STATUS ,MONEY AND PRECEDENCE.... ARMY STRUGGLES


There is lot of tussle going on over the pay, status and equivalaence. Status depends on following:
a. How much money you are making this way or that way
b. What is the official power you enjoy in society
c. Do have some thing with you i.e authority for which others flock to you
d. Are you given special powers and authority as commissioned officer in civil society
e. Are you given exemption for vital things in society or made to stand in line always along with sundry and whores, pimps and some times anti socials too.

How much money you make is agin controversial. governmnwt servents can not make fortunes if they are limited to their prescribed salary as per what they get as pay cheque.
The guys in departmnets such as Regional Transport Authority( RTA), Municiapal comissioners, commercial taxes, Excise commissioners, Irrigation, Roads and buildings, Electricity borads, Law enforceing agencies make huge amounts of money under the table and now the guys from education field too have joined them. Such things have been accepted as a routine. Any agency dealing with public has ample scope for making tons of money. Sadly army has none and It is good that way. Army has remained comparatively clean although many critics claim the claenliness claimed is conditional. In whatever form if you have plenty of money you have clout. This is simple unwritten law.
In civil society a District collector is a uncrowned king and entire machinery prostrates flat in front of him. He can give many things to others and all things come to him easily at a wink. He is much junior at the precedence level. Where does army guys stand? They have nothing with them except uniform and with in their camp. Jee Huzuri is done with in four walls. But a Clollector gets Jee huzuri every where even if he visits an army camp or mess. All are after him. When you do not have authority and power you must have plenty of money. Think of driving into a star hotel on a two wheeler ( Most of the army guys few decades ago were happy on Lambretta scooter and some were with Vespa scooter. REcently one movie came out with army officer a major saheb on scooter) and see what reception you get. You land up in a Skoda, Lara, Mitsubishi, Sonata gold or Benz or Audi see the difference. When you land up in a Maruthi 800 things are again different. Not much of smiles on the face of Gurads and chaukidars at the entrnce. In nut shell status is directly proprtional to the money power you wield. Do not quote Mahatma Gandhi ,Iswarchand Vidya sagar or simpleton Vinoba Bhave of bye gone ages. World is changed. Army officers are being insulted, humiliated at every place and even locked up by police too on some occasions later claimed as mitakem identity. The civil society's attitude has changed towards army guys. One by one, facilities and perks of army officers have been marginalised and curtailed. The state govt collects vat on canteen liquor and on other things and army looks on helplessly. I remember that under Kings regulations a Major of army had the power of dispersing unruly crowd at any time and this was a great authority. This was a magistrial power. To disperse a crowd during riots etc and to open fire, magistrate has to be present. If army is called, the situation has to be handed over to the officer present. After independence, Kings regulations were wiped out by the topiwallahs and Dhotiwallahs. There is no doubt that armys status has been systematically and deliberately downgraded and it is a self doing by all means although many claim to be other way. Entire thing has slipped off from hands now. Money decides every thing to day. When top guys run for posts of Governors after retirement they can not stand verical while in uniform. They will have drooping shoulders and bent spine. Their own organization will be let down by them. Remember the 1857 war. Mughal emperor Bahadur shah Zafar could not pay the sepoys at Delhi during the war and the men slowly started slipping away. He had to beg people for donations and they came in. Even in the war of independence of 1857 people fought for money sake. Things have not changed much to day. Army is calling for more money. You can not brush them aside and if it is done dooms day is around the corner. With a demoralised army and bright and committed and disillusioned men looking otherway one can not expect to win. Any amount of Chetwode quotes will not do. Flashing of swords, gleaming bayonets at parades can not guarantee that India is secure. The sermons and Chetwode quotes are forgotten with in few years. They are slogans of past. Empty stomochs do not fight. They have to be satisfied that their families are taken care of by the civil society if they die in war. Look at AP Govt. They have lathicharged Ex servicemen several times. What we can expect from such governments. Why one would lay down his life? and why should he ? Is it for the corrupt politicians running the show at all levels? Surely not. National spirit? I doubt. On republic day and 15 August, songs blare out:

Ham layehain toofaan se kishti nikal ke...... is desh ko rakhna mere bachho sambhalke

Meri Desh ki Dharathi... eeeee..eeeeee.eeeee Mere deshki dharthi ugle sona meri deshki dharthi.... aaaa...aaaaa.aaaaaaaaa

Watna ke raha me watan ke naujawan shahid ho.... Pukarte hain Ye Zamin asman shahid Ho...Watan....

Suno suno oh dunita walo bapu kee jo amar kahani... Oh Bapu jo pooj hai kitana utna ganga maa ka pani... eeeee



Those days have vanished now. All the above songs no more inspire youngsters to join forces. Neither they change heart of vexed uo army officers to hang around in uniform. Money is todays criteira. Espirit de corps that kept army together is no more there. It has been very much diluted.The rat race in army has taken the toll and the seniors letting down the juniors is common. What respect the PBOR will have. If ISI is worth its salt Pak army would win in next war that is not far away .We have seen what happened in 1962 war with yellow men. But for fear of John F Kennedy President of USA, they could have occupied Tezpur. Chinese’s dream of annexation of Assam belt would have been complete. The entire thing now has become a cess pool and there is no way out. Take care of army soon or be prepared for the worst for the natiion in short times to come. Our neighbors are no more friends . India has rather no friend in the neighbor. All are awaiting disaster for India. Army , air force and Navy are the only Institutions that can keep your independednce intact facilitating topiwallahs, Jodhpur coat wallahs, Chudidhra wallahs and turban wallhas to enjoy in parliament and make laws. NONE ELSE. THIS IS THE TRUTH. NOT JUST TRUTH BUT UTTER NAKED TRUTH

DR K Prabhakar Rao