EXTENSION ?

 EXTENSION ?

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

31/V/2024

 

It has been a long time since I have expressed my opinion on political happenings in the country. No point banging your head against a wall. In the same breath, I have also maintained silence on matters military. However, I couldn’t help poking my nose now.

Firstly, I wanted to congratulate our new Naval Chief, Admiral Tripathi. A very dear course mate and a brilliant officer. We met in October last year and I didn’t know that I was standing next to the 'would be' Chief of Naval Staff. God Bless him in all he has in store for the Indian Navy and our beloved country. Be rest assured dear countrymen, our Navy is in very capable hands.

The other thing which got me thinking was the extension in service of one month given to our Army Chief. It took me totally by surprise, if not a shock. All permutations and combinations, conjectures and guesses as to who would lead the ‘olive greens’ got churned up.

The reason given by the government didn’t go down my gullet well. Formation of a new government in the next couple of days held up the retirement of the COAS. The General Officer had already received his retirement dossier from the Vice Chief recently as shown on social media by ADGPI. Was it the Army’s deception plan? I am not sure.

If I remember my army basics correctly, every officer has to be capable to work two ranks up. Depending on the rank, he has to think and plan not only about his ‘area of responsibility’ but of his area of influence also. We are trained and groomed for that.

A Havildar’s job is taken over by a Naik in the section. Likewise the chain of command is maintained upwards seamlessly. Similarly, if the Commanding Officer suddenly dies/falls critically sick/removed, the unit doesn’t stop functioning. The ‘ethos and Dastoor’ of the Paltan ensure that things are taken over by the Second in Command without a glitch. Elaborate SOPs exist.

A Brigade has a Deputy Commander, irrespective of whether he knows his job or not but has to fill in the gap till a replacement arrives. Staff officers have to run the show.

The Division has a Deputy GOC, a Corps has a COS and so does the Command. The Army has a Vice Chief, who is as capable if not better than the incumbent. He is there precisely for such eventualities.

An officer should also be capable of doing the job of an officer two levels below his rank too. Therefore, to say that retirement has to wait because of election results doesn’t meet my eye. CDS could have looked after the Army but the succession should have gone through.

Doubts and speculations start incubating. Are the Officers who were next in line, not capable to take over as the Indian Army Chief? One of them has headed the Northern Command and one is heading the Southern Command. One had already been placed as Vice Chief.

Do these two gentlemen not tow the line of the present political dispensations? Which seems to be the biggest possibility or am I reading too much between the lines.

Are these officers, not the ‘gaon-walas’ of the you know who? The same person who comes from the hills. He had a soft corner for people who wore Gorkha/Garhwali hats. He calls the shots silently, in conjunction with Mota Bhai, who keeps in the shadow of another Bhai who is meditating.

Another thing which was not gelling with me was whether the next two officers in line were not in congruence with the present CDSs thought process. A possibility which cannot be ruled out. I am sure that all names for such a coveted appointment are vetted by him. If not, then there is something amiss.

Our Armed forces bear true allegiance to the Constitution of India and not to any political dispensation. So how does it matter who comes to power? Also, every officer in the Armed Forces is as important.

So if one is being given an extension, so should each once who would retire on the same day. The pay check for all retiring officers of all the three services combined would be far less than one Rafale which is being procured to be deployed on the new aircraft carrier. I leave this as food for thought.

Is the Indian Army ““Apolitical”” anymore? I have seen many ESM who have joined political parties in the guise of galvanising ex-servicemen after leaving the army. Some look for plum appointments after retirement for which they have to be ‘yes men’. I hope good sense prevails on them.

Maybe, politics is not my cup of tea, but it is not a cup of coffee for those ESM who get politically inclined. They realise it only once they are used and thrown, like you know what.

Well, as they say, there is a slip between the cup and the lip that has come true after granting an extension to the present Army Chief.

So much political interference is not good for health. Hope along with the extension they had announced the next incumbent’s name. This exercise could have been done well in advance to avoid such controversies. Who will be the next Army Chief? Like I am wondering, you wonder too!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS