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At the time of independence, one of the institutions
that free India inherited from the British was
the Indian Army. In fact the seeds of India’s
independence from Britain were sown almost a century
earlier in 1857, when the First War of Independence
was fought under the leadership of Jhansi ki Rani
Laxmibai. While the British won that war with
all the might and wiles at their disposal, they
realised the potential of the Indian soldier as
a fearless fighting machine, capable of supreme
sacrifice at the altar of a just cause. It is
this potential that they used to full advantage
to extricate themselves from a difficult situation
both during World War I and World War II, when
Britain was seriously threatened. The Indian soldier
proved his worth fighting in the battlefields
of Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia. Post Second
World War, one of the reasons besides Gandhiji’s
sustained campaign, that compelled the British
to grant independence to India was the disquiet
and rumblings within the Indian military.
The Indian Army is an institution which is trusted
and admired by its countrymen. As we approach
the Army Day on January 15, it is an appropriate
time to look at the culture and ethos of the Indian
Army and examine what values have contributed
to building up of this fine institution post independence.
National interest
National interest has always been the driving
force for the Indian army. In every crisis that
the nation has faced, the Indian Army has been
a responder of the last resort. Be it a threat
to national security or havoc wrought by a natural
calamity like floods, earthquake, tsunami, and
cloudburst etc., the army has always been there
when all other means have not succeeded. Even
when a child falls in a bore hole or well, people
look to the army to come to their assistance.
To preserve the unity and territorial integrity
of the country has always been taken as the primary
responsibility of the Indian Army and it has relentlessly
worked to carry out this task with an unsurpassed
sense of duty and patriotism. Since independence,
India has faced external aggression challenging
its territorial integrity a number of times. Each
time, the army, at the expense of large scale
casualties and sacrifices, has acquitted itself
admirably. Even when its resources were limited
during the 1962 war with the Chinese and it suffered
reverses, it was never found wanting in terms
of bravery and patriotism. The battles at Rezangla
(Ladakh sector) and Namka Chu (Tawang sector)
are a silent testimony to it.
Similarly, unifying the country and preserving
its sovereignty has been a sacred responsibility
which the Indian Army has discharged with aplomb
since independence. If 600 odd princely states
had to be united under the Indian flag, it could
only come about due to the active involvement
of the Indian Army, both as the sword arm of the
union as well as a forceful presence on the national
landscape. Post independence, different parts
of the country have been exposed to insurgencies
from time to time till date. Indian Army has steadfastly
and painstakingly worked, at tremendous cost to
itself, to contain and defeat them. Even now,
as it celebrates the Army Day, its soldiers are
fighting insurgency both in J&K and in the
Northeast.
The culture of patriotism and selfless devotion
to national interest has been built in every soldier
from the time of his joining the army. No wonder
then that the nation holds the Indian Army in
very high esteem and looks up to it whenever there
is a crisis.
Secular
There is no institution in the country which
is more secular than the Indian Army. Even 66
years after independence, the Indian society is
hostage to caste, creed and religious differences.
Communal riots have been a regular feature of
our country. Caste-based politics have frequently
been used by political parties to create vote
banks for winning elections. In such an environment,
the army has consciously and consistently maintained
its secular stance. It gives due respect to all
religions and practices their good points. All
regimental centres and units maintain temples,
mosques, churches and gurudwaras to enable their
soldiers to pray as per their religious philosophy.
Sharing in each other’s religious celebrations
is a regular feature in every institution of the
army.
Whenever communal riots have broken out in any
part of the country, thanks to the secular image
of the army, it is to the army that the government
of the day has fallen back for assistance for
controlling and resolving the situation. In all
these cases, the army with its impartial and unbiased
approach has been fully successful in restoring
peace and stability. All victims of communal riots
have always been provided immediate succour and
relief without distinction. The Indian Army never
takes sides with any community and the assistance
that it provides is rendered without looking for
a quid pro quo. It has been experienced that even
while it is functioning jointly with police in
riot affected areas, various communities are keen
to have the army rather than the police operating
in their area.
The Army zealously guards its secular credentials
because over the years it has become a part of
its ethos. Recent attempts by some to carry out
a census of different communities serving in the
army were forcefully resisted because they would
have impinged on the secular character of the
army.
Apolitical
The Indian Army is the upholder of the constitution
of India and the President of India is its Supreme
Commander. Not only is the army not aligned with
any political party, it makes conscious efforts
to remain and be seen as non-aligned and apolitical.
Unlike in some of our neighbouring countries,
the Indian Army has steered clear of politics
and left the governance of the country in the
hands of the democratically elected representatives
of the people. The Indian Army fully endorses
the principle of civilian control over the military
and follows the directions of the political authority
in the discharge of its constitutional responsibility.
Attempts in the past to involve the army in
political issues have been politely but firmly
resisted. Thus when requests were made for the
army to intervene in Gorkhaland and Gujjar agitations,
the administration was requested to utilise its
police resources to stabilise the situation. Discussion
of politics in any gathering of army personnel
is taboo, highlighting army’s apolitical
character.
Leadership
The Indian Army is justifiably proud of its leadership.
Its leaders have invariably led from the front
in setting a personal example in courage and bravery.
While there is one officer for every thirty soldiers
in the army, when it comes to giving sacrifices
and laying down their lives, the officers are
always in the forefront. During all the conflicts
since independence, for every eight soldiers killed,
an officer has laid down his life. The younger
leadership has acquitted itself especially well
and produced excellent results in all crisis situations
whether in Siachen or during Kargil war or, when
combating insurgencies.
To quote a captured Junior Commissioned Officer
(JCO) of the Pakistani Army during the 1971 war,
”If we had officers like the Indian Army
we could have beaten any army in the world”
sums up the esteem in which the Indian Army leadership
is held by our adversaries.
Professional Training
Whether the military or the police, all the
organisations get their recruits from the same
stock who are at a similar level of competence
in terms of education and capabilities at the
time of recruitment. It is the kind and manner
of training imparted to them by the army that
sets them apart and makes them better soldiers.
Proficiency in handling weapon systems, ability
to work and contribute as member of a team, toughness
to overcome difficulties in achieving success
against all odds, camaraderie, patriotism and
motivation to be ready to lay down his life for
the izzat of the unit and the country are instilled
in every soldier during the course of rigorous
training.
The Indian Army derives satisfaction from the
kind of training institutions it has created to
train its personnel. Aware that it is the standard
of training that makes all the difference between
just a good soldier and, a better soldier; all
its training institutions have been painstakingly
nurtured to develop an ethos of professionalism
and excellence. Competent, dedicated and especially
chosen instructors are posted to the training
institutions ensuring that excellence is maintained
in training at all times.
The Soldier
Finally, a discussion on ethos of the Indian
Army can never be complete without describing
its soldier who is the bedrock of this ethos.
Predominantly from a rural stock, the Indian soldier
is the son of the soil in true sense of the word.
He is hardy and tough and is adept at putting
up with rigours of soldiering and overcoming them
by sheer dint of hard work. Frank and forthright,
he is a proud human being who understands the
language of love and affection. Extremely protective
of the ‘izzat’ of his family, unit and
country, he is a simple and straight forward individual
who is capable of sustained hard work. His requirements
are few, which makes him ideal material for a
soldier. He is, to a great extent, responsible
for the larger than life image that the Indian
Army has acquired in the eyes of its countrymen.
Conclusion
In the past couple of years, the image of the
Indian Army has taken a beating. While not finding
excuses for this, it would be wrong to ignore
the prevailing general environment from which
the army draws it sustenance. A diminution of
values and a culture of corruption and nepotism
in the country have had their fallout on the army
as well. However, the Indian Army’s professionalism
and resilience have enabled it to overcome these
aberrations and rise like the proverbial phoenix
from its ashes in the past. The process of rejuvenation
has already started in the present case as well
and it is only a matter of time when it recovers
its full glory.
The wherewithal to develop capabilities to be
prepared to take on the challenges to the national
security of the country has to be provided by
the political leadership. The possibility of our
having to defend ourselves on two fronts in view
of collusion between China and Pakistan cannot
be ruled out. Given requisite resources, the Indian
Army would deliver on its responsibilities. This
has been proved time and again since independence.
The above is by no means an exhaustive list
of values that make up the ethos of the Indian
Army. There are many intangibles which add up
to the overall ethos. Shortage of space prohibits
their discussion in detail. Suffice to say that
the Army day is an appropriate time to remind
ourselves of the contributions of this excellent
institution to the nation.
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