Should Politics and Religion be taboos for Veterans?

 

For a military man, discussing politics and religion must be a taboo!

Should that rule strictly apply to a veteran also?

The minority appeasement in India ever since our independence, has been a subject of vigorous debate in recent years. The emergence of social media as a powerful tool for communication has made it possible for masses to share news. Some of the facts which were earlier hidden from the public eye, because of the print media leaning towards their favoured ideologies, are now out in the open.

A fact which cannot be refuted is that the pattern of voting by some of the minorities in India makes them strong vote banks. Political parties therefore get tempted to appease those minorities and get elected. The favours and appeasement are not a one-time affair. It must go on with more innovative schemes for continued electoral benefits. Minorities begin to see that as their right to get more and more privileges over the majority Hindus. Hindus on the other hand feel slighted in the very traditionally Hindu Sanatan land, which has already shrunk to half its glorious past. A sincere Hindu finds it insulting when arguments like “India is a nation with no religion” are thrown at him. And that, when India was split on the very basis that a specific religious community couldn’t live with Hindus.

The minorities regularly congregate and get influenced en block by religious leadership. A devoted Hindu, on the other hand may rarely go to a temple. And those visiting temples also do not follow  a leader en masse with political outcomes. Therefore, while some of the minorities vote as commanded by their leaders, the Hindus leaders have no such leverage on the whole community. The divided Hindu community is vulnerable to exploitation based on caste/ regional biases. Crafty politicians make good use of that weakness while leaning on the minorities to get elected.

Therefore, Hindus in recent times, have found that the only method of educating the masses is by way of enlightening them about live issues on social media. An average Hindu would be content with government policies which favour united upliftment of an Indian including the minorities. However, he finds himself disappointed with the continued approach favouring minorities while suppressing Hindu interests. This results in even more aggressive approach from an otherwise sober group of Hindus to drive the point home within their community, which has a couldn’t care less approach to protect self-interests.

An honest Hindu does not wish to rule over the minorities. In fact, he finds the current situation of minorities appeasement dangerous for another possible split in not too distant a future. Well-meaning Hindus therefore wish to promote an atmosphere where the elected governments do not have an appeasement approach. Ironically, a majority Hindu only wishes to be treated as an equal. How can he help that happen?

Let us now look at the question we started with. Why should discussing politics and religion be a taboo for a military veteran?

Military is the paid servant of the people and is at the disposal of Government of the day, whatever may be the political complexion of that Government. Politics and religious biases are therefore meant to be strictly kept private affairs by military men. The military within cannot afford to have any differences at all, not even one vs the rest ninety-nine in a hundred.

However, the world of a veteran is different from the military confines. A veteran must get adjusted to the society. Yes, a veteran must truly follow the principles of camaraderie with which one has lived all along one’s service life. But that is true for a well-meaning civilian too. A citizen must be responsible for the protection and development of our country. And in essence a veteran must be an ideal citizen of India. He must help promote an atmosphere (even political) of justice and equality. A veteran must also discuss within the society, matters of right and wrong as he sees. How does that happen if we tell him to shut up every time, he begins a subject that touches politics or religion?

A few browbeat the others with ‘No politics, no religion’ dictate. However, criticism of the government despite a handsome record, and blown-up minority issues are accepted in the name of freedom of speech and secularism.

Just a thought!

 

अदृश्य कर्म अपार क्षमता

Posted to a Marut squadron early in Air Force life, I had Wg Cdr SS Ramdas (later Air Mshl) as my Chief Engineering Officer. As an AE(M) officer, on his chest he also wore a pilot’s brevet. He was also trained as a pilot and had the satisfaction of flying Hunters and Maruts in operational roles.

The whole environment at Jodhpur was invigorating - my Sqn Cdr and Flt Cdr, the leadership of sister squadrons, the engineering and logistics seniors, the administrative staff, Met, ATC, Education, fighter controllers in the two SUs, smart Docs, high-caliber pilots, navigators from the Comm Flt, and an extraordinary bunch of airmen. I had instantly come to love this environment, as my very own Indian Air Force.

Wg Cdr Ramdas’s professional excellence was immensely inspiring. Like many others, I had also begun dreaming to be a pilot like him. However, sadly, the scheme of training engineers as pilots was stopped. To be a Flt Signaller seemed extremely pale in comparison to being a pilot. But on realising the impact of it as I matured, I couldn’t thank Wg Cdr Ramdas enough for motivating me to be an air crew in any available role. Early dreams aside, I was an engineer and enjoyed performing the role for which I had joined the Air Force.

Don’t we have an excellent branch/ trade structure, where each role, although confined within its limits, is as important as any other. Those earnestly performing their respective functions are genuinely admired as professionals. The flying branch officers have always been the icons. However, examples of some of the other outstanding professionals have also been etched in my memory. Here are just a few:-

Ø  One of my most revered senior cricketers, Sqn Ldr Ashok Rai (Late Air Cmde AK Rai) was an extremely committed Accts Offr. As O i/c Officers’ Pay Section at Pune, he followed a unique method of responding to the clientele. In those days without computers and photocopiers, he kept cyclostyled templates of letters to AFCAO/ HQ CAC. Any officer approaching him with a problem, was asked to stay back for 5 more minutes, just in case a clarification was necessary. Over one such cyclostyled sheet, Sqn Ldr Rai wrote a quick letter by hand and the job was done! His clerk had to only file the carbon copy and dispatch the letter.

Ø  “Can’t forget that bad weather day when a brilliant controller, Ajit Sane recovered me on GCA”, recalls one of my friends.

Ø  Sitting behind the controllers during Auto CRC and IACCS developmental trials had me in awe of the fighter controllers for the kind of professionalism they displayed. No wonder they are a hugely respected lot.

Ø  The RCPO engineers had carried out an amazing job of commissioning state-of-the-art radars and communications network. They were way ahead of their times. Although some of the brilliant Signals officers happily retired at middle levels, they were professionally unparalleled in the country, and truly admired.

Ø  Our SAM II and SAM III engineers were true professionals, trained and adept at both the roles of operation and maintenance, and ready to go!

Ø  MWO KPK Menon (later HFL) was a quiet Flt Engineer on Super Connies. The Flt Engineer’s role was extremely important. While one of the pilots could also get up from his seat to visit the loo, the Flt Engineer’s station couldn’t be left unattended even for a minute. We used to carry all double crew on long cross-country commitments like Car Nicobar Couriers. However, towards the fag end of the fleet of two aircraft, with no training for newcomers possible, MWO Menon was the only Flt Engineer left. Even as the oldest member of the crew, he firmly carried on, keeping the Super Connie flight going. He was most deservedly awarded the Vayu Sena Medal.

Ø  Our technicians are outstanding and are comparable with the best anywhere. Airmen taking on the other functions are no less! Flt Sgt Govindrajalu Fit-I and MWO RS Kulhari Clk/GD, from my first and the last postings respectively, covered a whole spectrum of my extraordinarily committed colleagues.

Ø  “अदृश्य कर्म अपार क्षमता” meaning “Invisible Work Unlimited Capability” was the motto with which we had started the Software Development Institute on 27 Jan 92. SDI’s unseen Software Engineers have most innovatively indigenised and upgraded avionics software for almost all combat fleets enhancing the combat potential of Air Force.

The ancient Varna system had unfortunately got corrupted over time. However, the fundamental principles of classification of the society were well intended, where the offsprings were not compelled to remain within the confines of parental functions. I see a happy parallel in the Air Force. Officers’ children opt to join the Air Force in different branches depending on their own aptitude and qualifications. And we do have airmen’s children getting commissioned and rising to the highest levels.

Every role is vital, and appreciating others’ roles helps one strive to be a true professional. This is best described by what Air Mshl Ramdas says, “Having also been a pilot only made me a better engineer!”

Jai Hind !!