INS Sindhuratna Accident: Deeper Questions

The mishap of INS Sinduratna yesterday  and  Sindhurakshak in august last year are just two of the ten accidents that took place  in past seven months in Indian Navy alone . An episode of an army soldier killing his five colleagues before committing suicide is another tragic incident that made into headlines of all papers and TV channels yesterday. Court of inquiry has been ordered in both the cases and reports will tell us the technical reasons  of mishaps.These two apparently uncorrelated incidents call for deeper understanding and pacifying  increasing level of depression and frustration in men and officer in uniform.
Chief of Naval staff Admiral Joshi resigned yesterday taking moral responsibility of incident and a lot has already been said and written about how our armed forces have lived to high standard of morality. There is no doubt that our Armed forces have always risen to occasion in crisis and have done exemplary work in peace and war, despite visible divergence between  our politico- bureaucratic set up and  men in uniform.

While it can be argued that aging fleet of submarines in Navy and aircraft in Air force are the major cause of incidents, Yet, corrective measures must also be taken within the armed forces regarding morale and training of men who maintain these machines. Isn't it a matter of concern that no engineer from top IITs and NITs takes the engineering career with armed forces? A look at the promotion policy for different branches within defense will tell you the reasons for that. A comparison between civil counterparts and defense officers adds salt to injury.

The technical staff in ranks who maintain these sophisticated machines are well trained but the question that needs an honest answer is , are they  and their families well looked after ? A rational unbiased study done will easily show that functioning in military organizations still has deep shades of British Raj where lesser mortal sahabs have a different standard of life compared to subordinate in ranks. Closed autonomous decision making and improper grievance redress system are not at all compliant to positive flourishing  and thinking mind. It is high time that an answer is found to why so many trained technical people in uniform decide to quit their career in middle age for an uncertain future while in civil fraternity no one ever quits a government job after 20 years of service.

Hopefully good sense will prevail  and we will see  better coordination  not only between bureaucracy of defense ministry and armed forces but also among people in uniform . It is high time that those in position of power formulate policies and develop work culture that  is sensitive towards self esteem of men placed below them.

Government and Armed Forces

It was great to see so many people stand up for boosting moral of Armed Forces which was  claimed to be supposedly lowered by remark of an average human right activist on suggestion of plebiscite of Kashmir . People wrote at length about how one suggestion by an individual was an act of utter disrespect for Armed forces. Encouraged by this sudden flow of  concern by people I am sharing  following two facts for your consideration to decide how Governments sometimes treat veterans of Armed Forces.

Isn't it ironic that the Government which is proposing to spend 3000 crores for rebuilding Lutyens' Bungalows at Delhi that accommodates 100 odd politicians has filed second reconsideration petition in supreme court  for amendment of  the effective date of benefits of arrears of   pension anomalies  for ex - service officers and men from Jan 2006 to Sept 2012 . The sixth pay commission became effective  from 01 Jan 2006 so the pension should have been amended for that day .However as some  anomalies in Pay commission in case of retired personnel were resolved later Government wants to pay arrears  from  24 Sept 2012  .SC had quashed the appeal of Government in Single Bench so they have applied for review.

Insensitivity that is shown  in  formulation of policies   against disabled and war disabled soldiers results in number of cases going to court . When Court upholds and justifiably intervenes , soldiers are forced into ruthless litigation. . Government  with its large team of  lawyers and Solicitors  is busy waging  a war against its own disabled soldiers, but can these soldiers and their families afford to effectively fight this war against the official establishment at the level of the Supreme Court? 

The question looms large,  don't  the people who gave their youth and sometimes their whole life without many complaints about  injustice, hardships and high handedness of authorities within the forces for the honor of  emblem on their caps, deserve peaceful and dignified existence even after they are out of uniform?

It is time we learn to respect vertical people instead of writing sweet obituaries about them  when they become horizontal .

Challenges before AAP and Arvind Kejriwal

The success of Aam Adami Party is not in 28 seats that it won in recent assembly elections. Its real success lies in inception of this belief that ordinary and common people with extraordinary resolve in their mind and uncommon fire in their heart, can get support of public against the swindling mercenary style politics of professional politicians. Their victory has, in many ways, rejuvenated the hope for a democracy, where people we choose to represent us, do not become, our rulers.

A new Government of these young unknown names will be sworn into power in hours from now. Needless to say, this authority to govern will come with a bagful of responsibilities and expectations that is already bursting at the seams . As an average, unknown, nation loving citizen, following are few things that I suggest that they watch out for

1. Don’t confuse populism with socialism: Socialism in its true sense is judicious investment of human and material resources to generate growth that raises the standard of living for the masses. Socialism must aim at uniformity rather than equality . Task of good government is to convert population into useful human resource that can substantiate growth for individuals and nation. Job of government is to develop means for dignified existence of citizens rather than distribute freebies for political gains. A thinking and rational citizen does not necessarily need things for free. He wants quality of goods and services in easy and uninterrupted manner for a transparent cost for all. Onus should be on improving the quality rather than just reducing the price. Take for example electricity, focus should be on bringing down transmission and distribution losses to reduce cost , amicable profit cutting of companies through audit, without tempering too much with demand supply equation and disturbing the costing mechanism or we stand a fear of going back to DESU days of anarchy.

2. Take humanistic capitalism route over pseudo Marxist path: Any social engineering, no matter, how purposeful requires finances that come from direct and indirect taxes. Every welfare scheme costs exchequer an amount . Hence , industry and corporate should be encouraged with conducive policies for growth with minimum of administrative hassles that sadly is lacking from their focus so far. This in my humble opinion is the major reason of popularity of Mr. Narendra Modi. "Amiri hatao " should not take over "Garibi Hatao" in a zest for equality. Growth in industries and infrastructure will also create new jobs that will lead to sustainable development.

3. Have a diversified model for development: India is a diverse country and has vast socio- economic stratum. Aspirations of different segments of society are very different , diverse and demanding. For example, middle class and youth would like to have boost to entrepreneurship through easy availability of loans and government sponsored ventures. Riches and established industries would look for policies favorable for export for business diversification and alliance with foreign collaborators for technological up-gradation and capital investments. Poor sections of society would justifiably want protection and right to dignified existence by provision of basic amenities at subsidized cost besides essential education facilities , basic health and protection that indeed are responsibilities , obligation and duty of every government in a welfare state. These diverse requirements demand a much wider model for growth than their present Gandhian model of 'Swaraj'.

4. Be Diplomatic in Public speaking: Media these days is news hungry , more than willing to put words in mouth of leaders to form another story. They need to choose their words carefully. They really need to realize that sending the corrupt to jail is job of court not the political party leaders. Thankfully they have masters like Mr.Yogendra Yadav who are perfect in their measured responses.

5. Never mind the cynics : This world of full of people who criticize each and everything that is new without understanding the meaning of popular adage that "every great event starts with a hearsay and ends with a dogma". This compulsive habit ,this ardent desire to show that they know the other side and inside of every story is out of psychological complexes in personality. Critics will talk, there will be caricatures in the social media every hour and there will be lot of venom spiting by paid party workers of opponents and some unpaid self proclaimed intellectuals . Unperturbed by these noises ,they should continue to focus on task cut out for them because only work and time will be their reply to such elements

6.Take required security cover : It is a welcome step to put an end to VIP culture of which every self respecting citizen finds very offending but at the same time Arvind needs to realize that he is taking on mafia in a big way and a certain amount of security is essential for public figures. As the saying goes "Believe in God but lock your car " . There is hardly any need to publicize his route and moves that will only make him a soft target. He should also prepare and bring to lime light a second line of leaders . Democracy and party politics can never be a one man show. 

Young India will be watching them starry eyed for they stand to parent rebirth of morality in Indian polity . The period of gestation may be long and delivery very painful, but I think , no one can dedicate their lives for better cause than this . Destiny and Public have offered them a unique opportunity. Hope they don’t waste it. As a well wisher, supporter and admirer of their believes , I sincerely wish them best of luck.