Learning how to salute is no rocket science. Any able-bodied person can learn how to give an average military salute with a few minutes of practice.
Take newly sworn defence minister Rajnath Singh’s salute at the National War Memorial on 1 June, for instance. The defence minister is giving a half Nazi salute; the salutes of most senior officers are not as per their respective service norms; senior officers of the same service are saluting differently. Only the salutes of an odd senior officer and the relatively junior officers in the rear measure up to their service standards. (Ironically, the Raksha Mantri looks fitter than some of the senior officers.)
One does not expect civilians to give a perfect salute, but for the military there is no excuse, because methodical training is imparted to maintain the saluting and bearing standards.
Most politicians fail to realise that they actually look a little comical while trying to ape the military personnel when saluting. What is worse is that senior military officers in the company of these politicians do not measure up to being the role models that they have come to be recognised as owing to their below par fitness, bearing and saluting. While politicians can be forgiven for ignorance, but an incorrect salute by a senior officer is a manifestation of a leadership problem.
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Salutes and their protocols
The origin of the right-hand salute, without a weapon, which signifies lack of hostile intent, goes back to the Roman times. Knights in armour would raise the visor of the helmet to express a similar sentiment. Over the centuries, the salute in various forms – through hand gestures, presentation of arms, or rifle and cannon shots, or by hoisting flags – has become the universal norm for showing respect to commanders, dignitaries, fallen soldiers and the national flag.
A smart salute is an image with which the common public identifies the soldier. Strict protocols regarding salutes have been laid down in the military. The government too has protocols for saluting the national flag when it is being hoisted. The President and all others in uniform are required to salute, while those in attendance must stand as a mark of respect. Although not clearly specified, similar norms are applicable at war memorials too. In most democracies, politicians have also adopted the saluting culture to showcase their patriotism and nationalism. Rarely does a day pass without the photographs of political dignitaries saluting at ceremonial parades and war memorials hogging the headlines.
There is a need for the government to lay down the protocol for salute by civilian dignitaries as also the dress to be worn for formal ceremonial functions. Most civilians try to copy the Army salute, which is the most difficult to execute. The Navy or the Air Force salute, which is much simpler to execute, can be adopted. It would be prudent for the civilian dignitaries to take a five-minute refresher capsule from a military instructor before they proceed for ceremonial functions that require them to salute.
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Not just a routine exercise
What does a salute mean to the military? It is an integral part of drill, which is the bedrock of discipline that teaches instant obedience to orders. It is the military norm for acknowledging rank and mutual respect. A salute bonds the soldiers with the national flag and regimental colours. Salute depicts fitness because an unfit man can rarely give a smart salute. A well-executed salute signifies efficiency of movement, which is essential in use of weapons and in battle.
Poor saluting and bearing standards of senior military officers do not inspire confidence in their subordinates and the public. A sloppy salute is worse than not saluting at all. It reflects disrespect. An officer who allows the standards of military fundamentals to drop shows poor leadership qualities. How can officers expect their subordinates to maintain high standards when they themselves do not adhere to them? The waist-to-hip ratio in the military male should not be more than .9 and the Body Mass Index not more than 25. Most senior officers violate these norms. Just look at the photographs of great military leaders and warriors. Their soldierly bearing stands out.
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The current military hierarchy is not walking the talk. Senior officers are not acting as role models as far as their saluting, fitness and bearing standards are concerned. The public display of such violations points to a bigger leadership crisis.
Lt Gen H S Panag PVSM, AVSM (R) served in the Indian Army for 40 years. He was GOC in C Northern Command and Central Command. Post retirement, he was Member of Armed Forces Tribunal. Views are personal.
Must be a dull day. A sloppy salute is worse than not saluting. A dull day in the military too if saluting is the topic of the dy. Who ever claims no salute is better than sloppy salute should be given a no salute.
Irrespective of the quality of salute we expect the politicians to be dressed in prescribed national dress. Which mandatory for every one . Will some one accept if Jawans taking part in ceremonial parades get dressed up in their native dressed as per their will.? The answer would be big NO. Reviewing parades in chappals , half shirts , lungis, dhoities etc is an insult to the soldiers who toil hard to be properly dressed as per the dress regulations and take part in the ceremonial parades. Similarly while these politicians visit military establishments for the sake of appeasing them , they are made to wear funny hats and other items of attire. They must be briefed before hand. Similarly if any one not wearing a headgear he should not salute but stand still in attention position.
RM is not a military man. Print Media should not focus on the type of Salute RM does. During elections the President of main opposition party pointed out that Modi can not fire a bullet so how can he take credit for Balakot. So where does the buck stop. We better look at the decisions RM takes in the interest of National Security.
The army, navy and the airforce have different ways of salutes. Each one has its unique style. The police salute is different from these 3. So it does not matter which way he salutes as long as he is paying his respects with a salute in his style. It is very childish of’The Print’ to make this an issue. Rather it should focus on issues which are the need of the hour. This is what the general public want from the media persons.
General Panag,
That might be the proverbial military way of thinking: my way or highway. To me his sloppy saluting is better than not saluting. I feel empathy and understanding from my civilian master if he or she salutes rather than if not. Only thing we should do is not venture in the civilian domain. There were plenty of recent examples where senior military commanders were speaking ou-of-turn.
You are defending an indefensible. If one feels that to point out incorrect things is venturing in the civilian domain . It should be other way round too. The defence forces are orthodox and let them remain so .
The real question is how does a civilian salute a soldier? A civilian has his head uncovered when there is an ambiguity to greet a soldier in uniform.
A brilliant nudge!
Rajnath Singh cannot even say that the reason for his neither-here-nor-there salute was a painful elbow. He does yoga everyday!!! He should have found a way to hide it like Modi ji has, to hide his potbelly. This ancient civilization gave yoga to the world, you see, and Yoga Day to the UNO !!! How can its proud BJP ministers be anything but lean and smart like ancient sages, or present-day Ramdev? Now I do not know what negative yoga Amit Shah is doing, because he has started putting on weight at an alarming rate. If by some cruel urgency he’s called upon to click his heals in atten-TION, his many layers around the waist will simply break into an embarrassing replica of simple harmonic motion, like Rajnath Singh ji’s embarrassing salute!
India has the dubious distinction of having an Army chief die in harness. I think it was General. BC Joshi many years back. Low fitness levels among senior officers and even JCOs is a major concern. A timely reminder from a decorated veteran. Thank you Gen. Panag.
After retirement
Of the three services, the style of the Air Force comes across as the best. However, Top Gun needs to visit the gym, most urgently.