New Delhi: Sitting on a plush cream-coloured couch at his home in Gurugram, Major General Gagandeep Bakshi (retd) adjusts his tie, takes the stem of a delicate teacup in his hand, and begins to extol the virtues of military retaliation against Pakistan.
For G.D. Bakshi, war is not a diplomatic disaster, but an inevitable price Pakistan must pay for being a “pagal kutta”.
“A rabid dog that goes around biting everybody,” he tells Defensive Offensive, a news portal, shortly after we leave.
And the call is not entirely political — Bakshi lost his brother, Captain Srishthi Raman Bakshi, in a mine explosion during the India-Pakistan War of 1965. The Captain was only 23 years old at the time.
“His entire body was shattered to pieces in that mine blast. People collected whatever was left and burnt his body then only. Then they gave us urn with the ashes, saying ‘here, this is your brother’,” Bakshi tells ThePrint.
“After immersing the ashes, I was filled with rage. At that moment, I decided that I would join the armed forces and take revenge for my brother.”
Five decades, an illustrious career in the army, a PhD in military history, and two grandkids later, Bakshi’s quest for revenge has not mellowed. Rather, it has metamorphosed into another form — rabid rhetoric on television.
Nowadays, whenever the media needs a defence expert to cry war on Prime Time television, Bakshi is inevitably the man for the job. You can find him wagging a self-righteous finger on your television every other night, his gruff voice reaching a breaking point as his temper rises and his nostril flares.
The theatre of war
While he is synonymous with Republic TV, where he is an ever-present fixture, Bakshi has been making appearances elsewhere too.
Three weeks ago, his theatrics were on display in the ABP newsroom.
“How many casualties will we suffer? For 30 years we have tolerated this in silence, 30 years!” he can be heard screaming during a debate after the 14 February Pulwama attack.
“Pakistan will pay a heavy price for their unholy actions. I can promise you this. Agar Pakistan ko Mahabharata chahiya, toh woh ho ke rahegi! (If Pakistan wants a war, then they will get one),” he adds.
In January this year, while speaking at a conclave on Article 35A, regarding ‘permanent residency’ in Jammu and Kashmir, Bakshi spoke on the situation in the state. “I want their top commanders,” he says.
“I particularly want those Pakistanis who have come into my country without a passport or visa. Yeh koi randi khana hai? (Is this a whorehouse),” he yells into a reverberating microphone. “Yeh koi randi khana hai!?” he shouts again.
For those watching, Bakshi has become a performance — the top-most liked comment on the video (with over 3000 thumbs ups on YouTube) is by Dhruv Chopra who writes, “Those who came to see that moment when he loses his s**t, head over to 11:44. Thank me later.”
A week ago, as Bakshi sat on a panel in conversation with News Nation’s senior correspondent Ajay Kumar, a debate on alleged Pakistan-sponsored terrorism descended into the retired army general shouting, “Screw you! This isn’t about Pulwama.
“I’m only asking ‘Is Indian blood this cheap?’” he goes on in a tirade. “Come on, tell me you bloody peaceniks! Is Indian blood this cheap, you kabootar udane walo! Marjao chullu bhar paani me doobke (Die of shame). We are not prepared to die!”
The audience applauds.
All of this, say some of those who know him, is part of the problem behind the retired general’s hawkish posturing.
“In part, I blame the media and the viewers,” a retired army man, who has known Bakshi for 40 years, tells ThePrint. “They love controversial people, and even he (Bakshi) knows that if he hadn’t created this persona, they would give him less space on strategic matters.”
That he makes an impression on an audience is also due to his credentials.
Bakshi has seen more war, insurgency and terrorism than even an average Armyman — he was at the China front during 1971, in Punjab at the height of militancy in 1985, Kaksar in Kargil in 1987, Kishtwar, J&K, in 2000. His war-time experience has earned him both the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal for his service.
If that wasn’t enough, service in Kashmir is a family legacy. His father, S.P. Bakshi was the chief education officer of the Jammu & Kashmir State Forces (6 J&K Rifles), and his brother lost his life while serving in that regiment.
Bakshi says he joined the forces against his father’s wishes — who wanted him to be an IAS or IFS officer — and was commissioned into the very same 6 J&K Rifles.
His military experience, however, isn’t merely restricted to the battlefield. He was a member of the Military Operations Directorate — a planning body directly under the supervision of the Chief and Vice Chief of Army Staff. In the Ministry of Defence, Bakshi helped plan the Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka before he was sent to Siachen when tensions in the Kashmir Valley heated up.
For Bakshi, the horrors of war are real. He says that he has seen the bodies of soldiers tortured to death by Pakistani terrorists who “receive continuous refuge from the state”. When he talks of men dying at the border, he does not access a theoretical framework, but a lived one.
All of this, however, suggests the retired army man quoted above, shouldn’t cloud the judgement of Bakshi’s views.
“We have no doubt about his commitment and love for the nation, but the manner in which he is presenting it in his speeches needs more balance,” the army man adds. “People who have a love for the strategic domain are concerned.”
Also read: If Indian media becomes anymore servile towards Modi, it will lose whatever viewership it has left
A man of contradictions
Away from the glamour and aggrandisement of the TV spotlight and in the comfort of his Gurugram home, Bakshi’s views appear more tempered. He says “communalism, of course, is bad”, and that “nobody is forcing you to watch any particular media channel”.
But he also insists that Mughal rule in India was akin to Muslim colonialism by “our enemy for eight centuries”.
As we wait in his Gurugram home, three young students from Delhi University (DU) sit with a laptop next to the retired officer. One of the boys mentions forming an “Azad Hind Sena in every Delhi college,” paralleling that set up by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose during the freedom struggle.
Bakshi says that “it’s a great idea” and that “just as the NCC (National Cadet Corps) wears a uniform, Azad Hind Sena should have a uniform in every damn school and college”.
“I’ll invite ex-servicemen to deliver lectures on military history, strategy and give you training — you can learn judo, karate and other forms of defence. As long as they’re willing to say ‘Jai Hind’, Hindu, Sikh, Musalman, doesn’t matter,” Bakshi says.
For Bakshi, the distinction between a good and bad Muslim is clear — the faultline balancing on allegiance to Bharat Mata. Muslims in the Azad Hind Sena and Muslims who denounce the Mughal period are good Indians, but the rest, aren’t Indian at all.
It, however, merely takes the mention of Pakistan, Kashmir, and “our boys at the border”, to catalyse an unfurling — Bakshi’s bottom lip shakes as his mouth forms a grimace. He sits up straight, eyes wide, fist curling into a pointed finger as he asks, “Who died in Pulwama you tell me! All of you preaching for peace!”
On the alleged human rights violations by the Indian Army in Kashmir, he says the stone pelters are “them”, who deserve “no special treatment than the rest of the country”.
He makes his case by attempting to draw a parallel between pellet gun victims in Kashmir and the rioters who died in the Dera Sacha Sauda protests (in Chandigarh) “here in Hindustan”.
“In one day, 36 Indians were killed. No FIR was filed, there were no humans rights violations,” he says. “But pellet guns against violent protesters in Kashmir are human rights violations — it can happen only there, right?”
The PhD in military history or purveyor of ‘fake news’
Through the course of the conversation, Bakshi tells ThePrint that he is not just a “screaming Armyman”.
“A lot of people tell me that I’m a fauji, and am yelling for no reason, but I’m a PhD (in military history),” he says. “I know how to research. I’ve written two books.”
Bakshi then goes on to explain that after studying the Transfer of Power Archives in London, he was shocked to learn that a letter signed by the Viceroy of India, the Field Marshal, the Commander in Chief and the director of the intelligence bureau at the time, proved without doubt that “Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India Movement had failed”.
“We never got freedom from non-violence,” he says.
His downplaying of the Quit India Movement isn’t without reason. Bakshi is an ardent admirer of Subhash Chandra Bose — the army veteran is both a trustee of the Netaji Bose INA Trust and has written a biography of Bose, the Azad Hind Fauj and the INA, which he once told Republic World, “was really responsible for forcing the British to leave”.
“Of 60,000 INA soldiers, 26,000 were martyred. They may have lost the battles of Imphal and Kohima but they won the war for independence,” Republic World quotes him as having said. “It was the INA which was really responsible for forcing the British to leave. They had completely shaken the loyalty of the Indian soldier to the Raj.”
But Bakshi, who has also reportedly served as the deputy director of the Vivekananda International Foundation, alongside NSA Ajit Doval, hasn’t always had his finger on historical facts.
In February, he was responsible for spreading the fake news that the Pulwama attack was only possible due to a 2014 incident in Budgam, in which security forces were ordered to not stop vehicles at checkpoints on the Srinagar highway.
Bakshi blamed Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the directive, failing to realise that she wasn’t the chief minister in 2014 — Omar Abdullah of the National Conference was.
Further, the Indian Army had addressed the Budgam incident shortly after it happened, and their version was quite different from the one general Bakshi was describing.
https://twitter.com/ipbun/status/1097017086595936257
In what was described as a “hate-mongering lecture” by an IIT Madras student in 2016, Bakshi also reportedly said that “Dehradun was originally called Dehradrone, as Dronacharya’s camp was set there… In its spot, the Indian Military Academy has come up”.
Student Abhinav Surya, who wrote a complaint letter to the IIT director about Bakshi’s speech, told the media that the Major General’s contention was “an instance of distorting history”.
Of Republic TV and that temper
According to those who knew him, Bakshi’s “temper streak is not new and has been with him for decades”.
A former student of his at the Indian Military Academy during 1978-79 recounts instances where general Bakshi “threw a duster and chalk at one of the cadets who had dozed off in his history class”.
“He started by calling him an idiot and the abuses increased to the range of madarc**d and behenc**d. Although, he later did apologise that he shouldn’t have lost his temper,” the former student added.
“But passing by on his shining motorcycle, with his simmering temper and handlebar moustache, he was the typical fauji example for young cadets to look up to,” the former student added. “We saw him as a real soldier, who was no-nonsense, well-spoken, and physically impressive.”
In today’s world, Bakshi stands at the crossroads of two increasingly divergent worldviews — the liberals and the orthodox — and has built himself a boat on this Right-wing wave.
As he says, “you aren’t forced to watch the channels” you do, before going on to defend’s Republic TV’s controversial anchor Arnab Goswami.
“He’s doing what he’s supposed to do for his channel — he’s getting viewers,” Bakshi says. “And he has a very nationalist agenda, so what the hell is wrong with it? I think we need more of that.”
(The article was originally published in March 2019)
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Bakshi Sahib always speaks the truth, Ms. Nandita. Most of the local print media houses (Low Grade) in order to get some public attention believes in pointing out a few words with #tags., A few of viewers comments sometimes are hilarious, Atleast one should love their own motherland and support our soldiers.
VAID: Sure, one should love one’s soldiers and the motherland and so on. But is that achieved by a decorated General shouting Hindi abuses on TV ? Isn’t he tarnishing the reputation and professionalism of the Indian Armed Forces by stopping so low?
you are a troll, hired hitman for the print.
Mr Sushil Kumar: Giving you the benefit of the doubt and hence assuming that you have the intellectual wherewithal to argue – as opposed to merely being able to abuse like this uncouth General – pray tell me what is your counter-argument to my comment.
For the record, I was born in a military family and my elderly father who saw action in 1962 regards this politicisation of the Armed Forces and the participation of military top brass in cheap shouting matches as a degeneration of the high standards to which the Indian Armed Forces have held themselves. When high ranking Generals go on TV to abuse, hector, harangue and behave like filthy politicians, the message that gets sent to the rank and file is dangerous. The Indian Armed Forces have stayed clear of the muck that passes for domestic politics and by wallowing in that muck and dung, General Bakshi weakens the morale of the Forces.
India’s Forces meld Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist, Christian, South Indian, North Indian, Bengali, Assamese, Maharashtrian identities into one Indian identity willing to sacrifice itself for the nation. Indeed, that is the sole institution left in the country where such values have not been corrupted and corroded by politicians. The IAS, IPS and many other civil services have long fallen prey to the predators that pass for politicians in India. Indeed, the civil services have now become extensions of political parties such that honest civil servants like Ashok Khemka, Durga Nagpal etc. cannot serve the people. Under these circumstances, it is incumbent upon the Forces and its top brass like General Bakshi to lead by example and refrain from associating the toxic atmosphere of the political arena with the Armed Forces.
So, Mr Sushil Kumar, whilst I acknowledge that your abilities to abuse, let me now see whether you can come up with arguments to counter me. The gauntlet has been flung on your face Sir. Pick it up.
My foot
The Print and it’s horde of devil’s advocates like Nandita are the rabid dogs of internationalists who have reached a new low.Shameful how you people project your personal opinions as journalism to taint and belittle a veteran. You people think India is in a region where it can sustain itself without being aggressive. If that’s what you think ,then I can say is that u must be from the 1%priviliged arm chair works who live in a utopian delusion. Any country would and does retaliate if it’s soldiers, civilian and sovereignty are under threat and attack. We don’t celebrate or motivate notions of Ghazwa e hind. Our neighbours do. If you can’t deal with reality because it destroys your delusion of strawberry world, then leave journalism and start writing fiction. I understand you people are frustrated because majority of population don’t condone attacks and do suicidal introspection devoid of basic common sense, but that’s because most indians are survivors. Darwinian selection will get youse though.Whenever India fell ,it fell because the forts of India were opened from Inside by cucks.It seems Mir Jafars legacy live through you.Trade of your children if you want but don’t dare to think that indian public will buy your indoctrination on subservience and anarchy.Also don’t daydream of yourselves as some anarchist heroes in future history books.You will be only examples of miffed up , racist, hypocrites who sabotaged their country’s integrity, sovereignty , culture, identity, sacrifices and abused freedom of expression to belittle others who didn’t agree with you. Your alliance with forces and legacies of inhumanity to satiate your self pride and arrogance will be remembered #SabYaadRakhaJaaega. #TumDekhogeHumDikhaenge
ARedPillarKafir: The General tarnished his own reputation by:
a: Participating in Arnab Goswami’s freak show that passes for journalism in BJP’s India
b: Using filthy language utterly unbecoming of a man of his stature on live TV
c: Refusing to apologise for his outburst when things had cooled down
I don’t know whether participation in Arnab Goswami’s hot air blowing competitions has now become a lucrative gig for retired military folk. Nor do I know whether there are restrictions placed on serving and retired military men on what they can and cannot say in public out of confidentiality considerations.
In any case, utterly unprofessional and uncouth behaviour.
Hello ShitPrint. We support the General and are completely fine with his language but definitely not fine with your stupid article. 🙂
Mr Ninad: You bray:
“.. We support the General and are completely fine with his language ..”
I suggest you watch his shows with your mom, wife and kids such that you can get them to be more patriotic and expand their vocabulary with regard to Hindi abuses. Especially, your sons need to learn how to become Indian men and that is done by abusing womenfolk isn’t it Mr Ninad? Assuming of course that you haven’t taught them such filthy language yourself.
Truly said.
I would say, that Major General G. D Bakshi, has set a new milestone, when it comes to dealing with Antinationals, bootlickers of An Italian bar dancer, named Antonio Maino… I ll suggest, the Khangressis, and the Librandus, including Shekhar Gupta, that they stop defending these Lal Chaddi gang, Khan Market gang, or else, they will be named by the names, which they actually own…
Gaali khane wala kaam karoge to gaali hi khaaoge mere laal
Gen is a mad cow. He is forgetting that Indians are screwed by Chinese this time, don’t try to date towards Pakistan.
You have forgotten Abhinanadan episode
The print is a clear example you press people are called Presstitutes….
First close your eyes and think about whom you are writing about…. Note his works done for the country and then imagine your father who just made a mistake of not wearing a condom… See the result is journalists like you are born…. Utter shame on the part of Print to publish such articles.
I saw major Bakshi’s interview a while back and his language was truly appalling!
They thought the major how to fight but not any Civil discipline he looked like a sick man on television, A small amount of education would have been useful!
I have doubts about his fighting ability. Looks like he got shakha training. To fight, you need brains and self control.
China aur Pakistan dono pe attack kardo chillane se kuch nahin hota dono pe parmanu bum phod do kahani khatam roz roz ka natak khatam
उनके चाय के कप में बुलबुले फूटने को ही बख़्शी जी अब परमाणु बम का फोड़ देना समझ रहे हैं। पाकिस्तान के सामने शेर, चीन के आगे भीगी बिल्ली; बल्कि उससे भी बदतर। पीएम के मुँह से चीन का नाम भी नही निकल रहा है, जैसे कि ज़बान को लख्वा मार गया हो।बहादुरी दिखाने में भी दोहरापन। यह बहादुरी है या पाखण्ड।
This guy Is not an Indian period.
He is a hate monger like Arnab. Dividing our country for money
Well said Mr Cornelius Fernandes.
The general has lost his bearings and has demoted himself into becoming a moustachioed, frothing in the mouth freak in the Arnab Goswami freak show.
we are with Bakshi ji. Well said.
ShitPrint get this, we are with Bakshi ji
Mr. Bakshi has our full support sometimes you need to yell scream and abuse the fools who have no conception of history and ground reality.
The starkest ground reality today is China has “fu**ed up” India (if one has to use General Bakshi’s language) at the border. Instead of dealing in the historical realities of the past, it is prudent to face the present realities and fight against and overcome those realities.
Every person who talks about tearing the country apart, is using his freedom of speech and expression
But if a person out of his patriotic feeling expresses his views, he becomes a communal guy, a warmonger a bad person, an anti-secular individual,
According to u only shity Press like u and Students saying ” Bharat tere tukde honge”, are educated once and have a right of freedom of speech.
Shame on you @theprint
From which communist schools, Sekhar sahab , Theprint gets these sick lady intellectuals ?
This pressslut is employee of anti india portal called the print .. quint .. dhruv rathee all same gutter portals..
What do you mean, Mr Bakshi may leave it for forgiveness or foreignness whose brother was killed so brutally. You should note and know it that we don’t forget nor forgiveness our enemies like Ravana whose effigies are burn every year on dashahara. Hence we can’t forget our soldiers.
He just called what we wanted to call but could not. Kudos to Maj Gen Bakshi.
Nandita Singh – this article of your about him is a great example of stooping low. Attacking someone personally that a whole article is to be written about one Army Men. People like you are reason The Print doesn’t come under the mainstream media house because you folks have agenda against whoever speaks for the current government. Shame on you..
Bakshi is an over rated, unprofessional army man. He has found a niche advertising himself as the angry Hindu soldier who will knock out the teeth of the non Hindu enemy. This is his constant narrative. But his bravery is confined to the couch. For this, he gets handsomely paid.
After seeing his style, I doubt he has done anything heroic. He sounds like the typical RSS coward like Mohan Bhagwat who said he could mobilise his cadre in 3 days.
Bakhsi creates a repulsive impression of Indians and the Indian army. I would add he creates a very poor impression of Hindus too. Hindus need to think about this instead of following such people blindly.
Bhai rasgolla ke full payment karna ?
और हा तुम्हारा पेपर दोबारा न देखना पड़े वो विकल्प नहीं मिल रहा
No other words, just shame on you.
Mr Rasgolla: Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Sikhs are fully represented in the Armed Forces of India. So your claim about Gen Bakshi:
“.. advertising himself as the angry Hindu soldier who will knock out the teeth of the non Hindu enemy ..”
is not only in-accurate, it is utterly absurd and asinine.
I do not for a moment believe that Generals from the Indian Armed Forces should behave like Pakistani Generals and indulge in politics or advertise themselves in the media as Gen. Bakshi has sadly done. And then you have his uncouth language and unprofessional conduct on TV – none of which I approve. But Gen. Bakshi is no fool and when commanding troops; unlike his Pakistani counterparts, he can ill-afford to play the religion card given the composition of the Indian Armed Forces.
You also get facts wrong – but that is no surprise given the fact that they come from you. Gen Bakshi has seen action in many theatres of conflict and is a brave and decorated soldier.
My beef with the BJP rests in the fact that they have slowly injected their Hindutva poison into the Armed Forces. India’s civil services like the IAS have already been co-opted by the political class and today one sees that the BJP has corrupted the Armed Forces as well. Generals lobby and curry favour with the BJP to become politicians or get lucrative post-retirement posts. Or go on to indulge in shouting matches on TV.
As regards your advice to India and Indians:
“.. Bakhsi creates a repulsive impression of Indians .. creates a very poor impression of Hindus too ..”
well, thanks for the advice. At least, the Indian Army has not created mass murderers like Pakistan’s Gen Rao Farman Ali, Gen Tikka Khan and Gen Niazi have they ?
‘Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Sikhs are fully represented in the Armed Forces of India.’
That was once upon a time – in Mr. Nehru’s days.
Now every institution is being filled with Hindu communalists. If the army was professional, it would take the best fighters – and the best would be from Sikhs, Muslims and Gurkhas.
Today, in every field, you have an RSS appointee. You can only be selected if you have shakha background and gobar in your head. In Nehru’s day, he could select the best. Vikram Sarabhai to head the space programme; and Sarabhai could select the next best, Kalam. Today that cannot happen.
In a democracy, the legislature, executive, judiciary and media maintain a balanced independence. When the legislature gets corrupted, the rest follow. Now the legislature is infiltrated by the RSS, for whom all means are fair. The media, army and all others will follow suit. When you have Modi and Shah, you will get Arnob and Bakshi. What are Modi and Shah’s qualifications ? One has a communal riot and a forged degree; the other a fake encounter. These are the kind of people Hindus are producing today. These are the kind of people Hindus are voting for and extolling. So India’s degradation and downward slide can only be fixed to Hindus. What is wrong with accepting that ? One cannot blame Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Parsis; they don’t count.
I do not think there are many Muslims in the army now, and I do not think any will be inclined to join in the future. Akhlaq was lynched by a Hindu mob; his son was in the air force. Today, I would not recommend any minority to join the armed forces. I think the Sikhs should also leave the army after what happened in 1984. Let the Hindus fight Pakistan and China.
You end like a RSS Hindu :
‘As regards your advice to India and Indians:
“.. Bakhsi creates a repulsive impression of Indians .. creates a very poor impression of Hindus too ..”
My advice was for Hindutva Hindus, not to India and Indians. Bakshi creates a repulsive image of India (and Hindus). You also know it. You are amongst a minority of Hindus who disapprove; but the majority of Hindus admire Bakshi, Modi, Shah etc. Hence, statistically, it is valid India is dominated today by sub-standard Hindus and so it is going down. You know this is correct, but you do not like me saying it.
‘At least, the Indian Army has not created mass murderers like Pakistan’s Gen Rao Farman Ali, Gen Tikka Khan and Gen Niazi have they ?’.
That is the typical response of a RSS Hindu with gobar filled in the shakha. So how are you different from them ?
It’s clear that you aren’t ‘Hindu’ and that’s why you are anti-Hindu, anti-BJP and anti-Maj. Gen GD Bakshi. You “doubt” he’s done anything “heroic” because you are the descendant of the coward Indian who surrendered and converted before the Islamist invader. If Mj. Gen GD Bakshi won the ‘Vir Chakra’ because he’s coward like you, then every Indian Army soldier who got decorated for bravery is a coward. And don’t botherr about what Hindus think. For all we know you must be a Pakistani.
I am not anti-Hindu. I am against BJP and Bakshi. Uncouth Hindutva Hindus. Is there any doubt that such Hindus are dragging India down ? I do not see Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Parsis are pulling India down. Only such Hindus. Not all Hindu for sure. But we have too many uncouth, fanatic, incompetent Hindus. You need get real.
Rasgolla: Despite your feeble and token claim here, in most of your posts, you do not make a distinction between Hindutva Hindus and ordinary Hindus who will have no truck with the Nazi, Hindutva crowd.
And what exactly do you mean by saying that : “.. I do not see Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Parsis are pulling India down ..”? India has seen separatist movements in Punjab, North-East and Kashmir. Religion is a lightning-rod for channelling grievances and political parties know that. And that is a phenomenon you see all over South Asia. Burma ill-treats its Muslim Rohungya; Pakistan ill-treats Hindus, Christians and Sikhs; Hindutva forces in India do the same to minorities; predominantly Sri Lanka ill-treats its Muslims, Christian and Hindu minorities; Malaysiadiscriminates on the basis of religion and ethnic origins. The list is endless. And no, I do not for a moment claim that the pathetic standards of Islamic countries need be the standard for India.
You need to get real and stop looking at the world through your green-tinted, blinkered Paki Sunni glasses.
There is nothing objectionable in his speech. It was a slip of tongue. We indians can understand his heart. We are all support for this honorable patriot. Nandita, we are not happy with you calling him warmonger.
There is nothing objectionable in his speech. It was a slip of tongue. We indians can understand his heart. We are all support for this honorable patriot. Nandita, we are not happy with you calling him warmonger. I strongly suggest, Gen. Bakshi should be returned to Army and we should reclaim indian land occupied by both Pakistan and China.
Logical Indian: In your infinite wisdom, you bray:
“.. Gen. Bakshi should be returned to Army and we should reclaim indian land occupied by both Pakistan and China. ..”
Indeed, very “logical” thinking on your part !
I am sure when news of Gen Bakshi’s re-induction into the Army gets known, the Chinese will start quaking in their boots and not only withdraw from Galwan Valley but also hand over Aksai Chain and other areas captured from India.
I am sure, that the Pakistanis will also start pissing in their pants and handover PoK to India. LAC & LOC will be secured and you can go back to using your Chinese made smartphone in peace!
Why doesn’t the GOI listen your words of wisdom Mr Logical Indian?
We are with Republic and Gen Bakshi. Our salutes to them
Please write an article about Mohua Moitra’s Middle finger on Live TV also
Why this hatred with a patriot personality and it’s seems that your paper is a tool of anti nationalist to spread propaganda !
Anti national news paper !Every time it hurts the sentiment of Indians ! It appears that it has some Nexus with foreign elements and traitors who want to disturb our country !
Major General GD Bashir is a true patriot and has full rights to give gali to all the swine antinationals… He should rather shot them down.
Such a patients needs treatment in Galwan Valley from Chinese Doctors : he is real terro rists mind H I N D U ;
He is also U S and wes tern agent who will take commission from arms deals so he is busy in spreading hatred
You call him a patient? May be he is sick of his nationalism, BUT YOU NEED MORE MENTAL CARE.
Mr GD Bakshi Saheb is truthfully A Hardcore Patriot & Honest Soldier..
Whenever He is in Debate, he raises d bar..with his expertise,experience & as a matter of fact his knowledge..
The nature of high octane debates on going scenerio, compels to comeout with hard words furiously,
If a Abuse comes out then whats d biggg deal…as he speaks with facts,figures,patriotic zest zeal…
Janab Bakshi saheb…just keepitup…Godblesss you Always
Aroon bakshi
URGE TO READERS
The print, name itself indicates an opportunistic, separatist, communalist and misleading printed media. Believe me India, these people are slowly and steadily manipulating Indians against India , its culture and nationalistic people.
Major is respected person and he will remain. You don’t know his sacrifice towards nation, even after retirement he is saving country from anti-india elements. He will use such language against everyone, who try to break India.
The biggest liar in the Lutyens media is someone like Shekhar Gupta, who fabricated the front page banner headline story of Army coup. He should have been tried for treachery and jailed for 10 lifetimes. But he can thank his stars that BJP thugs are very soft on such anti nationals and traitors.
I am Proud of Major General GD Bakshi. During congress government , India media was almost sold. Now right-wing media appeared to counter these rascals. What this Sold writer wants?, the army men only speek like coward. we want are army should be aggressive like this General, so that Pakistani & Chinese will understand and dare not interfere in our affaires. Let left writer understand this, would be better.
Mr Macron: I guess a lot of Indians will be sleeping very comfortably in their beds – those who have beds that is – knowing that the likes of Gen. Bakshi who howl, hector and emit hot air on Arnab Goswami’s freak shows will be there to protect them from the Chinese and the Pakistanis ! I am certain that the General’s proficiency in Hindi / Punjabi abuses combined with the dhokla tactics of the 56 inch chested Gujarati will be making the Chinese shit in their trousers and the Pakistanis to pee in their pants ! Never mind the fact that Indian soldiers have been killed in Galwan Valley and India has lost territory to the Chinese.
Additionally, when you pontificate:
“.. we want are army should be aggressive like this General ..” ,
well, you need to remember the quotation from Sun Tzu:
“It is better to out-think your enemy rather than to outfight him”
But all that we now seem to have is a moustachioed Inspector Clouseau type cartoon who only out-abuses the enemy !!!
Don’t u have anything to do instead of writing lengthy shit arguments, literally every comment has your reply. You have made your point in one comment and it’s appreciated, let’s leave it there only.
Go away and cry somewhere else.
Hello, Fraud and illliterate journalist. This is a trash n shit of analysis to defame a decorated veteran. It’s quite obvious that you are working for an agenda based on some propoganda.
Cheap act of provocation tof a veteran Army leader by the political penalist! … Don’t stoop so low for politics and don’t ridicule Army men…
Tell army men to stop acting as political commentators.
Is your mind hurt after seeing GD Bakshi sir bashing your sick propaganda through his staunch and neutral patriotism?
I am not at all hurt by Bakshi’s pseudo patriotism. He has convinced me even more India is now dominated by uncouth, uneducated, uncivilised Hindus – starting from then PM, HM and down. Therefore, India has no escape from a downhill march. Such Hindus are in a rage as they suffer from an inferiority complex.
Every single patriot in India have no problem with GD Bakshi ji? And nobody cares what this theshitprint says?
This is what happens When you have a lot of fake datas with a good experience in manipulating public and misrepresenting facts and figures about a people or an organisation and mislead the whole public.
THE PRINT & THE WIRE are the best example of spreading stupid and fake propaganda and dividing public even in the most serious situations . In current scenario when our motherland needs all of us to come together and take a stand with our leaders and security force personnels , THE PRINT & certain other US , UK & CHINESE Paid news portals are spreading fake propaganda for their own personal benefits and earnings, and are trying to make India weak from inside as they clearly knows that the only India can be tackled is by creating difference in the ideology between the public of India may it be in terms of RELIGION, RIGHT WING OR LEFT WING , CASTE , or any other serious problems of India ,anyone with just a logical mind and a commonsense can easily understand the fake propaganda of this news portal.
The worst thing is that nowadays even our ARMY has to give clarification on every single matters, these sleeper cells in India are now targeting the Indian army and they have gone beyond the all limits of hatred for MODI and by making MODI an armour they are targeting the whole Indian army and Indian security agencies.
SHAME ON SUCH NEWS AGENCIES WHICH KEEP ON BLAMING SECURITY FORCES AND PERSONNELS FROM SECURITY FORCES OF INDIA.
‘India can be tackled is by creating difference in the ideology between the public of India may it be in terms of RELIGION, RIGHT WING OR LEFT WING , CASTE ….’
Get real. The RSS is doing that. They have put gobar in your head.
The Print got Gas & farted in Their Printing Machines
A true Fauji.. Purely standing out alone due to his Guts.. Jai Hind..
Not a true fauji, would be better in the RSS shakha with khaki cheddi.
Fake data…
Very educative Post. MG बख्शी Sahib, often goes off tvrrack. He can ni jump even 6feet Ditch. To b battle worthy one must jump across 9 feet ditch. We must protect our Soldiers. Best post treatment, best training, best weapn, best food. Protection to family. Best food. Jai Hind.
A person in uniform is well respected. My dad was also in armed force. This way any armed force personnel will not speak on a news channel. This is not expected from an armed personnel.
The channel is just using him for their TRP.
I agree, a respectable army man will nor speak like a street thug. It is TRP for channel and pension money for Bakshi.
Mr A Kumar: Well said Sir !
My father served in the IAF and saw action in the 1962 conflict. He flinches everytime he sees an Indian Armed Forces person getting involved in politics or on political debates on TV. Military personnel were expected to keep themselves away from politics and not speak to the media, even after quitting the Forces. My dad observes that convention to the letter.
But clearly, under the BJP when the party actively started courting Generals, thinks have fallen to a low. Pathetic.
The Print is run by people who do not understand what is good for india. There are people in our country who are victims of Macaulean educational system. These people are rootless. Cut off from reality. They live in their own echo chambers. And quite divorced from reality. Some of them are born stupid – like Rahul Gandhi. Other are born above average but their intelligence is turned useless because it bases it’s analysis on wrong information and flawed logic. Imagine a good computer running software that is designed wrongly. It will give wrong answers.
Shekhar Gupta is such an example. Decent computer (again not the best. But above average). But bad software. Leading to wrong answers and wrong analysis. But at the same time thinking he is speaking something sensible and correct. That happens because birds of the similar feathers gather together. So he gathers all these Macaulean influenced people around him. And then lives in his echo chamber. They all speak same nonsense and start believing in it. Forming increasingly good opinions about themselves. Completely divorced from reality / bereft of any substance.
Mr Deepak Birewar: Are you the product of a non-Macaulean educational system ? An RSS shakha perhaps ?
To have common sense you shouldn’t have to be RSS member. What you clearly dont have. To love your country and to expose the foolishness of Communists in our country sometimes you have to be harsh thats exactly what bakshi is doing. Have problem? Apply itch guard
Gen Bakshi and his new commander Arnab Göbbels Goswami do what their shakha educated paymasters tell them to do. And if you love your country, you do not demean one of the few upright institutions remaining in it by participating in a loud slanging match and inadvertently revealing classified, strategic stuff on TV. As Gen Bakshi has done.
Retired generals talking about their trade on TV is a national security threat. Listen to a few generals talking on TV, analyse what they say and you get a lot of dots that India’s foes can connect. China, Pakistan and every diplomatic mission would be listening to these men spill secrets about how the Army thinks, strategises, what assets it has, what they know about the enemy and so on. Serving and retired members of the Forces should NEVER go on TV or other media to give their expert opinions. This is not a bloody cricket match but a serious issue of national security.
So now you convince me that you have common sense Soumitra Mandal.
Bakshi has no class, unlike people like Sam Manekshaw. Bakshi is a typical shrill Hindu, trying to make up for his inadequacies, in the studio.. A person with valour and achievements would not do that. This is the best the Hindus can produce.
Why is Bakshi not shouting against Modi, who has not opened his mouth against China ?
Mr Rasgolla: Why this hatred against Hindus in almost all your posts? I am a Hindu and why do you insult me ?
I ahve several posts in The Print where I vehemently attack the forces of Hindutva and the many who support them in these columns. But I differentiate between Hinduism the religion and Hindutva, the Nazi inspired mobilisation of the religion for political purposes. There are many, many like me who do their best to keep religion out of the political discourse and make India a safe place for all, especially Muslims. There is state sanctioned persecution of Muslims in India with lynchings and riots being manifestations of that nasty BJP policy. Yet there are sane Hindu voices who fight against this descent into slow ethnic cleansing and marginalisation of Muslims in India. And your hate filled posts are the best justification for the Hindutvaists to continue their hatred.
And for the record, despite the fact that hatred of Hindus is rife in Muslims like you, I will not cease to combat both your hatred towards Hindus or Hindutva inspired hatred of Muslims.
You are a thorough disappointment Mr Rasgolla.
Hi I completely agree with you. Hinduism has to be differentiated from right wing agenda. India need people like you.
I am sorry. I was not against Hindus. I am against Hindutva Hindus like Bakshi and his supporters. They claim they represent all Hindus, so I am having a dig at them. I realise that not all Hindus are fascists and a good many are risking life and limb, out of principle. I am not criticising you or anyone who writes logically.
I strongly condemn your unjustified and unthoughtful criticism and abusive contexts of “Hinduism” through your various comments on this forum vis a vis an article on General Bakshi and his hawkish uttering on and off the media. I consider that to be a blunder on your part. “Hinduism” and “Hindutva” are two distinctly opposite doctrines- being poles apart, so to say. One stands for all inclusivity and humanity while the other, exclusivity, and all the evil traits associated with it. Now though you have tried to do some damage control exercise by your response to “Kili Jolsiyar” (who, in my view, happens to be one of the sane commenters on the print) here, but much damage has already been done. You have provided those with enough fodder who lay in wait for such material. Evil forces are at work 24×7 to destroy the Indian societal fabric completely, so one has to be monumentally careful in one’s words and deeds so that these forces do not succeed.
I understand what you and Jolsiyar are saying, and I have no dispute. However, has not the time come to call a spade a spade, and say Hindutva is fascism, Hindu style ? Nehru said that. Savarkar proposed the Two Nation Theory before Jinnah accepted it. Therefore the Hindutva brigade caused India’s partition in 1947, and that is driving India down the road of more break up. Believe me with CAA-NRC, India was heading for civil war. We should consider Covid (and China) as India’s saviour from civil war, because Modi and Shah would not have stopped. It is better if Hindus stood up and took on the Hindutva fascists and said ‘not in my name’. They should point out Savarkar’s Hinduism will not save Hindus and India. If that cannot be done, then there will be question marks on Hinduism itself.
On your remark that ‘One stands for all inclusivity and humanity while the other, all the evil traits associated with it’, Hinduism has always stood for caste system which is NOT inclusivity at all. My question is whether Hindutva is not an effort by caste Hindus to preserve the caste system ? If so, then the time has come for dissident Hindus to say ‘I am ready to disown Hinduism if it means Hindutva and enforced caste system’.
You will note that I am not using the language of Bakhsi and his supporters, nor am I preaching hatred. I am open to being convinced by rational argument.
Major Gen.G.D.BAKSHI ….JAI HIND SIR. What you have done,is the need of the moment.Thank you Sir…. Salute.
General probably isn’t aware, many young join armed forces out sheer necessity to feed their families as there are no or very few jobs. They cannot become a lamb because someone wants war. No soldier would say openly that s(h)e joined as there is no other job, but will say they joined to serve nation. War in TV studio is different from real battlefield.
You are right, Amit Shah did not send his son to the army. Instead, the son made a packet just before demonetisation, and now he runs the lucrative Delhi cricket board although he has no connection with cricket. No Gujarati has made any contribution to the army. Instead, they let Chinese business enter.
You hit the nail on the head Mr N. Nagarajan !
In almost all countries where there is no mandatory military service, armies generally attract people from the poorer sections of society. In the US, army recruitment booths are seldom to be seen in malls in the richer sections of town but mostly in the poorer ones. And blacks are dis-proportionately high in the US Armed Forces. Similar trends can be seen in India and Pakistan as well. The rich ensure that their sons get out of India, Pakistan and China and get the coveted Green card in the US or some other Western country – not join the Army. My own father joined the Forces due to dire economic straits and was not driven by nationalism and other lofty ideas initially.
The warriors of the TV studios, especially in Arnab Goswami’s nasty Republic Channel only whip up jingoism and Muslim hatred making a rapprochement with Pakistan difficult. It is easy to theorize from the comforts of a TV studio but quite another thing to fight in the high altitudes of Siachen on pathetic army rations. And at the end of the day, Arnab Goswami is not going to send his kids to the Armed Forces – his bellicose bluster and TV patriotism notwithstanding.
Toh Kya, Hua ? Itna Lamba Report kiske liye likhi hain , aapke repoter aur writer itna khaali baithe hue hain ? ???
This article sucks
Sir Gd Bakshi rocks.
Bakshi rocks in the studio. On the war front, he would have been another Hindutva coward. He is trying to make up for it in the studio.
rasgolla, Faarting due to gas ? do not eat rasgolla much.
That is what Sanghis would do if they were sent to LoC or LAC !
Gen bakshi i am with you stay strong sir jai hind ?
Some people need abusing sometime anyone can loose patience if speak against india
WTF? That man has been in multiple gunfights. You’re speaking out of your ass. I get it you don’t agree with what he says on TV but you can’t call him a coward. He has done more for this country than people like you will do in a hundred lifetimes.
Who knows what Bakshi did in the army ? For all you know, he might have been just a rapist in Kashmir, or he might have shot some students. It is like Modi claiming he has got a Masters. When Modi speaks, does that show ?
A brave highly decorated soldier
Full of patriotism
Hated by anti INDIA lobby and Turkey Turkey gang
EVERY ONE IN INDIA MUST SALUTE A BRAVE AND PATRIOTIC SOLDIER LIKE GEN BAKSHI
I have great regards for Gen Bakshi’s credentials and his passion for the country. However, he has to be a civilised participant while taking part in TV debates being aired during prime time. In Addn, he also has to be circumspect of instigators like Arnab who r there to exploit his emotions.
Please everyone knows how much your owner hates the Army. Gen. GD Bakshi is a hero for us who was willing to sacrifice his life for dogs like you. That person who was provoking him deserved those abuses. No one messes with a army man and gets away with it.
Watch your words, you call him him wsr monger but if you have guts call your congressi maliks war mongers coz these are they are having more fetish for war than anyone else, He is a retd general, knows war way better than you show some respect you boot licking camcha
The man has fought for the nation and has sacrificed in highest terms to earn this privilege of taking part in a TV debate. I would love to know how ThePrint has contributed to this nation, to the media or for the matter, to the world. These people think that they own media, presenting biased news about others but at the same time they have problem from the BJP IT cell that trolls people. How ironic!!