I’ll speak about Indian army.

1. Extreme competition. Indian army is a dog eat dog world. There’s competition for everything, be it for staff college, UN Postings, instructional assignments or for def attache postings. Sometimes, this heavy competition can get unhealthy.
2. One bad senior, one bad acr. Your career will be spoiled forever, unless you have a Regimental Godfather, or have served on the staff of a top officer and managed to impress him.
3. If you’re from OTA, you’ll be somwhat looked down upon by exNDAs and IMA DEs. It’ll not be in your face, but sublte. Very less in quantity, but yes, it’ll be there. “ Which academy”- “OTA” -”Oh”
4. Having said point 3, let me tell the aspirants, it doesn’t matter which academy you pass from. All officers, irrespective of the academics are same and legally, everyone has the same promotional chances. No one will be discriminated for promotion on the basis of entry.
5. Inter-regimental rivalry amongst the various Infantry regiments.
6. “Mandalisation of the Army” as col Ajai Shukla puts it. Here vacancies for higher ranks and staff college are based on the size of the arm. Basically a quota system. Infantry, being the largest and Artillery being the second largest are the biggest benefactors. Armour, engineers and signals are the losers.
7. Usage of outdated machinery.
8. Buttering for promotions. Merit matters, but per se not much if you can be an average worker and in the good books of your Seniors.
9. Some officers really misuse the sahayak system. Its a shame. Such misuse wasnt prevalent in my father’s time. But now…?
10. Sometimes, but very rarely, your wife’s activities in AWWA can have a say in your Acr. Some commanders take it personally, if your wife isn’t particularly active in battalion/formation welfare activities. (Actually, the commander’s wife takes your wife’s actions personally and will complain to her husband who’ll then hold it against you). This depends Commander to commander. You can get screwed if you get such a petty commander but such jokers are a rarity, not the norm.
11. The 2nd biggest dark side – separation from your family. I miss my parents and my GF. As a kid, I didn’t see much of my father. Being from the Infantry, he had frequent field postings.
12. Biggest Dark side- Everyone takes you for granted. People would rather miss sridevi than my course mates who were matyred. When sridevi died, almost everyone in my WhatsApp contact list gave out status updates/stories. When a coursemate of mine got matyred a year ago, very less people cared.
13. When I remember Kapil Kundu and Ummer Fayaz, i remember their brilliant future which vanished into thin air, thanks to our ineffective bungling netas. When I remember Cols Mahadik and MN Rai Sir, i remember their children, who’ll have to grow up without a father. I also remember a friend of my grandfather. ( grandfather was an officer too!) This friend, despite being a war casualty in 1965 had to fight with the IDAS babus for his disability benefits. Mostly, you get apathy from babus. Politicians will say their sweet words, but will forget them within seconds, for we are not a votebank.
14. I also remember this. In 2014, Matyr Capt Debashish Sharma’s home was robbed. Amongst various things stolen was Capt Sharma’s Kriti Chakra, the award for which he had paid his life. Guess what happened when his distressed old mother went to police station and requested them to trace the late matyr’s medal? The police, demanded a bribe. Yes, you read it right, the police demanded a bribe to trace a matyr’s medal. Such a shame.
15. When one is posted in the field, his family will be forever scared and anxious. Prayers will forever be in their lips. I have seen my mother, anxious, her prayer time would be considerably longer when father would be in field.
16. But despite these dark sides, I feel, army is the best career for a adventure seeking, ambitious youth who wants to do his bit for the country. Although the babus are trying to downgrade the aukaad of the fauzis, the izzat they command will never diminish. I would like to quote, “ What’s a better way to die, than fighting fearful odds, for the ashes of his father and temples of his God”.

Our Correspondent

KULLU, APRIL 13

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has again cleared snow from 13,050-feet high Rohtang Pass after the snowfall at the peaks on April 11 and 12 had hampered the movement of vehicles. Earlier the Manali-Keylong road was connected by the BRO on April 5 but traffic came to a halt after the Rohtang again received about two feet of snow.The BRO’s 38 Border Road Task Force (BRTF) commander Colonel AK Awasthi said that snow had been cleared from Manali-Rohtang-Keylong highway. He said that teams of jawans moved towards Rohtang from its both sides and accomplished the task late on Friday. A few vehicles went from Manali side to Keylong.The district administration had made an arrangement that one day vehicles will move from the Manali side toward Keylong, while on the other day vehicles would be allowed from the Lahaul side towards Manali.The road remains closed for traffic for about six months during winters due to accumulation of heavy snow on the Pass, gateway to Lahaul valley. Every year the Rohtang receives heavy snowfall, which cuts off the residents of Lahaul Spiti from the rest of the state for several months.The Rohtang Pass is a major attraction for the tourists and the district administration has said that tourist vehicles would be allowed after broadening job is completed by the BRO and there are adequate parking facilities.

India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, the Tejas. Twitter: IAF

Jodhpur, February 3

The Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, General David L Goldfein, on Saturday flew India’s indigenous light combat aircraft ‘Tejas’ at the air force station here.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Goldfein, who arrived here on Friday, was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal A P Singh as co-pilot during the sortie, defence officials said.

“General David L Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, is on an official visit to India. He flew a sortie in ‘#MadeinIndia’ LCA Tejas aircraft at AF Stn Jodhpur today,” the IAF said on Twitter

Goldfein yesterday interacted with the airmen and pilots at the station.

“His visit was a gesture of mutual cooperation between the Indian and the US air forces, both of which are considered the best in the world,” the official said.

Earlier, General Goldfein had stressed on the “strong relationship” between the two air forces.

“We look forward to deepening the relationship between our two air forces,” he said in his posts on Twitter and Facebook.

The first squadron of Tejas was inducted into the IAF in July 2016. PTI

Jodhpur: US Air Force Chief General David L Goldfein flew a sortie in indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas on Saturday at the IAF station in Jodhpur. Goldfein arrived in India on Thursday, on a visit to boost defence ties between the two nations. In November last year, the Defence Minister of Singapore Ng Eng Hen was flown in a Tejas fighter jet. Produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Tejas can fly at 1,350 km per hour. IANSKer Speaker in eye of storm over Rs 50k glasses       Thiruvananthapuram: A controversy has erupted over Kerala Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan purchasing a pair of spectacles for nearly Rs 50,000 and getting the amount reimbursed from the cash-starved state exchequer. Replying to an RTI query, the Secretariat stated that the Speaker spent Rs 49,900 for spectacles — Rs 4,900 for the frame and Rs 45,000 for the lens. The Speaker said the purchase was made on doctor’s advice. PTIPanchgani among cleanest, Aamir elated        Mumbai: Actor Aamir Khan says he is proud that Panchgani, where he got married to Kiran Rao in 2005, has been named as one of the country’s cleanest towns. “I am very proud that my town Panchgani has been selected as one of the cleanest towns in India, winning three district honours: Open defecation free city, Swachh city and Best Municipal Council in the state. My gratitude to local leadership, administration, and my fellow citizens,” he tweeted. IANS

Ramkrishna Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

Thousands of property owners have been left in the lurch as the Chandigarh Housing Board has stopped the transfer of property on the basis of the general power of attorney (GPA) and the special power of attorney (SPA).The CHB action comes after the UT Finance Department issued directions to all departments that no transfer of title or mutation shall be carried out merely on the basis of the GPA and the SPA. The wills executed along with such GPA/SPA shall also not be considered for effecting the mutation.Interestingly, the Finance Department has issued the order in pursuance of the same judgment of the Supreme Court dated October 11, 2011, passed in the case of Suraj Lamp and Industries Pvt Ltd vs the State of Haryana under which the CHB had been allowing the transfer since 2015.The two different interpretations of the Supreme Court order has left the owners of CHB flats in a fix. The Finance Department, quoting the order, issued directions on December 19, 2017, to the Estate Office, the MC and the CHB that the UT GPA/SPA cannot be treated as an instrument of transfer of title as per the Transfer of Property Act. According to the directions, “No transfer of title or mutation will be carried out merely on the basis of GPA/ SPA. However, these instruments — GPA, SPA and will — can be used for getting the conveyance of the title deed registered.”Sources said acting on the directions, the CHB had stopped all transfers with immediate effect. More than 1,000 cases pending under the Tatkal scheme had also been put on hold. The CHB, in its policy approved in 2015, allowed transfers of dwelling units based on GPA transactions, where GPA/SPA and agreement to sell/will were executed on or before October 11, 2011. While Chairman of the CHB Maninder Singh could not be contacted, Finance Secretary Ajoy Kumar Sinha said the directions had been issued as per the order of the Supreme Court.JD Gupta, property consultant, said the Finance Department should allow the transfer of property on the basis of GPA prepared before October 2011 as per the order of the Supreme Court. He said the decision would result in a revenue loss to the government and would also increase litigation.

Military bands performing at Vijay Chowk during the Beating Retreat ceremony on Monday. — ANI

New Delhi, January 29

Amid soulful classical renditions and foot-tapping numbers rending the air, the Beating Retreat ceremony was held here today, which marks the culmination of Republic Day celebrations.The ceremony this year at Vijay Chowk saw several military bands, pipes and drums bands from regimental centres and battalions enthralling the crowd, with a clear sky and relatively warm weather adding to the cheerful atmosphere.The function began with President Ram Nath Kovind arriving at the venue, his first appearance as the Head of State during Beating Retreat ceremony.Several performances by Army, Air Force and Naval bands, among other troupes, thrilled the audience with patriotic fervour, as they cheered loudly against the backdrop of a delightful twilight.Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other dignitaries along with chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force were present on the occasion. — PTI

Ramanpreet Kaur holds a photograph of her husband Pargat Singh in Karnal on Tuesday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Karnal, December 26

The family of Sepoy Pargat Singh, killed in ceasefire violation in the Keri sector of Rajouri on Saturday, today hailed the operation carried out by Indian forces in which four Pakistani soldiers were killed. They urged the Army and Centre to continue such retaliation to avenge the supreme sacrifice of soldiers.“I have lost my son, who has made the supreme sacrifice for the country. I do not want more mothers like me and wives like my daughter-law to suffer. The Army and Union government should continue surgical strikes till terrorism is wiped out,” said Pargat’s mother Sukhwinder Kaur.Hailing the Army action, she said, “I appreciate the reaction of Indian forces to Pakistan, but there still is need for stringent action against Pakistan. Action from our side should be continued. The government should give a free hand to the Army and not stop it from taking any action against Pakistan.”Raising anti-Pakistan slogans at his residence, Pargat’s son Yuvraj Singh showed his willingness to join the Army to avenge his father’s death. “I will join the Army and take revenge for my father’s sacrifice,” he told mediapersons.Pargat’s wife Ramanpreet Kaur echoed similar sentiments and appreciated the retaliatory action. She said, “I appreciate the retaliation by my solider brothers as Pakistan deserves such an action. It understands the language of the bullet instead of love. I am proud of my husband’s sacrifice. He wanted to make Yuvraj a top officer. I will send my son to the Army to avenge his father’s sacrifice.”

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flags off INSV Tarini, a ship that will circumnavigate the globe, in Goa on September 10, 2017. — PTI.

London, January 28

An Indian Navy sailing team out to make history as the first-ever voyage by an all-women crew to circumnavigate the globe is now docked at Port Stanley, the capital of Falkland Islands – a British Overseas Territory.The six crew of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini started their maiden voyage on September 10 from Goa and is expected to complete it in about eight months.INSV Tarini entered the port earlier this week after covering approximately 15,000 nautical miles since setting off from Goa, crossing the Equator, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn.The vessel is captained by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, with her crew comprising Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta.“It is always a surprise when nature catches you unaware just when you are lost into its mesmerising beauty, such as our awe when we witnessed the Auroras – the southern lights… only a lucky few get to witness this at sea,” said Lt.Aishwarya, who has been maintaining an online blog of the group’s experiences.The indigenously-built INSV Tarini is a 56-foot sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy last year and the voyage is described as a showcase of the ‘Make in India’ initiative on an International forum.The vessel and the crew experienced rough weather and stormy winds during their passage across the Pacific Ocean, which spanned 41 days. This coupled with the extremely cold climatic conditions of the region, involved winds in excess of 60 knots and waves of up to 7 meters.The expedition, titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’, was flagged off by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of the national initiative to empower women to attain their full potential. It also aims to showcase “Nari Shakti” on the world platform and help revolutionise societal attitudes and mindset towards women in India, by raising visibility of their participation in challenging environs.The vessel is scheduled to return to Goa in April, and will set off for Cape Town in South Africa on February 4. The first port halt was at Fremantle, Australia, in October 2017, the second at Lyttelton, New Zealand, in November and now Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.The crew has been collating and updating meteorological, ocean and wave data on a regular basis for accurate weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as also monitoring marine pollution on the high seas. They have been interacting extensively with the locals, especially children, during their port halts to promote ocean sailing and the spirit of adventure. — PTI.