Engineering Conundrum
A New Paradigm
“If I get another chance, I would like to be an Electronics
Engineer - you have so many exciting opportunities”, said our SASO, Air Marshal
KDK Lewis. Just out of my M Tech at IIT Kharagpur with a perfect 10/10 CGPA
(Cumulative Grade Point Average), I was posted as member of EDP Project at HQ
Western Air Command. It was a pioneering project; a precursor to the computer
centres that were to take shape in all Commands. The project was headed by a
combat man. As such, Air Marshal Lewis' thinly veiled encouragement was vital.
It has stayed with me - I have reflected on his words and quoted him to
motivate colleagues.
Three of us, alumni of IIT Roorkee having retired from
respective fields, had an interactive session with its MBA students. They were
energised to hear about the experiences of my friends from the money making civil
industry. But, they seemed to have a lack of expectation from me despite being
very respectful to an air force veteran. Therefore, I asked “Do you know a
national industry bigger than the Indian Air Force?” I expected someone would
name the Indian Railways. There was only an inquisitive silence. So I
continued, “I know one, and that is the Indian Army. However, when you consider
sophistication and size, there are few industries that match the Indian Air
Force.” The students were amazed to hear about the technological expanse and
challenges in the Air Force.
“In the next war (which
will surely come) the first shots will be fired in cyberspace. Software
capability will be as, if not more, important than a Rafael Sqn on the front
line.”
- A senior veteran fighter pilot
- A senior veteran fighter pilot
As a new paradigm, we need to first acknowledge the fact that Air Force
operations man (or woman) can also be someone other than a pilot. Innovative
engineering and software skills will count as much as combat flying in future
wars.
Let us start afresh without getting bogged down by what has been. Can today’s
decision makers hypothetically think as if they have to build a new Air Force?
We need to envision what should be and then try to figure out how to be there. If
Subroto Mukerjee, Jumbo Majumdar and Harjinder Singh had to start a new Air
Force to survive and win wars in this hi-tech world today, what would they
think about the infrastructure, work force and the command & control needs? If we sincerely answer this one
question, we can find all answers. We can then work towards achieving our goal.
A Wg Cdr colleague had left the Air
Force prematurely in the nineties and joined a communication company. He got
back to town after a few months and came over to meet old friends from the
unit. Youngsters were keen to know about the corporate world. His answer was simple.
He asked friends to close their eyes and think of the most crafty colleague.
Then he said “whoever you have thought of would be one of the most straightforward
persons in my company”.
The Air Force family has given us
happiness and bonhomie which few can experience outside.
My alma mater, IIT Roorkee invited me
for a year after retirement to be an Advisor to the Director. Faculty and
students, one and all at Roorkee were affectionate and kind to me because I was
an Air Force veteran besides being an alumnus.
Back to where I began. On the eve of my retirement, I recalled Air Mshl
KDK Lewis with gratitude for having infused energy into my endeavours. To those
bidding farewell to me, however, I had to disclose a different choice
consequent to a mythical rebirth. “I would certainly opt for Indian Air Force
but, as a fighter pilot – and I would also like to be a practicing electronics
engineer”, I admitted. I wonder if the unsaid was evident – that being a
fighter pilot (besides the adventure) would put me in a class of those who
could make a decision (change); and being a practicing engineer I would have
the acumen to understand what to change.
“Changing things is
central to leadership, changing them before anyone else is creativeness”
- Antony Jay's first law
- Antony Jay's first law
