ABCD of Indian Politics

The ABCD of Indian politics...

• Avoid (initially)
• Bypass (on pressure)
• Confuse (on extreme pressure)
• Do it (when there is no option left)

Today while interacting with the media at Delhi, Mr Kapil Sibbal and Mr P Chidambaram followed the ABCD of Indian Politics in true letter and spirit. They said that the government of India wants to generate a common consensus of the proposed LOKPAL BILL.

Whether to bring the office of PM and the Judiciary in the ambit of LOKPAL can not be decided by the committee alone. They need to have a feedback from all quarters of the power.

Bottom Line... They are seeking the opinion of a would be criminal that if you commit a crime in future, should I be investigating you or not?

Larger issue..... India had enough of politicians and many more lawyers and now politicians. What we lack are leaders and statesmen in this country. People who can rise above personal gains and think only about national interest.

On the issue of LOKPAL... Politicians have forgotten that India is not a Monarchy or a Colony.

Every institution is accountable to citizens and no one can claim clemency in a democracy.

Published by the team of INDIAN ANALYSIS

PART-TIME FORCES AFTER 1857

"India's part-time forces were completely reorganized after the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857. This was primarily with an objective of avoiding any future conflict of similar nature with a better response mechanism. The idea was two fold; to train and arm all British civilians in the art of soldiering so that they are able to respond to any contingency and also to provide standing reserves to reinforce the regular forces........................"

Readers may click the following link to read more on the subject:

http://territorials.blogspot.com/2011/04/part-time-forces-after-1857.html

INDIAN TERRITORIAL ARMY

New entry on the Territorial...

"Popularly known as the Citizens' Army, Territorial Army is an organization of gainfully employed Indian citizens who are not professional soldiers but amateurs who have a passion and love for the country and who are eager to contribute their spare time for obtaining military training so that, in the event of a national emergency, they can play their part to meet the internal security needs and contribute their might in the defence of their motherland..........."

To read more readers may click on the following link:

http://territorials.blogspot.com/2011/04/indian-territorial-army.html

Origin of India's Territorial Forces

To view this post kindly click the title or the link below:

http://territorials.blogspot.com/2011/04/origin-of-indias-territorial-forces.html

TERRITORIALS

The Blog aims to analyse the past, present and future trends of India's territorial forces and also popularize the concept of citizen soldiering. To view, please click the title or the link below:

http://territorials.blogspot.com/

Major Gonville's Honor Finally Restored in India

New Cantonment Cemetery, Allahabad Now Looks Like This

Major Gonville's Grave Now

New Cantonment Cemetery, Allahabad in February 2010 Before its was Mentioned in My Blog

Broken Memorial of Major Gonville alongside the Regimental Memorial of 24th Regiment

Major Gonville's Grave in February 2010

Graves of Many Other Soldiers

Major Gonville Bromhead, V.C.

Its gives me immense satisfaction to covey to my readers that the Honour of Major Gonville Bromhead, V.C. has finally been restored in India. The story goes back to February 2010 in the heart of military cantonment of Allahabad when I had the opportunity to visit the New Cantonment Cemetery where many fallen soldiers of the Indian Army have been buried alongside their Regimental Memorials. One such soldier was Major Gonville Bromhead who fought bravely in the famous Battle of Rorke's Drift (Natal, South Africa) in the Anglo-Boer War on 22-23 January 1879. Setting a fine example and conducting himself with great gallantry in most trying circumstances during the defense of Rorke's Drift, Bromhead was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to Commonwealth countries.

Interestingly in the same battle a total of 11 Victoria Cross were awarded. The battle was also enacted in India at the famous Agra Fort to demonstrate military commanders how it was fought. Many historians wrote books on the battle and also a feature film titled Zulu was made in England.

To read full account of the battle and Film, readers may refer the link as :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorke's_Drift

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOV63yLPYEA&feature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_(film)

The officer finally died in India on 9 February 1892 due to typhoid at Camp Dabhaura, Allahabad and was buried at Plot B-1, Grave 66, New Cantonment Cemetery, Allahabad. A memorial with a plaque in the Havard Chapel and his name on the colour pole in Brecon Cathedral was also placed. Alongside the Grave at Allahabad Cemetery is the 24th Regiment (of Major Gonville) Memorial with the engraving of other veterans from the Anglo-Zulu War. The Cemetery also contain Graves and Memorials of fallen Indian Army soldiers who fought unto their lives to defend the honor of nation as far as South Africa, Egypt, East Africa, Burma, Afghanistan, NWFP....It is endless.

Unfortunately, when I visited the Cemetery, Major Gonville's grave was in complete ruins surrounded by animal waste and the memorial broken. The caretaker there was not interested the his work and was rather using that historical space for selling milk. I took the photographs of all that and published an article in the blog.

Original Articles in My Blog:

http://theindiananalysis.blogspot.com/2010/01/recipient-of-victoria-cross-major.html

http://theindiananalysis.blogspot.com/2010/02/once-dead-always-forgotten.html

The issue was picked up by the British media and Zulu War Forum and the British Administration also took a serious note of it. The article was also republished in the famous British Daily The Independent as:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/rorkes-drift-heros-grave-lies-in-ruins-1884349.html

The Zulu War Forum as:

http://1879zuluwar.talk-forums.com/t1659p30-bromhead-s-broken-grave#7032

Finally, a team from the Commonwealth War Grave Commission arrived in India and has fully restored the Cemetery; a work which an Indian Army Division stationed there could have easily done without such an effort. But.... that doesn't seems to be its Key Result Area or in military terminology known as the KRA!!!

Plight of Few Good Women from the Indian Army

Lady officers granted commission in the Indian Army in 1997 and who were due for discharge on 7 March 2011 can now, have a sign of relief; as the Honorable Supreme Court has restrained the Army from discharging them, pending a decision on grant of permanent commission.

It must be noted that the Indian Army had challenged the Delhi High Court verdict allowing women the grant of permanent commission in the armed forces (women officers till date are taken on SSC for a maximum period of 14 years only unlike their male counterparts who have the option of permanent commission during the short service tenure itself ). Though, the other two services went ahead with the decision, Army expressed reluctance siting various reasons and had appealed against the court judgment

The Supreme Court had last year stayed initiation of contempt proceedings against the Army on account of non-implementation of the HC orders when the government promised that it will dispassionately examine the issue of grant of permanent commission to women officers.

Despite being obtained the immunity from contempt proceeding, the Army continued discharging the lady officers and did not bother about the orders of the court. It was finally shown the might of the judiciary that no institution is above the law of the land.

Government of India has also instituted a high-powered committee headed by a Lieutenant General to examine the issue and on 11 January 2011 had sought six weeks to revert back to the court.

A lady officer, who had been discharged earlier due to non-implementation of the HC judgment, had accused the Army of suffering from gender bias in not granting permanent commission to the women who work shoulder to shoulder with other similarly placed gentlemen officers in non-combat arms of armed forces.

A word of Caution to Mr PM

Its been great to see the PM taking it all on point blank while interacting with the editors of prominent news channels. But.... But.... the mere lip service alone would not suffice to counter the ever increasing blunders of present Indian Government. Mr PM rather will have to rise above petty political considerations and play the role of an anchor.

In todays Geo-Political magnitude where media has enormous powers to generate public opinion he should utilize this opportunity and bring home the confidence among citizens. He should also remember that the sparks of Egypt have already swept the entire Arab world and India is not far off......

See the full Q & A session on the following link:

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/prime-minister-s-q-a-with-editors/191098

(From the news team of Indian Analysis)

Rules for Central Government/PSUs Employees while Joining TA

Dear Readers

This is in response to the number of queries received by me asking on the policy subject for employees of Central Government as well as of those of PSUs. Readers have been specifically asking the rules allowing them to join the Territorial Army.

In this regard, may I draw their attention to the ruling given by Department of Public Enterprise, Government of India.

Readers may open http://dpe.nic.in/ and keep clicking in the following fashion:

DPE Guidelines/Chapter II/Service Matters/Para 14.

Happy Republic Day

Why Republic Day is Important to all Indians?

26th January 1950 is one of the most important days in Indian history as it was on this day the constitution of India came into force and India became a truly sovereign state. In this day India became a totally republican unit. The country finally realized the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the numerous freedom fighters who, fought for and sacrificed their lives for the Independence of their country. So, the 26th of January was decreed a national holiday and has been recognized and celebrated as the Republic Day of India, ever since.

Happy Republic Day....

TA Adversitement

Dear readers..
The TA Advertisement is out and one may refer by clicking on the title.

New Year Greetings

Ben Franklin had summarized the new year greetings as,
"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each year find you a better man."
How correct he was??
Happy New Year.......
Best Regards.

Crush the Naxals

The recent massacre of paramilitary personnel in hands of Naxal Insurgents has brought forward certain basic flaws in our system. There is also a strong reason to believe that our security set up is nothing but a crisis management infrastructure. The comments of Union Home Minister are well understood but he has a lot of work to be done and begin from the basics.

From a layman's point of view following deductions can't be ignored:

• That there is virtually no coordination between the state and the central administration.
• That there is virtually no political consensus on the issue.
• That there seems to be no respect for central authority by the states.
• That our policy makers are not aware on the principles of the of use of armed forces in such conflicts.
• Certain quarters of Indian Air Force also seems to be confused in the use of air support.
• Naxals appears to be better trained and organized.
• Our state and central para-military forces seems ridiculously ill trained and organized.
• That police leadership seems to be completely unprofessional in tackling such issues.
• That there is too much of freedom of expression to people in India.

Series of events over the years have taken place that brings us to the above deductions. Our people are dying as cannon fodders and there is a sympathetic wave for these killers in the heart of our Capital. Imagine if it could happen in Delhi which part of country is safe. You cannot allow people on the name of democracy to speak against the very fabrics of democracy by justifying brutal killings.

Mr. Chitambram has a lot to begin with. He cant' afford to wait until the monster becomes too ugly to be tamed. Certain key areas where he can emphasise are:

• Create a core team of battle hardened ex soldiers, Territorial Army officers, scholars, ex bureaucrats, ex police officers, ex intelligence operatives and prominent citizens. Why ex is because they would have no personal interests in the bargain. This team should work as a think tank to the minister in evolving a clear strategy.
• Tell the states that their political agendas can not come in the way of national interest. Nobody should be allowed to speak against the national interest in the name of freedom of expression.
• Reorganize all our central para-military forces in a single force with various wings into it. We have plethora of forces and all confused on the specialist role to be performed. Create a centralised leadership, ethos and values. Pull ex short service commissioned officers of the armed forces to create a nucleus of junior leadership. Utilise the services of Territorial Army members in the entire endeavour. Create a system of lateral transfer of armed forces officers into the para-military force after colour service. This was also recommended by the Kargil Review Committee.
• Create an operational command head-quarter to coordinate all operations in Naxal affected states. Utilise military infrastructure for training the forces.
• Put all counter forces under a single commander who should also be fully empowered to deal with the issues. He should initially be an ex army commando.
• There should be no political interference in the operational functioning.
• Every state to have a state advisory committee to coordinate with the operational command but that should only be advisory in nature.
• Operational Command should have a dedicated media management cell to control any propaganda by the Naxals and also effectively using media in correctly disseminating information.
• Not the least, re-analyse the intake of Indian Police Services (IPS). It is not a bad idea that all IPS entrants should made to serve in the army initially for five years before being inducted into the police cadre. Another option is to allow them to serve as part time army officers in the Territorial Army along with the police service.

Naxalism has become such a menace that can't be ignored. It should be tackled with an iron hand and for that "National Will" is a must. We need to tell these forces that India is not the China of early twentieth century where state authority was brutally defeated by the Marxists. The Geo-Strategic reality has changed and India is out to play a leading role in the current world order.

(Picture: Google)

Do We Care for Our Heritage?

This is the same place at Alfred park in Allahabad where freedom fighter "Chandra Sekhar Azad" was killed by the British under a tree. Though the tree was cut subsequently, the place remained sacred for all patriotic Indians since then. Another tree was planted by the relatives of Azad but that too was never allowed to be worshipped by the British. The location of tree however, is still a mystery.

Post independence, a statue of Azad was erected by Government of India at the same location to allow people to pay tribute to this brave son of the motherland but unfortunately it has become a place for irresponsible citizens to rather disrespect the Hero.

A Request to Visitors

The Response with Shoes on

Dead Soldier is not a VIP in this country

An incident worth a debate has happened at Delhi Airport on Wednesday when eight serving Indian Army officers, all in uniform with their identity cards, led by a Major General were denied entry in the Airport by the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force). The officers were there to receive the bodies of Captain Devinder Singh and Naik Selva Kumar who died fighting the terrorists at Jammu & Kashmir. The officers also included a Brigadier, recipient of "Kirti Chakra", Nation's second highest gallantry award during peace time.

The officers as per Indian rules are not VIPs and thus, not allowed to enter without a valid ticket or special permission from the Ministry.Now interestingly, following individuals are allowed to enter the Airports as VIPs:

1. Spouses of High Commssioners
2. Dalai Lama
3. Robert Vadra (Son-in-Law to the head of a Political Party)

It is also interesting to mention that even the Chief of Indian Armed Forces were not included in this list till an year back who were later added after a lot of pressure from the media. But still, even our Lieutenant Generals are considered far below the status of Mr. Robert Vadra.

Imagine the kind of impression it would have created among people at the Airport watching these highly decorated soldiers not even allowed to enter a premises of their own country and that too for security reasons.