The shocking revelations made by Indian Army to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence regarding the dismal level of preparedness of the army, shatters much of the faith that people of this country had on the ability of parliamentary democracy to take care of the defence preparedness. This issue of the lack of preparedness on the part of the army does not mean that the foot soldier in army is no more willing to sacrifice his life for his nation. Even today, he is as much committed to the cause of the nation as he has always been. But there is a limit to how much the commitment of the foot soldiers or their field commanders can essentially win wars for the nation unless they are given the right kind of weapons to fight with.
Unfortunately that decision regarding the urgency of the need of such requirements and to buy that at literally the speed of thought, cannot be taken by them or their superiors. That decision is at the discretion of the political leadership of the country and the bureaucracy. Often, irrespective of whosoever is in the ruling dispensation, the politico-bureaucracy class has little or no understanding of the warfare doctrines or strategies. And therefore, for silly reasons of propriety, geopolitical considerations and of course the corruption factor, decisions with respect to purchase of weapon systems move at the pace of the sloth. This problem gets aggravated by the fact that none from the politico-bureaucracy class or their progeny ever have to face the music of the advancing enemy. It would still be the ill-equipped foot soldier who would be asked to prove his patriotism and commitment to the call of duty while facing bullets. It would not be a botheration, if that foot soldier still continues to be lacking amenities as basic as knee and elbow guards, a bullet proof jacket which can thwart a bullet in reality and night vision goggles. It’s a shocker that India has not bought howitzers for two decades now, time since the Bofors scandal was exposed. The Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) deal is nowhere near completion till date. And the first plane from that would not arrive possibly before 2015. The army and the paramilitary continues to use vintage carbines and they have not yet been replaced. Shockingly most of the equipment, sought by the NSG after the 26/11, are still in the pipeline and there seems to be no urgency on the part of the government to take up these issues of acquisitions on a war footing. The case is the same with respect to LCA, IRBMs, purchase of combat and transport helicopters, anti-material guns and submarines. Incidentally, the trend is that successive governments have taken a lot of pride in cancelling defence deals in order to prove their credentials and devotion to the cause of propriety. It is not the propriety factor, which would come to the aid of India in case of a crisis, but the acquired equipments that would save the nation.
Not every minister is P Chidambaram. And thus, it is important for the bureaucracy to make sure that the foot soldier is not let down in the battle field. Unfortunately, the Indian bureaucracy especially the IAS officers have exemplified in their ineptness in handling defence and home ministries. What India needs today is a dedicated cadre who have been educated in military, conflict management and strategic studies to man the defence and home ministries. The need of the day is a new stream like Indian Defence Service on the lines of IFS or IRS. Unless that is done, the Indian foot soldier would continue to be an ill-equipped and dispensable commodity, always let down by the babus sitting in cosy offices.
Unfortunately that decision regarding the urgency of the need of such requirements and to buy that at literally the speed of thought, cannot be taken by them or their superiors. That decision is at the discretion of the political leadership of the country and the bureaucracy. Often, irrespective of whosoever is in the ruling dispensation, the politico-bureaucracy class has little or no understanding of the warfare doctrines or strategies. And therefore, for silly reasons of propriety, geopolitical considerations and of course the corruption factor, decisions with respect to purchase of weapon systems move at the pace of the sloth. This problem gets aggravated by the fact that none from the politico-bureaucracy class or their progeny ever have to face the music of the advancing enemy. It would still be the ill-equipped foot soldier who would be asked to prove his patriotism and commitment to the call of duty while facing bullets. It would not be a botheration, if that foot soldier still continues to be lacking amenities as basic as knee and elbow guards, a bullet proof jacket which can thwart a bullet in reality and night vision goggles. It’s a shocker that India has not bought howitzers for two decades now, time since the Bofors scandal was exposed. The Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) deal is nowhere near completion till date. And the first plane from that would not arrive possibly before 2015. The army and the paramilitary continues to use vintage carbines and they have not yet been replaced. Shockingly most of the equipment, sought by the NSG after the 26/11, are still in the pipeline and there seems to be no urgency on the part of the government to take up these issues of acquisitions on a war footing. The case is the same with respect to LCA, IRBMs, purchase of combat and transport helicopters, anti-material guns and submarines. Incidentally, the trend is that successive governments have taken a lot of pride in cancelling defence deals in order to prove their credentials and devotion to the cause of propriety. It is not the propriety factor, which would come to the aid of India in case of a crisis, but the acquired equipments that would save the nation.
Not every minister is P Chidambaram. And thus, it is important for the bureaucracy to make sure that the foot soldier is not let down in the battle field. Unfortunately, the Indian bureaucracy especially the IAS officers have exemplified in their ineptness in handling defence and home ministries. What India needs today is a dedicated cadre who have been educated in military, conflict management and strategic studies to man the defence and home ministries. The need of the day is a new stream like Indian Defence Service on the lines of IFS or IRS. Unless that is done, the Indian foot soldier would continue to be an ill-equipped and dispensable commodity, always let down by the babus sitting in cosy offices.
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