From One Soldier to Another

SAVE THE NATION

Anna Hazare’s movement and the ongoing fast for the enactment of the Jan Lok Pal Bill, as a legitimate instrument for reining in corruption in the government, public life, business, lower level mundane administration and other such areas of concern; is assuming the dimensions of a social upsurge and is likely to draw in the youth into its fold, like never before. This must become a cause of concern for the government and the politicians, who have as yet been dilly dallying and prevaricating in the matter, by the use of the possible shenanigans of parliamentary procedures and technicalities. The time taken to build up a consensus in the matter has been inordinately long and therefore suggests a lack of conviction towards the same, and makes the intent on the part of the politicians and the government suspect. Whether the government will succumb to the public pressure thus generated by the enormity of the ongoing movement, is a matter of speculation and cannot be predicted with certainty. However, what is certain to happen, is the government and the politicians becoming more bold and intransigent, to not yield to any ingress into their turf of parliamentary privilege and supremacy, by those who are not otherwise eligible by constitutional right. For any good to come out from the movement, it has to become pan Indian in its perception and efficacy and must therefore rely heavily on the power of the ballot which the people exercise, to elect their choice of representatives and the consequential government.

Elections in the country, at most levels of the democratic framework, are to a large extent controlled by money power. National and regional political parties have relevance in our elections, because other than the collective philosophy which distinguishes their outlook, the expense is prohibitive. And hence, for anyone to get into politics without being a part of the established outfits is rather difficult and farfetched. Those who do it on their own are few and far between and ultimately lose their individuality by becoming a part of one or the other, whether in government or outside it. Therefore, is it any surprise that even a tall social leader like Anna Hazare is wary of joining politics, which demands large sums of money to survive and get elected? It is the curse as also the blessing of money, which to a great extent lures the credulous voter to affect his choice for their representative. Also, the fact that those who are interested in governance do not exercise their franchise. Thus we by and large, get the government elected by those who are not interested in governance. This, by and large is the prevailing reality in our country, as it obtains today.

When Anna Hazare talks about his plans for the coming general elections, which under normal circumstances are scheduled in 2014, it makes me rather uncertain and unsure about his understanding of how the system works? To transform the support base of people for his movement, into the likely vote bank of selfless and inspired candidates, who desire to contest elections, will be a disaster by any stretch of imagination. Should, the stalwarts of the movement even think of this stratagem to bring about a change for the future, they should be well advised to immediately drop this notion and think afresh. Because, otherwise, they will be sadly disappointed and their energy wasted in doing something, which they should have never even attempted. The politicians and the government are secure in this reality about the Indian democratic system, and it is this which makes them condescending to suggest that ‘we will wear out the social activists and their movement’. Money power and keeping the coffers of the political parties ever growing by manufacturing scams of various degrees and sizes, is the recipe to presage political power and administrative control. The polity of this country is aware of this truth and there are few exceptions to this culture. The constraints of coalition politics as an available excuse to ignore deeds of corruption, is nothing more than a lie which travels half the globe before truth puts its boots on; and when it does the lies gets caught. This is what we have seen happening in our country in the past three to four years. There are even very strong rumours in circulation, that to avoid the continuous demand for bringing back black money deposited in foreign banks, a powerful politician has opened two international banks in Scotland and some other country abroad, which will now become the conduit for delivering and holding the slush money. The government dithering in its action to disclose the accounts of the guilty, that have stacked their ill gotten personal and party wealth in the tax free havens, could be explained by this ruse. That is the power of money and its accompanying political power, which it begets.

Therefore, Anna Hazare should be well advised to continue what he is adept and capable of doing, and not get sucked into harbouring any thoughts of the movement transiting into a political adventure, in the near or even distant future. The political choices which the people have in the States and the Centre will continue to hold sway and it is there that the difference should be made. By and large the choices are similar in their capacity to loot and rampage national wealth and the tax payer’s money, but the idea of exercising a choice and voting out a government, is the only leverage which the people have. The ongoing movement must be replaced by a call for a revolution in the country, which brings the Armed Forces into power at the Centre, with an arrangement to continue with democracy and the federal structure in the States, as premised in the Constitution. This could be a via media to think and develop upon for Anna Hazare. The modalities for this arrangement can be worked out by the Constitutional, Judicial, Political, Administrative, Armed Forces and Social Sciences experts, who can do this as an enduring service to the Nation and its People.

‘Rebel With A Cause’

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051

Good leaders lead, bad leaders mislead

“Rebel with A Cause” – To Inspire The Gentlemen Cadets of IMA, Dehra Dun

I am a veteran from the 48^th regular course of Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, which was literally and figuratively born into battle. Our training was truncated and we passed out earlier than usual, only because war was imminent. That, it did so happen on 3^rd December 1971, and we got blooded into service with a dream reception which every soldier hopes for, was too good to be true, but it was so. 2^nd Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC was from our batch of ’71 and attained martyrdom in the fierce tank battle fought in Jarpal, Shakargarh Sector. His last words to his squadron commander who ordered him to leave his hit and burning AFV were, ‘My gun is still firing. I will not leave my tank. I will get some more of these bas..... ‘. There were others too, who made the supreme sacrifice with their lives, for the cause and honour of the country during this war. The KHETARPAL auditorium, which today stands across the road and complements the grandiose CHETWOODE, overlooking the parade ground with its Victorian architectural facade; is a befitting memorial to the courage and leadership of the young gentleman officer and soldier Arun – a role model for the future generations of GCs who take their ‘Last Step’ to become a commissioned officer.  

Be that as it may, I am today besieged by a feeling of extreme despondency and anxiety, at the pathetic and disgusting levels to which functional leadership in the Army has deteriorated to; almost in keeping and abreast with the murky, outrageous and sickening political and civil society standards of rectitude and probity. While it is true that, India today has reached a level of degradation, which it has never in the past, the Army has also kept pace with such depravity in tandem and sullied its reputation in public perception, to a painful all time low. It will be an insult to our martyrs and war heroes, if I try and be economical with the truth, in the matter of expressing my repugnance at the sorry and painful state of affairs, in which, the Army in particular is embroiled with. There has been a flood of scams, involving senior and high ranking officers of the Army, who did not for a moment bother to think about the shame they would bring upon the institution by their scurrilous deeds of commission. The dishonour list of such officers is replete with the names of Generals, Lt Generals, Major Generals, Brigadiers and some Colonels; the top rung leadership of the Army which is expected to set examples by their conduct and behaviour, for the juniors to emulate. No alibis or else justifications in this regard is maintainable by the guilty or else can be explained by the pseudo social scientists , who are forever finding excuses for the existing depravity, which consumes and completes every aspect of public life, steeped in corruption. Hypocrisy is the hallmark of our character, from top to bottom, without exceptions. One needs to be wary of this failing, because there is none worse than this to destroy and annihilate character. We Indians have succumbed to the convenience of this tendency, because it masks our intent and deeds in a shroud of organizational respectability and social acceptability. We would rather be ruined by praise than be saved by criticism, only because of all the lies ever told flattery is the greatest. This is where we stand today, as individuals and collectively, because corruption got institutionalised in public and corporate life by the likes of Indira Gandhi and Dhirubhai Ambani, respectively. Both very tall and recognizable names in the country, who created their own legacies in politics and business.

The Armed Forces in general and the Army in particular, owing to its size, expanse and role got sucked into this quagmire of venality, like never before. Liberalisation and a vibrant resurging economy ushered in a climate of burgeoning fiscal health with its trappings of material affluence and a raised standard of living. The expansive middle class became greedy and in a country where there is’ too much government and too little administration; too many laws and too little justice; too many public servants and tool little public service; too many controls and too little welfare’, became an ideal breeding ground for corruption to proliferate exponentially. The leadership in the Army too got afflicted by this malaise: where political leaders sermonised and lectured to little purpose other than short-changing their constituency and siphoning public monies: and military leaders similarly aggrandising themselves from whatever advantage they can accrue, from what is available in their respective domain. Rations, meat, eggs, equipment, stores, liquor, recruitment, regimental and public funds, real estate, property, weapons et al have been bungled with, misappropriated or else sold for profit. The lure of lucre has stifled the conscience of these officers, who were/ are supposed to set examples of rectitude and probity in their professional conduct for the others to emulate and up hold.’ If the System violates intelligence, it is bad. If it injures character it is vicious and if it injures the conscience it is criminal’.

With all this happening around, I am certain that it must be equally painful for the young Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) who aspire to a soldierly and challenging career in the Army; to choose their model from. Will it be a one/two/three/ four starred generals, alike those who have risen to the exalted ranks which they held/hold and got unfortunately discovered  for their depravities or else the upright, resolute, character driven and courageous officer who adorns the pages of the glorious history of the Indian Army. For a young mind and a novitiate into the profession, it is a decision which must find expression from the very threshold of his military career and must continue to remain his inspiration, to live by these principles which provide the cornerstone for military doctrine, irrespective of the consequences thereof. No justifications of whatsoever measure or nature can ever defend unrighteousness in one’s conduct, because principles are eternal and remain unchanged quite unlike values which adapt to the social reality in which we live. Therefore, it is the principles of leadership which must become your beacon to guide and help you to grow in your career. You need to believe in your inner self and have faith in your abilities to achieve what you wish to, but without compromising on the essentials of character that sustains personal leadership, quite unlike positional, which flows from rank and authority. Only when you are willing and passionate about living life on your terms and in keeping with the dictates of your conscience, which embraces and celebrates human dignity and honour; will this monster of corruption and unbecoming conduct, which thrives and fattens on 82% of the Army’s leadership (junior and middle rung) either remaining quiet or else becoming a party to; will be slaughtered and overcome in the coming years. It is to be confronted in numbers collectively and with resoluteness, with sacrifices to be made, should it so demand. But then imagine, what a memorable deed would have been done, in displaying moral courage and conviction to stand up against any wrong, which posterity will behold and salute; quite akin to the valour shown by 2^nd Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC – a real hero by any standards of recognition. Remember, and as Victor Hugo said “Life, misfortunes, isolation, abandonment, poverty, are battle grounds which have their heroes, obscure heroes, sometimes greater than the illustrious heroes”. Make a choice to become a man of courage, who makes his way for other’s to see and edify.

PS -: Passion For Courage – A Winner’s Creed, is a book which was written by me and elaborates on removing the yawning gap between precept and practice; the crux of the problem in practicing functional leadership – the sine qua non of an Officer’s personality.

‘Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051  

A System which Injures the Conscience is Criminal

“Passion for Courage — A Winners’ Creed”, by Brig Sarvesh Datt Dangwal (retd), will be released tomorrowTribune News Service

Dehradun, June 21
Very few books in recent years have as inspirational a theme as the “Passion for Courage — A Winners’ Creed”, which has been written by Brigadier Sarvesh Datt Dangwal (retd).
The book will be released at a special function in Dehradun on June 23 by Lt. Gen. Hira Ballabh Kala (retd), former Army Commander of Western Command.
It is primarily a collection of articles, talks, letters sent and received during his 37 years career in the Indian Army.
Dangwal was commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles (the 4th Battalion) on November 14, 1971, and received his baptism by fire along with his course mates during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
In his initial years as a Major, during his posting as a Physical Training Officer at the Indian Military Academy he found himself in the eye of a storm.
A Gentleman Cadet of the Technical Wing drowned during training and authorities showed it as an “accident” without negligence on their part.
Major Dangwal, knowing otherwise, informed bereaved father of true circumstances that led to the tragedy. He was later accused of briefing unauthorised person.
“How could the unfortunate and grieving father be an unauthorized person,” he says, recalling those events with much anguish.
What happened subsequently is a long story, told lucidly through a series of articles that Dangwal wrote during his career.
The book narrows the yawning gap between the precept and practice, and lays down cardinal truths for a functional leader.
“The challenges of leadership are met only when our own conscience is put on trial by fire and we choose between right and wrong,” says Dangwal.
Dangwal played a major role in the success of the 4th Military World Games held in Hyderabad in October 2007 as the Chairman of the Games Technical Conduct Committee. For this, he was decorated with the Vishist Seva Medal (VSM)

If you want to predict the future, make it

FEAR BUILDS ITS PHANTOMS

Notwithstanding the spate of scams which have spilled out in the recent past into the public domain, the NDA job scam has mobilised opinion within the serving and veteran community of the Armed Forces and the Army; about the pathetic level to which rectitude and probity has nose dived in the official conduct of senior officers; to a new low in all times. I did a story on what was reported by the news media about this latest of scams in the ‘Cradle for Leadership’, but with a different perspective drawn from my knowledge about things as they obtain and experience in the Army. The essence of the story is the ‘wheel within a wheel’ type of situation which prevails, wherein, the perpetrator of the wrong is inveigled into doing so by the authority which is essentially there to prevent it from happening. This did receive a large response from the brotherhood to which we belong and all were unequivocal in their condemnation of the incident and urged me to continue with the good job of writing forthrightly and in a sledge hammer style to make my point. It can well become a forerunner to many more such stories and writings, which castigate and haul the guilty over the coals, with a single point agenda of cleansing the System of muck, and more muck   A former commandant of a premier officer’s training establishment in Mhow, who was aware of the desire of students to do well in their career courses and achieve above average grading; probably much beyond their ability and capacity to do so by fair means, exploited this tendency by euphemistically ‘stealing the affections of a brother officer’s wife’. Not only this, acts of financial impropriety of all dimensions, big and small, are done under the umbrella of official protection provided by the superior officer, who is placed in the military hierarchy to ensure that it does not happen. Most important inquiries that are conducted in the Army, which are meant to investigate into financial bungling and material misdemeanours, are manipulated at the behest of the convening authority, to dilute the quantum and degree of the wicked deeds. Unless a senior officer has been blatantly stupid or else has rubbed someone in the organisation on the wrong side, the chances of his misdeeds getting discovered are very remote. The market forces have equally seized the officer cadre in the Forces and in an attempt to keep up with the Joneses, they too have yielded to the glitter of lucre.

The Annual Confidential Report (ACR), initiated on officers is an effective and worthy instrument to evaluate individual competence, ability and potential for growth within the organisation. Any suggestion to do away with this practice is considered detrimental to the interest of the Forces and its leadership, because, there is none better, as of now, to replace it with. Be that as it may, the reporting system is also hemmed in by the fact that, the ACR is initiated and reviewed by superiors and humans, in a linear manner. This is where the problem is, given the culture which has besieged its officers in the wake of the economic liberalisation, material affluence, growing middle class and falling values; where success is pedestalised in society, irrespective of the means to it. Rank in the Forces is a symbol of this societal success, which has become the Holy Grail for most ambitious officers to get, at any cost. Along with career growth in the Forces which is identified with rank, are the accompanying privileges that attend upon seniority and status. Moreover, the political leadership in the country which is mired in gross acts of venality and impropriety lacks the quality to inspire and enthuse; instead providing an alibi for acts of unrighteousness at most levels of public life and which most unfortunately includes the Forces, too. But, howsoever corrupt the politicians, bureaucracy, corporate world, lower functionaries in the civil administration and the judicial system may be; it can never be used as an argument to justify and reason growing corruption and lack of probity and rectitude in Service life and living.  

The likelihood of something unwelcome happening is an unwelcome emotion which consumes the young leadership of the Forces, more so when it approaches the transition stage from a junior to a middle rung leader; just about to grow in rank and become a commanding officer. The three essentials of leadership, which adorn an officer’s personality being character, competence and courage are judged by his superior and reported on. The cumulative assessment of the reports, among other inputs, becomes the basis for promotion and growth. For the two traits of character and courage, the assessment is personality oriented and subjective, to a very large extent. While physical courage is tangible and can be assessed objectively, it is the moral courage, the sine qua non of character which becomes an unfortunate casualty in the being of a competent officer who rightfully nurtures an ambition to grow and get promoted. Competence is seen and evaluated on the basis of course results, examinations passed, nominations for higher learning, instructional tenures and execution of command at the ground level. Therefore, this is largely empirical and quantifiable in its perception and not much scope remains for its manipulation, except in manoeuvring to obtain an improved course grading than what is deserved, and improve one’s profile to accrue qualitative advantage thereof. The military values imbibed by the young and junior officers, their degree of military motivation and proclivity to live a clean and upright life, slowly starts metamorphosing into something quite distant and at variance with their ideal in an insidious manner, till such time the damage to their personality is complete, irreversible and self justifying. The lure of rank, privilege and lucre sacrifices character at the altar of success and greed.  All such General and equivalent ranked officers, who have gained notoriety on account of their venal actions in the recent past, travel through a similar path of expediency than righteousness. The transformation is what produces a long list of such officers who disparage the reputation of the Forces and do discredit to its image.

The choice therefore, for a young and junior officer who has not as yet been bitten and contaminated by the poison of corruption, is to make a solemn commitment to himself, to seize the first opportunity which comes his way to stand up against any wrong that gets done , and more so that of his superior. Because, it is only then that he will be able to overcome the phantoms which are more fearsome than reality itself. And, reality when calmly analysed and its consequences willingly accepted looses much of its negativity and terror. I am sure, the young and junior leadership of the Forces abhor murkiness in their life and living, which is contrary to the high ideals with which they join the Military; and which gets idolised in the credo of their respective pre commission training establishment of the Army, Navy and the Air Force.  So, if you want a better future for the Forces and the Country, ‘make it by choice and not by chance’.   

‘The Rebel with a Cause’

Brigadier (retd) SD Dangwal

+919410900051

   

He Will Haunt The Army For Long

Is The Former Chief of The Indian Army an Honourable Man?

While democracy in India is maturing and settling down, governance leaves far too much to be desired and achieved. In such times, VKSingh the former Chief of the Indian Army, emerged for the naive and the credulous, a crusader and champion of the people’s dormant aspiration, as the first serving General to  take the government to court on an inane issue and expose rampant corruption in the procurement of arms, ammunition, equipment and military hardware. His unequivocal allusion to a bribe of Rs 14 crore being made to him by a recently retired Lt Gen, for pushing through a tranche of 600 Tatra trucks for use in the Army, was shocking and painful.

Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh, a NDA squadron mate and a senior, who was alleged to have made the offer of the bribe, went ballistic on the fact and accordingly sued a clutch of very senior officers in the Integrated HQ of Defence (Army) on charges of defamation. The court of the Metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi, on 20^th July 2012 granted bail to the Vice Chief of the Indian Army, a Lt General, a Maj General, a Lt Col and the former Chief Gen (retd) V K Singh, on a bond of Rs 20,000 each. There could not be a greater ignominy for an Army who’s Vice Chief, Lt Gen and Maj Gen presented themselves in a court and requested for bail. This is what Gen (retd) V K Singh has brought the honour and dignity of the Army to; by having its Vice Chief and the Director General of Military Intelligence to be granted bail. An unprecedented event, in the glorious history of the Army.

In the matter of the date of birth controversy of Gen (retd) V K Singh, he grandstanded for his honour and integrity; but forgot to uphold the honour of the institution which he headed, by dragging its Minister to court, then.  And now, regardless of the damage which continues to be done to the Army’s image, the shrewd VK Singh is completely immune to the disgrace which he has brought upon himself and the serving Vice Chief and other General rank officers. So much, for this man’s concern for the image and reputation of the Army. What is the example which this man has set for the officers and men? Who at one time were tricked by his machismo and bravado to confront authority and revered his daring to do so. But today, when he is on the outside bereft of his authority, quite akin to the King and the Pawn  going into the same box after the game, the covers from his various shenanigans to beat and cheat the system will slowly get removed  with the passage of time. Truth has an uncanny manner of coming to the fore and in the numerous matters which are under the scanner: even though the Raksh Mantri in a display of sagacity wants to bury and forget the past, will spring up when the time comes for it to emerge.

I for one have always maintained without any ambivalence, that Gen (retd) V K Singh is far from an honourable man; because honour to me is steeped in being selfless and which he never was, while in service.

Brigadier (retd)nS D Dangwal

+919410900051   

  

Technical Support Directorate

‘Honey’ Trapped

When, General (retd) V K Singh, on assuming office created the Technical Support Directorate (TSD) cell in the Chief’s Secretariat in 2010, it was with a purpose. Quite alike, the Goebellian adjunct in the Fuhrer’s Reichstag, in Deutschland. To monitor, evaluate and plant information which the Chief could be exclusively privy to, and use to his advantage by either neutralising the bureaucratic interface and inch closer to his superior or else snoop on those remnants in the offices of the MoD and the Army HQ, who were favourably disposed towards his predecessors. This assumption is predicated upon the circumstances in which he assumed office and the commitment which he had made about his disputed records concerning his date of birth. The now infamous ‘Adarsh’ housing scam had just burst open into the public domain and senior officers were involved. The case was handed over to the CBI and VK Singh, much to his delight had made himself free from exercising any leverage in the matter, to influence investigations in support of the impugned fraternity. He had breezed into South Block, with a declaration of restoring the moral health of the Army, which had taken a beating in the recent past, with ‘Sukhna’ and ‘Adarsh’ topping the laundry list of scams. He had made enemies for himself and as such loyalties could be suspect from within. To forestall any move which could likely jeopardise his well conceived plan; to get acceptance of his date of birth as recorded in his matriculation certificate and thus ease out of the embarrassment of reneging on his commitment as given earlier, V K Singh was extremely careful to trust none with his modus operandi.   It was with this self serving agenda that he created the TSD cell and brought his favoured officer from the Military Intelligence Directorate to head and run it.

When the officer’s statutory complaint, regarding the acceptance of his date of birth in his official records as recorded with the AG’s branch, and as made to the Raksha Mantri was rejected, the officer’s shrewd and daring mind went into an overdrive; with the express intent to carve out a stratagem, with which to first arm twist the government and later to embarrass its minister. This was the time when the story about ‘off the air interceptors’ and’ troop movement as a cover up ‘to pre-empt the government from taking any action against him, when he was to file his petition in the Supreme Court, started to roll out into the public domain. The TSD was the hot bed of all spooky doings, which was working overtime to put VK Singh a step ahead of his own ministry, in the matter of his date of birth controversy. With the Supreme Court not giving into the officer’s prayer , the most obvious and considered choice left to a man of his honour and integrity, was to resign and leave. But, he did not do so, only because there were many footprints of his scheming mind, which had to be obliterated from the canvas of the scheming laboratory in the MSD.

In an unprecedented move, the government made the announcement about the Chief designate, three months in advance and this brought the present Chief Gen Bikram Singh into the picture, much before it was expected. The TSD therefore, which I am certain and sure must have been under the scanner of many, but could not be touched since it enjoyed express patronage and protection of V K Singh then, could not be cleansed of its dubious activities owing to the government’s declaration about the Chief designate. As any decision, now involving any structural change in the HQ would also require the approval of the Chief designate too.  There is far too much which is under the wraps within the TSD and its director ‘Honey’. Therefore, now that the net is closing and may even become the noose to catch the guilty; the pressure on ‘Honey’ must be unbearable and the probability of being discovered becoming likelier. The officer suddenly falling sick and getting admitted into the Psychiatric ward of the Base hospital in Delhi cantonment, is a consequence of the drubbing which he has been and is subject to, and rightly so, because the wheels of justice roll slowly but surely and grind those who are guilty.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051   

A Letter to some Journalists

Dear Friends,

We were a case of, from the ‘frying pan into the fire’; our pre commission training in the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun cut short by the imminence of the 1971 Indo – Pak war, which midwifed the birth of Bangla Desh, from the geographical confines of East Pakistan.  Our batch christened itself as the Born to Battle course, which has the proud honour of having on its rolls the late 2^nd Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC, who was martyred in a bloody tank battle in Jarpal, Shakargarh Sector.There were others too, who made the supreme sacrifice for the honour and glory of the country. This makes us very special and our camaraderie is exemplary.

  We have a Google group aptly called born2battle, through which mates keep in touch and share the same spirit of friendship, brotherhood and mutual trust as when we initially came together as a course. This remains an excellent platform for most of us to also share our acquisitions, musings and writing, on various subjects of interest; in keeping with our individual likes and facility. I for one have reading as a hobby and a penchant for writing, essentially on issues which impact and influence leadership in general and military leadership in particular. My desire was given a tangible expression, when soon after my superannuation from service in 2008, I self published a book titled Passion for Courage – A Winner’s Creed and had it released in Dehra Dun on 23 Jun 2009.

The book is a collection of my writings, on my views on matters and issues as they obtained then and continue to do so, even now. Most of what is in the book was also published in various institutional and in house journals and magazines, contemporaneously. The purpose for publishing this work was primarily to reach out to the young and junior leadership of the Armed Forces and the Army in particular, and provide them with encouragement and hope to serve and live with the courage of their convictions, irrespective of the consequences thereof. More so, the work being an honest effort; without any factual air brushing to make it appear and read more righteous than what it actually is, was born of my personal understanding of what I imbibed from my family, school, training and service career. It advocates functional leadership, premised on the three pillars of character, courage and competence.

It is with the intent and desire to read, reflect and write on what is closest to my heart, that we purchased an apartment in a community housing complex; Arborea Luxury Homes, just off the Rajpur road and in proximity of Rajpur village. The complex is picturesquely located at the Mussoorie foothills, which remain perennially verdant with trees and bushy undergrowth. The environment is relatively free of pollution, traffic and the noisy hustle bustle of town living and city life, and provides a conducive feeling for indulging in one’s creative talent. My wife shares this sentiment with me and occupies herself with her hobbies of painting, reading and music. It is in these surroundings, that among my other interests of walking, yoga, Sudarshan kriya etc, I have been very active in writing and blogging in my URL passionforcourage.blogspot.com, on contemporary matters of interest.

I wish to send to you a few of my stories/features/articles, for your reading, so as to share another view point which may be different from what you have heard or else written about. These are as follows -:

a)     On Gen (retd) V K Singh

b)     On Suresh Kalmadi

c)      On corruption in the Country

d)     On corruption in the Army

With Very Warm Regards,

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

+919410900051