Tribute to Indian soldiers

Col J P Singh Retd

Indian Army originated from the armies of East India Company which eventually became British Army and finally the Indian Army. Upon partition of India, Army was divided between India and Pakistan. Govts in both countries retained British officers in command and advisory role. This arrangement brought about a peculiar system of command and control. It posed a dichotomous situation. Field Marshal Claude Auchinlek having accepted to be the Supreme Commander of both the armies after partition decided to leave on 30 November 1947 due to differences on military operations ordered by Sardar Patel against Nizam of Hyderabad and Jinnah to annex J&K. Gen Roy Bucher stayed as C-in-C of the Indian Army. This created a situation of an unprecedented dimensions because the British officers were seen working on an anti-India political agenda. Gen Messervy was C-in-C Pak Army. Gen Bucher and Messervy were both cavalry officers. Under their command armies of two nations were fighting a war in J&K which they could have prevented. They baulked at having to obey the orders from the once ruled brown natives turned rulers. This created problems for both the sides.

Gen Russel resigned as GOC-inC, Delhi and East Punjab Command when he was denied entry to J&K where the troops under his command were fighting. Lt Gen K M Cariappa replaced him in January 1948 and after the ceasefire in J&K on 1st January 1949, he was appointed C-in-C of the Indian Army. He took over from Gen Bucher on 15 January 1949 and became the first Indian to command the Indian Army. It was on this day that the Indian Army was fully Indianised. To commemorate this historical change over, 15 January every year is celebrated as the Army Day, with great pride and military fervour.

Primary mission of the Indian Army is to defend the nation from external threats / aggressions. An army split between two countries is today one of the largest standing professional armies of the world with a strength of over 12 Lakh. From day one Indian Army proved its credentials in Kashmir and Hyderabad and later in Goa besides national calamities of Chuglamsar and Uttrakhand. Indian Army is recognized as one which not only upholds the sovereignty of the nation but also upholds the dignity of its citizens. There are glorious examples of Indian Army fighting for foreign nations. As part of the British army, it fought with great distinction during the 1st and 2nd world wars and blazed trails of success where ever it went. It helped the govts of Congo, Cambodia, Maldives and Angola as part of the UN Peace Keeping Force. Indian Army continues to protect life and property in Southern Sudan in the ongoing ethnic strife despite martyrdom of five soldiers. A Soldier there-fore is the proud claimant to such and similar distinctions. Is there any other organisation which can claim such a distinction? Unfortunately despite the sacrifices and the good work done; the army as an institution and soldier as an individual does not get its due. Govt's cruel apathy towards martyrdom of Capt Saurav Kalia and L/Nk Hem Raj, nothing deters Indian soldiers to defend the motherland from external threats.

Having seen coup after coup in third world countries, Pt Nehru became apprehensive of military power. He despised army fearing Generals could seize power. Having gained power after prolonged struggle, he was not going to lose it to an ambitious General. Hence the army was unwanted in his scheme of things. Thus the army was constantly neglected, marginalised and its fighting capability compromised. Still the army remained loyal to the nation with its focus on operational tasks. It obeyed each and every order without raising an eyebrow. Army men walked unarmed and bare foot into Golden Temple to disarm dreaded militants and a few came out alive.

It fought the LTTE in Sri Lanka and died for an alien nation. It wore lungis to assist a rag tag youth organisation of East Pakistan nationals to fight Pak occupation forces to liberate that nation in 1971 and forced 93,000 men Pak Army to surrender. Its officers and men like Capt Vikram Batra dislodged firmly entrenched Pakistanis from insurmountable Kargil heights. It is controlling strategically important Siachen Glacier against all odds where the temperature falls below 50 degrees. It carries out civic action programmes in J&K and North East to ameliorate living conditions of the locals. Still there are attacks on its role in combating militancy in J&K. Can any one deny that normalcy in North East and J&K is largely due to the sacrifices made by soldiers and rescue and relief in Uttrakhand is no body's guess. Otherwise also today we live happily and sleep peacefully in the border state because the soldiers guard us. This despised Army is not only the saviour of national sovereignty but also of those who face the wrath of the nature. Hope the role of Army in the liberation of Bangladesh and evicting entrenched enemy from Kargil heights as well as in relief and rescue operations in Uttrakhand has belied such misconceptions. Let us not wait for Pakistan and China to teach few more lessons.  

It is common knowledge that insurrections break out against corrupt and callous governance. The army is called in to restore normalcy so that the same corrupt govt continue to govern. In doing so, the army is often blamed for excesses. No one is interested in why the people were agitated in the first place or whether they are happy later. The govts are happy since the army does their dirty work, draws the flak while they continue to (mis)rule. Press reporters make whirlwind trips to the disturbed areas once in a while, pick up grapevine and make stories.

The army, having first-hand knowledge of the problems, produces no such reporters. Generals talk only of military affairs, not the civil affairs or (mis)governance. If the army is to be involved so often in counter insurgency operations or relief and rescue missions, it is time that the army is assigned to learns about the civil affairs to be more effective when needed. On this day, let us stand with our saviours and strengthen their resolve to defend the motherland.

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Courtesy: The Daily Excelsior: 16th January, 2024