat which looms large and real over the horizon of Indian Sports, with the rot which has eaten into the vitals of the sports bodies and has not been stemmed, could have possibly been avoided, had our Lt Generals, Air Marshals and Vice Admirals not succumbed to the demons of the mind, which always prevent one from taking a bold and out of the box decision. An opportunity was missed and we continue to wallow in the sad state of affairs, which obtain in our sports management and administration culture. The IOA is obdurate and pig headed in not adopting the very same provisos of the Olympics Charter as contained in clauses 16 (3) and 19 (2 and 3), regarding the age and tenure criterion of office bearers and as reiterated in the Sports Code Bill, enunciated by the Government. Thereby, making a case for the IOC to interpret the matter as one of Government interference in the affairs of the IOA and hence not maintainable in keeping with its constitution. The IOC, should it come true on its veiled threat, will put to shame the country and assail the sports interests of the country’s youth. What a pity that such a mess, has been given as a legacy by these unscrupulous politicians, who have been playing this joke on the people of India for far too long.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051                                                           

A Story of Valour, Recollected and Narrated

NURANANG DAY, 17^TH NOV HELD AT DEHRA DUN

The veterans of ‘Fighting Fourth’ Garhwal Rifles commemorated the 50^th anniversary of Nuranang Day, which was awarded to the battalion as the only Battle Honour for operations in the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), present Arunachal Pradesh; at the Defence Sainik Institute, Dehra Dun on 17^th Nov 2012. The gathering comprised a collection of senior veterans of the unit, their wives and the mother of the valorous Jaswant Singh Rawat, MVC (posthumous) whose deeds of dauntless courage and sacrifice are immortalised in the annals of military history. The event was presided over by none other than the nonagenarian ex commanding officer of the unit, Lt Col Inder Singh Rawat, KC who was given the onerous responsibility of putting it back on rails, after the ravaging happenings of the 1962 Sino – Indian war. Also present were the wife and daughter of Col Hasta Bahadur Rai, who had participated in the war and discharged his responsibilities as a company commander with great fortitude.

The proceedings were held in a very befitting, precise and solemn manner, as will do proud to any commemorative military event held anywhere. Rfn Jaswant Singh, MVC (posthumous) whose legend today lives on to inspire the ‘Garhwalis’ and others in service of their motherland, has immortalised himself in the memorial which exists in Nuranang, later re named as JASWANTGARH in his honour. The spirit which pervaded the event was full of unprecedented and singular camaraderie, while recollecting the saga of exceptional bravery, doughty courage and extreme professionalism; as was displayed by the unit in those very trying and difficult times and as recorded in the pages of the Regiment’s history. The veterans, who had come in large numbers from all over in Uttarakhand, resolved to make this commemoration into an annual event and approved the establishing of a Trust Fund, essentially to help organize it with due military propriety. It was a matter of great pride for all those who were present that, while they were here in a spirit of brotherhood and solidarity, the Colonel of the Regiment of Garhwal Rifles and Garhwal Scouts, Lt Gen Ata Hasnain, who is the Military Secretary and a principal staff officer to the Chief of Army Staff, was laying a wreath at the JASWANTGARH memorial in Arunachal Pradesh.

The unit had suffered very heavy casualties in this war, which included 3 Officers, 4 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), 148 Other Ranks (Ors) and 7 Non Combatants (Enrolled), killed in action. The battalion received the following gallantry awards -:

Maha Vir Chakra

Lt Col B M Bhattacharjea (CO)

Rfn Jaswant Singh Rawat (Posthumous)

Vir Chakra

2^nd Lt V K Goswami (Posthumous)

2^nd Lt S N Tandon

Sub Udai Singh Rawat

Jem Jatan Singh Gusain

U/P/L Nk Trilok Singh Negi (Posthumous)

Rfn Gopal Singh Gusain

Rfn Madan Singh Rawat (Posthumous)

Sena Medal

Nk Ranjit Singh Gusain

Mention in Despatches

Jem Gabar Singh Rawat

It will also be pertinent to mention here that 4 Garhwal Rifles, which has a proud history of gallantry, has also acquired for itself the singular honour of having represented the Indian Army in the CAMBRIAN PATROL on three occasions, which is held in England as a test of junior level professionalism in the Army’s of the world and won a Bronze and Silver medal. The battalion is surely a crowning glory of not only the Garhwal Regiment but the Indian Army.  

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

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The Cream Rises Until It Sours

The Army and The Peter Principle

The recent controversy which is likely to assume a significant dimension in the Indian Army, concerns Lt Gen Dastane appealing to the Armed Forces Tribunal, regarding an injustice done to him by the Army / MoD, by applying different standards for promotion to the rank of Army Commander; when two vacancies existed on 01 Jun 2012. The two vacancies which were created on 31 May 2012, on account of the superannuation on retirement of the ex Chief Gen (retd) V K Singh and ex Army Commander Lt Gen Shankar Ghosh, were only filled up partially by promoting Lt Gen Sanjeev Chachra ,to be Army Commander Western Command. The other was kept vacant, as the officer Lt Gen Dalbir Suhag, who was in accordance with his service seniority to be promoted to Army Commander, was under a Discipline and Vigilance (DV) ban ordered by then Chief Gen (retd) V K Singh and hence could not be promoted. However, the ban was expectedly lifted by the present Chief Gen Bikram Singh on 08 jun 2012 and Lt Gen Suhag accordingly promoted on 15 Jun 2012, to be Army Commander Eastern Command. Lt Gen  Dastane, who is currently posted as Deputy Chief in the tri service, Integrated Defence Staff in Delhi feels aggrieved on the matter, as it was he who should have been promoted to Army Commander along with Lt Gen Sanjeev Chachra, since Lt Gen Dalbir Suhag was under a DV ban and thus not eligible for promotion. The perceived inequity assumes a larger significance when Lt Gen Dastane sees an opportunity for him to become the next Chief of the Indian Army, when the post falls vacant on 31 July 2014. But for this to happen, it is imperative that he be promoted to be an Army Commander first, with seniority fixed ahead of Lt Gen Dalbir Suhag. Should that happen, then given Lt Gen Dastane’s date of birth and new seniority , will make him the only eligible officer to become Chief, in accordance with the government’s policy  of seniority than merit, to promote and appoint the next incumbent. This is the whole background to the petition filed with the Armed Forces Tribunal in August 2012, by Lt Gen Dastane and which awaits a judgement / decision.

 The vitiated environment which consumed the army in the past year, when Gen (retd) V K Singh was up in arms against the government, for not upholding his prayer related to the fixing of his date of birth as given in his matriculation certificate and which compelled him to seek legal recourse in the matter; was regrettable to say the least. The hurt was further compounded when the court too ducked its responsibility by not giving a judgement in the matter and instead prevailed upon the petitioner to withdraw his case, but not without pandering to the petitioner’s ego by applauding his honour, integrity and military reputation. This cloaked affront shoved the officer to unleash his strategy to hit back and embarrass and expose the government, as also the past leadership of the army, in whatsoever manner he could. The army’s succession plan as insinuated by him, made very serious allegations on the integrity of his predecessor, by imputing a communal motive to him, in masterminding ‘Operation Moses’ which paved the way for the present Chief to head the army. There were many stratagems which were applied by ‘Team V K Singh’ then, to discredit the present Chief, so as to deny to him his just promotion and appointment; but unfortunately it did not work that way and the rest as they say is history. The Government and the Ministry of Defence, which has adopted a policy of promoting the senior most Army Commander in service to head the army, when the appointment of its Chief falls vacant; except in the case of the erudite and integrous Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha who was superseded even when he was declared as the Chief designate and moved from Western Command to Army HQ as Vice Chief, for reasons other than professional competence: has thrown up the possibility of an internecine war among the army’s Generals, as in this instant case of  Lt Gen Dastane wanting his just share of the pie.

The reasons for Lt Gen Dalbir Suhag  being put on a DV ban in the twilight of Gen (retd) V K Singh’s tenure as Chief, could be argued as being deserving of the action to being specious with an implied agenda of manipulating the line of succession, to favour someone. The beneficiary of this game plan would have been none other than the Western Army Commander, Lt Gen Sanjeev Chachra, who is junior to Lt Gen Suhag and would have veritably benefited, if promoted and appointed Army Commander before the latter. It reads out like this; with Suhag being under a DV ban and two vacancies existing as on 01 Jun 2012 for Army Commander, Chachra being the next senior in line would have been promoted and Dastane as the next in line filled up the remaining vacancy. With the present Chief General Bikram Singh, superannuating on retirement on 31 July 2014, Chachra would be the next in line for Chief. However, it did not happen as such and the MoD in view of the DV ban on Suhag, did not promote Chachra, which it should have in all fairness to him and in keeping with its policy as hitherto fore. The removal of the DV ban on Suhag was a given when General Bikram assumed the office of Chief and he continued to maintain his seniority as Army Commander over Chachra. The plan to manipulate the succession line once again, as was earlier alleged under the garb of ‘Operation Moses’ was put paid to by the army and the MoD, who probably saw through the shenanigan of the DV ban on Suhag with an ulterior motive and countered it by not promoting  anyone to  Army Commander.

Irrespective of the virtues or else the foibles of the dramatis personae in this new drama, which is now unfolding in the corridors of South Block, the MoD must take its due share of blame in going along with its policy of choosing a Chief, on the exclusive criteria of seniority alone from among the serving Army Commanders. This arrangement and system is loaded with the possibility of being manipulated by a scheming and more than willing hierarchy, which under the patronage of its Chief can decide on a line of succession, as has been alleged by ‘Team V K Singh’ earlier.  Professional armies the world over have relatively better systems for selecting their Chief, wherein seniority is a lowly placed indicator to enable the government and the Cabinet Committee for Appointments to approve the choice.  Has our government and the army not heard of the ‘Peter  Principle’, which espouses  the fundamental that in a hierarchical organization every employee will get promoted to his level of incompetency; “The cream rises until it sours”. Therefore, it will be prudent to dig deep and thick into a clutch of three star general officers who have had the required experience to make a claim for the top slot, rather than leave the choice on the accident of ‘Date of Birth’, alone. The current controversy which is likely to precipitate into something undesirable in the senior most echelons of the army, is steeped in the fallout of the seniority alone principle and two years residual service procedure adopted by the army, to become an Army Commander.

It is my fervent appeal to the Military Secretary (MS), who is competent and capable to assimilate the nuances of the existing system, which does not respect competence but instead leans on the crutches of a hackneyed, and play safe policy; that insults merit to staff some of its Army Commanders and by implication the Chief, as well, to table a White Paper in the bi - annual Army Commander’s conference to address the existing stupidity. Recent instances in the past involving Chiefs bear testimony to my postulate and cry for course correction. Will he pick up the gauntlet and endeavour to make an enduring contribution to improve the health of the Army???

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051

HOW CAN A MAN DIE BETTER, THAN FACING FEARFUL ODDS ......

NURANANG: THE CROWNING GLORY OF THE INDIAN ARMY AND 4^TH BATTALLION THE GARHWAL RIFLES

GOLDEN JUBILEE 17^th  NOVEMBER

The post independence history of the ‘Fighting Fourth’ Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, which was re raised by an illustrious son of the regiment, late Maj Gen (retd) Syed Mehdi Hasnain, PVSM on 07 Dec 1959; was sculpted and carved from the happenings of 1962, which saw the bloody massacre of Indian soldiers in the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and Ladhak. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the proverbial Chinese Dragon, spat fire and brimstone, when it mounted a definitive and perfidious attack on India, belying the Nehruvian conviction of ‘Hindi – Chini, Bhai - Bhai’. Also, the belief that the Himalayas are an insurmountable geographical feature which bulwarks the country from any military aggression from the north was destroyed.  The triumvirate of Nehru, Menon and Mullick had pushed the Indian Army into a battle situation, which was not of its liking, choosing and timing, thus ensuring a military debacle which resulted in the murder of about 3,400 soldiers and left many more wounded. Many were also taken as Prisoners of War (POW), who were subjected to communist indoctrination in the various prisoner’s camps they were kept in, only to be later repatriated with their spirits assailed but not broken. It was in this scenario that, 4 Garhwal Rifles like many other units of the army was mobilised to move and take its battle position beyond the Sela Pass ahead of Tawang. The battalion was assigned to act as Covering Troops for the main defences, to help give time for preparation and coordination of these on the heights of Sela and around. Sela was to be the limit of penetration for the Chinese Army, as it would thereafter allow a free run for further ingress into the fertile plains of Assam. The pass was to be defended at all costs and the advance of the Chinese stopped, before they secured it.

It is in such times when a unit is assigned its operational responsibility and given an operational task, which is in keeping with the overall Corps Zone / Theatre battle plan that, sheer doggedness and fighting spirit of its soldiers decides the outcome, irrespective of the wherewithal which is available to him to fire fight. 4 Garhwal Rifles, under the command of Lt Col Bijoy Mohan Bhattacharjee (later Maj General BM Bhattacharjee, MVC) was soon to make history, written with the blood, guts and glory of its ‘Bhullas’ (as the soldiers are endearingly called by their officers). History it did make, when the ‘Bhullas’ under the leadership of its officers and junior commissioned officers (jcos), fought in the heights of NEFA at altitudes of between 12,000 to 14,000 feet, clothed in a spartan manner in woollen shirt, jersey and combat boots and armed with the antiquated .303 bolt action Enfield rifles, supported by the indirect fire of 3” mortars, howitzers and 25 pound artillery guns. The entire gamut of the fighting machine comprising man, weapon and equipment compared very poorly with what they were pitted against and the enemy had. It was not for them to question the decision to throw them into the ring and to slug it out with their opponent, with their life at stake and the odds heavily loaded against them. This was the quintessential soldier of the Indian Army for you then, but may not be so now, when values have undergone a distinct change in both the military and civil society.

When it had become impossible to hold the defensive positions even temporarily and maintain their integrity as Covering Troops, and without getting compromised, 4 Garhwal was tasked to tactically withdraw along the axis Tawang – Nuranang - Sela and consolidate in the main defences behind. Even so, there was intense patrolling being done by the unit to keep the information flowing and in one such patrol, 2^nd Lt Vinod Goswami, Vr C had managed to capture a Chinese soldier, who later had to be killed. Unfortunately, 2^nd Lt Goswami was later, himself killed in action. While withdrawing, the unit was to demolish Bridge No 3 on the Namka Chu river at Nuranang, so as to cause maximum delay to the advancing hordes of Chinese troops, who could use the same Bridge for bringing ahead their fire support and logistical requirements. The conditions were extremely difficult and skewed in favour of the PLA and despondency loomed large and sure over the ‘Bhullas’. But, their best was yet to come and history was in the making, when the unit repulsed as many as four determined attacks from the waves of Chinese soldiers, leaving many dead. The night of 17 Nov 1962 was a fateful one for a young 22 years old brave heart, who answered to the name of Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat. In a brazen act of raw and undiluted courage, Jaswant crawled, pulled and wriggled his way to the enemy emplacement of a Machine Gun, which was playing havoc with the lives of ‘Bhullas’, and single handed silenced it and took possession of the weapon. In doing all of this, the daring and selfless boy from the interiors of Garhwal, demonstrated unparallel and unprecedented bravery, before he succumbed to his wounds in the arms of his comrades from ‘A’ Company. This Company was commanded by 2^nd Lt  Surendra Nath Tandon,Vr C, who gave a sterling account of his verve and inspiring leadership.The young leadership of the unit was bursting with initiative and daring do in a near hopeless situation. So much so that, even the Regimental Medical Officer of 4 Garhwal, Capt Bejoy Kumar Nath was not only attending to the wounded but wielding his weapon and spurring the  Bhullas to fight as best they could. Number 3 Bridge was demolished by late Colonel and then Major Hasta Bahadur Rai and the task given to 4 Garhwal had been achieved. On orders to withdraw and fall back to the defences in Sela, the Garhwalis were left helpless and completely flustered, as the troops holding these had already pulled out from there, leaving the defences unoccupied and waiting to be occupied by the advancing PLA. Chinese troops were all over the hill features, which dominated both by observation and fire the withdrawing elements of 4 Garhwal along axis Nuranang – Sela, and which were repeatedly ambushed while doing so. Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, the commander of 62 Brigade, was killed in one such ambush along with many from the Garhwal Rifles. He thus became the second such senior officer after brigadier Usman of Jhangarh (Naushera) fame in 1948, who lay down his life while being in the thick of action in a military operation. Confronted by this macabre situation, about one third of the battalion made their way back to India through Bhutan, while one third was killed during the withdrawal by either enemy action or the extremities of weather and deprivation and the remaining one third were captured and taken as Prisoners of War. To surmise the situation which prevailed then, suffice it to say that complete chaos, panic and mayhem reigned and had shattered the spirit of the Indian Army. In such a situation the ‘Bhullas’ of 4 Garhwal Rifles stood out as heroes and an exception to the rule, which had gripped the jugular of the famous (Eagle) 4 Division of World War II fame and IV Corps. 4 Garhwal Rifles and the brave Brigadier Hoshiar Singh of 62 Brigade, were let down by the generals of its formations, who had left these to their fate and death, by pulling out prematurely from the defences in Sela, without as much informing them about the same. It was an irony, which has a few parallels in the history of modern warfare in the world.

 Even though, I personally, do not value the views / opinions of the then disgraced 4 Corps Commander, late Lt Gen Brij Mohan Kaul from the logistics service of the Army, known as the Army Service Corps (ASC); who in an attempt to exculpate himself from the blame which befell him as his due and just share in the debacle and disaster of 1962; I am tempted to quote from his book “The Untold Story” in praise of the fighting skills and in your face courage of the ‘Bhullas’ of 4 Garhwal Rifles. He remarked that, “Had the Indian Army fought like the ‘Bhullas’ of 4 Garhwal Rifles, the history of the 1962 war would have been different”. The battalion won two Mahavir Chakra (MVC) and seven Vir Chakra ( Vr C) in a war which saw the Indian Army routed and butchered, only because its political leadership refused to heed to the professional counsel of its military commanders, who were seized of the status of the Army’s unpreparedness to undertake any military adventure in keeping with the forward position policy of Nehru, which had the potential to provoke and escalate into a full scale war. The Army too had its cronies, as was best symbolised by Lt Gen BM Kaul, who climbed on the credulity of its soldiers and worked in synch with the country’s politico / bureaucratic leadership, which lead to a national humiliation.

 The honour roll of 4 Garhwal Rifles has 3 officers, 4 jcos, 147 jawans and 7 non combatants enrolled,  who died in action in 1962. In recognition of its historical and unprecedented fighting spirit, courage, sheer doggedness, extreme sense of commitment and selfless dedication, which went beyond the call of duty; was awarded the Battle Honour of ‘Nuranang’ by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and a grateful nation. The only battalion to receive this honour in the war fought in NEFA. The unit, which continues to be an embellishment in the crowning glory of the Indian Army, by its several professional achievements to include operations and training; will be celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the battle of Nuranang on 17^th November 2012. While this is so, the War Memorial which was constructed in the memory of the gallant action fought by 4 Garhwal Rifles; in which Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat attained martyrdom, has attained a spiritual significance for the present and coming generations of the Army.It stands as a silent reminder of the sacrifice made by the sons of Garhwal, to inspire and motivate all those who pass through the way, in the service of the Nation. The place where this Memorial stands has been named as JASWANTGARH, in fond and lasting memory of the brave heart, who is survived by his 90 years old mother.

It is as a mark of respect and deserving homage to the hallowed battle field in which the ‘Bhullas’ of ‘Fighting Fourth’ attained martyrdom that, the Military Secretary and Colonel of the Regiment of Garhwal Rifles and Garhwal Scouts, Lt Gen Ata Hasnain*, AVSM, SM, VSM & Bar will be making a pilgrimage along with a team of officers from the unit to Nuranang, to place a wreath at the memorial of JASWANTGARH.

*Lt Gen  Ata Hasnain, AVSM, SM ,VSM and Bar is the son of late Maj Gen S M Hasnain, PVSM, and a second generation commanding officer of 4^th Garhwal Rifles who as XV Corps Commander in Srinagar, Kashmir won the hearts of the people with his iron fist in a velvet glove approach, to tackle militancy in the valley and surrounding areas.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051

Fifty Years of the Sino - Indian Conflict

The Country Does Not Want A Déjà Vu !

A programme - Salute the Soldiers, marking the 50^th anniversary of the Indian soldier’s great saga of valour and courage during the Chinese aggression of 1962 was hosted by Mr Tarun Vijay, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (Uttarakhand) and presided by the Governor, Uttarakhand H E Aziz Qureshi, at hotel Madhuban, at 5 PM on 19^th Oct 2012. The purpose behind this effort was essentially to pay homage to those sons of the soil, who took part in this Himalayan Blunder and achieved martyrdom.  The reasons for the documented military disaster of 1962 were solely the preserve of the political leadership - of an emerging and young sovereign democratic republic. The sentiment which prevailed and embraced the gathering was one of victory for the stoic and uncomplaining Indian soldier who fought with what his country provided him with then, and which was inadequate, obsolete and often unworthy. The state of Uttarakhand was unequivocally lauded by the Governor and other distinguished dignitaries from the Army, who adorned the dais, for its salutary contribution to the strength and character of the Armed Forces, which remains its distinguishing feature. There were those who had participated in the Sino - Indian conflict or else were intimately related and connected with men who had made the supreme sacrifice of their life, in the service of their motherland. The Governor felicitated and honoured the mother of a hero from 4^th Garhwal Rifles, Rifleman Jaswant Singh, Mahavir Chakra, who laid down his life in the battle fought around the Nuranang Bridge, which lead to  Sela Pass. Also, the 98 years old Lt Col Inder Singh Rawat, Kirti Chakra who was the Commanding Officer of 4^th Garhwal Rifles, immediately after the war, received a standing ovation from the audience, when the Governor saluted him before presenting to him a shawl and a memento. There were others too from the Garhwal Rifles and Kumaon Regiment who were felicitated, amidst a resounding of claps and cheers from the gathering.

The piece de résistance of the evening was the talk of Lt Gen (retd) O P Kaushik, who spun a web around the audience with his baritone voice, grasp of details, depth of knowledge, poetical interludes, statistical enumeration about the military and communications network and force availability of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the autonomous region of Tibet, and a clinical strategic analysis of such a reality in our context and its implied threat to our territorial integrity and security. The People’s Republic of China poses an ominous threat to our land mass, which is contiguous to Tibet and the part of Jammu & Kashmir which was acceded to it by Pakistan. This is with the intent and purpose to make the figurative palm of Tibet into a hand, comprising the fingers of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal. The force levels and the military hardware which India can muster against any future aggression from China, should an eventuality arise for it, seem extremely remote and beyond the realm of possibility; given our unwillingness to accept the threat which looms large and real. The chances of us as a Nation, doing a ’62 upon ourselves is pregnant with possibilities, only because we continue to ignore and treat lightly the indicators which presage a military situation from developing into a war. Our political and bureaucratic leadership is found wanting to pry deep into the meaning of China’s resolution of its border / boundary disputes with all others excepting India; only because it has a desire to settle it by military means and truncating from the sovereign mainland of the nation a sizable chunk, that it believes to be its traditional, historical and cultural part.

The present times, which are riddled with a string of scams and the compulsions of coalition politics haunting the ruling government, does not augur well for our country’s future. While economic power is an enduring factor which underscores development and progress in the growth of a Nation, it is its military strength and power which guarantees the environment for the former. The current political leadership seems to fall short of the people’s expectations to deliver it from the vice like grip of corruption and crony capitalism that is eating into the vitals of our polity and society. The need of the hour, therefore, demands a dynamic and strong leadership, which can ride rough over populous policies and make the Nation strong, both economically and militarily. It must now be an iron hand in a velvet glove that both heals the afflicted and crushes the crooked. Without imputing any political leanings or else motives to me, the country must make a very hard choice of rising above petty partisan leanings and political jingoism, and put into power a political arrangement that best serves the interests of India. The threat that is most likely to simultaneously develop from our North East and West, and probably attempt to encircle and crush us in a pincer like operation, is only a matter of time and cannot be wished away or prevented from happening by diplomatic interventions alone. It must get backed by unmistakable military preparedness and transcending the denial mode; as gripped our political psyche when 1962 happened. The times have changed from what they were in ’62, when the military values and sheer ruggedness of the army’s cutting edge, was a cut above what we have now. Sheer grit, courage, bravado, stoicism, unquestioning mindset and an intense feeling of patriotism among soldiers, was a rule then, than an exception. The same cannot be said now, when market forces have besieged the people and their thinking like never before, and the military is not an exception to the situation that prevails in the country. A big question mark hangs over our response to a situation that seized the army in ’62 and the same from happening in the future similarly. It may not be so. A Rezangla or a Nuranang, which were battlegrounds in ’62 and where a rag a tag Indian soldier, equipped with antiquated weapons and material, fought and died in the spirit of last man - last bullet, could only be a chimera in a future situation. Therefore, in a country where the political leadership is corrupt and is driven more by expediency, which is aimed at vote bank politics that invests heavily in considerations of religion, caste, community and class; the possibility of history repeating itself is probably waiting to happen. Do not make the Indian soldier into cannon fodder, by disregarding the visible indicators that stare at us from the plateau of Tibet. The nation does not want a déjà vu.  

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051   

Mens Sana In Carpore Sano

THE MUCH AWAITED NATIONAL FITNESS POLICY : THE GAMECHANGER

The long overdue and much awaited National Fitness Policy (NFP) draft has been promised to be tabled in the parliament by the Sports minister, Mr Ajay Maken. This will articulate the government’s policy, action plan, commitment and responsibility towards a healthier and fitter nation, which must surely remain a critical function of governance. While there were earlier policies, encompassing a similar strain of thinking and implementation; not much has happened to elicit confidence in the usefulness and applicability of its contents. The erudite and outspoken Mr Mani Shankar Aiyyar, while he was the Sports & Panchayati Raj minister, in the build up days to the Commonwealth Games 2010, had conceived the twin approach for a sporting and healthy nation, by involving the people and the youth at the village and panchayat level upwards. This obviously necessitated an integrated modus operandi to include infrastructure, equipment, ancillaries, trainers and adequate finances, all in a sustainable manner. While grants for capital and revenue works would be provided from the central and state budgets, a business model to sustain the project was critical to its efficacy. Most sports infrastructures which were created under schemes of Sports Authority of India (SAI) in the villages / talukas / districts have over the years become decrepit and unsafe for use, only because these could not be maintained and refurbished from funds that were generated by their usage. These fell embarrassingly short and grossly inadequate to the requirement. In contrast to this, the SAI centres, which are managed and administered by the government and funded through their aegis, are in a state of repair and worthiness. Therefore, subsequent to a facility being constructed and made operational, it is its maintenance and continuous usage which throws up the real challenge to keep it going and functional. The NFP must be wary of this drawback in its content and factor such provisos therein, as will address the stated shortcoming. For a country of our size and population, having a humongous demographical dividend, which must remain the focal point of such a policy; it is imperative that the reach and spread of the NFP is across its length and breadth, thus making it into a macro level reality. Notwithstanding the huge capital costs of implementing and putting into action such a pan Indian scheme, it is the recurring costs which must be visualised and planned for to keep the investment afloat, in an enduring manner. The endeavour is extremely worthy and befitting of an emerging global economical power, as it will intangibly contribute in enhancing in the people wellness, pride, efficiency, national character and self worth; all of which bestow to an improved Gross Domestic Produce (GDP).

There is no gainsaying that fitness not only improves efficiency but also instils a feeling of well being and prevents a number of major diseases. It therefore stands to reason that enhanced fitness will exponentially impact society in all its ramifications and produce the magical spark of euphoria, which is its most vital by product. Across the demographic construct, strata, class, religion, gender, community, caste and variety of people who comprise Indian society, an improved state of fitness will not only underscore and alleviate poverty of thought and deed, but also attitude and material penury. It will usher in a culture whereby, every man, woman and child will participate in the celebration of his spirit in a state of joy, through the efforts of his body.  The benefits of exercise are so many that its audit will run into a tome, but even then I wish to recollect some of these from my experience and memory; enhanced self esteem, confidence, positive outlook, improved bearing, zest for life, relief from muscle atrophy, improved muscle efficiency, mobilization of fat, quicker removal of cholesterol from the blood stream, improved resistance in combating injuries, provides cardiac reserves, reduces emotional and nervous tensions, eliminates stresses and triggers survival mechanisms etc. So to surmise, it will suffice to say that fitness can well be a panacea for most ills, in a time when people live short and die long. From the intangible benefits which accrue from indulging in fitness related activities, the most important and worthy is character development. This, in our present times is a crying need to give wings and ethical legitimacy to our democracy. A nation such as ours with its diversity and natural wealth, when infused with the energy, which is sustained on the tripod of simplicity, diligence and character of its people; will become a force multiplier to achieve greater prosperity and economic power in the comity of nations.

Being from the Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) of the Army, from which I retired in 2008; the subject is of special significance to me and I am absolutely convinced in my mind that, when fitness training and culture becomes a national priority with the government and it is committed to engender and nurture it as a state policy, we as a Nation are on the right train and the right track, which is moving in the right direction. The payoffs of such a commitment are innumerable and it is a win - win situation for all. One of the reasons for democracy not delivering in our country in the manner it ought to is the discernible lack of individual and collective character in its people, irrespective of whether it is a politician, bureaucrat, technocrat, professional, corporate, civilian, low level functionary in the government or the holier than thou NGOs  etc. The cumulative effect of this reality constitutes National Character, which is more obvious in its absence than presence, at all, levels of public life in the country. The striking difference in the India of yesteryears, when freedom from foreign oppression was a noble cause then and in contemporary times, when scams galore are the singular achievement s of state and central governments, respectively; character has taken a severe beating and has been pushed to the back burner, so to say. Men and women of character are more an exception to the rule these days. One of the ways of instilling and help imbibe character in people is to expose them to a daily / periodic dose of fitness related activity, which pushes them with a sense of reasonable discomfort beyond their comfort threshold. For those who are doing it as a part of their daily living to eke out a livelihood for themselves and their family, the need is superfluous. It was the sight of these people, which evinced a remark from the former American ambassador to India, John Kenneth Galbraith, who remarked that ‘There is richness in the poor of India’. That richness, as I now understand it to be is character.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051