Returning medals. is an act of renunciation. They won these by putting their life in danger. So it is an act of immense heart and love for the nation. The soldier does not indulge in doublespeak — he is loyal to the nation and not a particular political dispensation. Do not read too much into the means that the veterans are using to express their dissent.
The unfortunate (though not surprising) comment by the ostensible voice of the defence forces in the Union Cabinet, Manohar Parrikar, that the behaviour of the protesting OROP veterans was “Unlike that of a soldier” and that “These acts are not in line with the Army discipline. It is hurting the basic ethos of the Army”, is the sad unfolding of a telling reality, beyond slick political observation.
To understand the sophistry of this comment, it is imperative to understand the genesis of the 40-year-old OROP impasse, which was conveniently propped up and repackaged in the run-up to the 2014 parliamentary elections. Amongst many other political and electoral deceptions, a stridently “military” campaign which allowed the ruling dispensation to appropriate a martial, nationalistic and soldier-friendly posture and perception was successfully undertaken. An innocently apolitical comity of the defence services (a familial setup of brothers-in-arm from all services, irrespective of race, religion, region or rank) fell for it hook, line and sinker and took the political promises (of very exact and detailed nature) in the innocent spirit of a true soldier — OROP, a specific and key component of the political spiel.
Subsequently, reneging on a word given, bargaining and procrastination of the electoral promises by the political classes were a new and unfamiliar battleground for the defence forces. Pyrotechnics of jingoistic bravado, inside and outside the country, barely concealed the horrific sight of decorated and gallant soldiers sitting by the roadside asking the government to honour the word given, “honour”, being the operative word for themselves and for the government to keep. These dark times for the veterans also saw the birth of a slew of new military “experts”, like a much-celebrated fiction writer, who condescendingly suggested: “It’s time to analyse OROP with our head, not our heart” or like another famous political spinmaster and journalist who alluded to the financial burden and administrative issues as principal reasons against the OROP. Remember, this is not like decoding results of the Bihar election, where the famed political gravitas can come into play by deftly using sharp convincing logic, for and against a result, depending on how the results pan out during the day.
This subject is about the men, women and families who give up their lives knowingly, often using the heart and not the head — it is such raw sacrifice that keeps India, as it is. That said, we are proudly a democratic and free society and everyone is entitled to their views, however unpalatable or “half-baked” they might be.
So, what constitutes “soldier-like behaviour”, as referred to by the Defence Minister? Actually, the proximate concept of a “Gentleman Soldier or Officer” is instilled in the very first day of initiation or baptism as a soldier in a training institution. It is unique, sacred and uncompromisable as a prerequisite for an officer, to be called so (note very carefully, applicable to all serving or retired veterans, also).
It is a quality that stands out from the other citizenry that is best reflected in the way they talk, walk or conduct matters professional or personal — nothing that can besmirch the name of the nation, forces or at a more granular level, the paltan.
You need to belong to the fraternity to understand and appreciate the nuances and subtleties, therefore a rare journeyman and a proud former cavalry officer Jaswant Singh, as the former Defence Minister from the very same political party, stood head over heels in terms of military correctness and restraint in all matters, including passing judgement on qualifications of soldier-like behaviour.
Therefore, before being commissioned as an officer in the armed forces, one is proudly prefixed with the nomenclature as a “Gentleman Cadet” and not just as cadets — a telltale and irreversible augury of behavioural expectation and standards for life that are expectedly to be carried along to one’s graves — pray, which other institution political, civil or professional lays similar emphasis on the behavioural uprightness and correctness?
Perhaps, little known outside the services domain is the prompt and strict codes of Army laws that potentially courtmartial any serviceman for any matter that is considered improper or unbecoming of an officer or a soldier. Sometimes, the financial quantum of misconduct or misdoing is of an amount that would seem ridiculously low to warrant a dishonourable exit from the service, without any benefits — but that is how the organisational construct is. The serviceman usually walks with his chin up.
It is this spirit of wrongdoing or corruption and not the quantum of the same that is germane to the ethos of the institution. The codes of conduct and terms of engagement are above board, surely there have been issues and concerns, however the process of internal cleansing kicks in and the institution is thankfully spared of any outside interference.
The current standards of the services and public adoration is not without a reason. Conduct of the OROP struggle by the veterans is an unparalleled case study in terms of dignity and maturity. Nothing political, mutinous or anti-national should be affixed to it. Please spare it the political shenanigans and condescending banalities. This institution is incomplete without its veterans — the bond is inexplicably strong. Therefore distasteful and insensitive observations such as those of the Defence Minister reek of political chicanery, compulsions, backtracking and inability to honour a word given. Thankfully, the majority of the fraternity do not comprehend the concept of electoral jumlaas. Imagine, a situation of reciprocal logic from the military to the extent that, “all demands cannot be fulfilled” is filed back to the civilian masters when tasked to clear a breach on the border or addressing a natural calamity. The defence services are justifiably proud of confining themselves to the call of the nation either on the borders or internally, otherwise remaining content within their own barracks. There is nothing unsoldier-like about returning medals. It is an act of renunciation for something won by putting one’s own life in danger is an act of immense heart and love for the nation. The soldier does not indulge in doublespeak — he is loyal to the nation and not to a particular political dispensation.
It is shameful enough for the nation to see veterans treated like common criminals, as it happened in Jantar Mantar where the policemen forcibly tore up the shirt of a geriatric braveheart. In a democratic nation, our consciencekeeper with the civilian authority cannot be passing loose comments on “soldier-like behaviour” with political googlies and subterfuge of facts and commitments, after reaping the political harvest.
Lt Gen(Retd) Bhopinder Singh PVSM,AVSM
The writer is a former Lt-Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands & Puducherry.
