The Combined Commanders’ Conference held at Kevadia under the shadow of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, from 4 to 6 March, had many firsts to its credit. It was the first time that the meet was held away from a military venue. It was the maiden conference chaired by the Chief of Defence Staff as the permanent Chairperson of the Chief of Staff Committee. Also, Junior Commissioned Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers participated in this conference for the first time.
Out of the three “firsts”, two — the choice of the venue and attendance by JCOs/NCOs — were mired in controversy. Some issues raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his ‘symbolic’ address also left the top brass and defence analysts scratching their heads to decipher his directions.
What is the aim of the Combined Commanders’ Conference?
The Combined Commanders’ Conference is an annual event attended by all the General/Air/Fleet Officers Commanding-in-Chief, Vice Chiefs of Army/Air/Naval Staff, Commanders of Andaman Nicobar Command/Strategic Forces Command, Chiefs of Army/Air/ Naval Staff under the chairmanship of the Chief of Defence Staff. The defence minister also chairs and addresses a session in which the defence secretary and other secretaries in the Ministry of Defence also participate. The conference culminates with the Prime Minister chairing and addressing a session attended by all participants.
The aim of the conference is to achieve inter-Service synergy on all national security issues — internal/external threats, prevailing security situation, national security strategy, transformation of the armed forces, defence preparedness and defence production — and is pitched at the strategic level. It is pertinent to mention that the government and the armed forces have an elaborate internal mechanism for deliberations for decision-making and dissemination of orders/directives. Hence, this conference is primarily used to discuss macro-level issues in a free and frank manner. The political leadership also uses this conference to convey its vision and focus areas to all senior commanders, apart from its institutional interaction with the CDS and the Service Chiefs.
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The venue
The choice of the venue this year — Kevadia — next to Sardar Patel’s statue was unusual. Traditionally, the conference was held in Delhi since Independence up till 2014 to avoid administrative inconvenience. During the conference in October 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed that the conference should be held alternatively “on sea, at forward army camps, air bases”. This was a reformative decision to promote tri-Services integration, and as a result, the conference was held on-board INS Vikramaditya on sea, at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and at Jodhpur air base in 2015, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
By the above logic, given the crisis in Eastern Ladakh, the most suitable place for the conference would have been Headquarters Northern Command or Leh — to send a message to China and Pakistan. Since this may not have been appropriate in light of the February rapprochement, then, in tune with his vision of tri-Services integration, it could have been held at our joint Services institutions — National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (Pune), or Defence Services Staff College, Wellington ( Nilgiris). The latter was also more suitable, keeping in view the 50th year of our victory in the 1971 War, because Wellington is the resting place of the man who made it possible — Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Considering our focus on the Indo-Pacific, another suitable place would have been the Andaman Nicobar Command — our only tri-Service field command.
Keeping the above in view, the choice of the venue smacked of political symbolism because Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, apart from being the national icon, has been transformed into an icon of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In any case, is it appropriate to associate the Combined Commanders’ Conference with national icons? There is no formal list of national icons. It is more a matter of political perception and promotion. The national icons of pre-2014 era are berated and blamed for all ills of India by the BJP and since nothing is permanent in politics, future governments may use this precedent to link future conferences with these very icons. The CDS and the Chiefs have acquiesced to allow the armed forces to be politically exploited.
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Attendance by JCOs and NCOs
On the eve of the Combined Commanders’ Conference, the media, quoting sources (a norm these days for informal briefings by government/military officials) reported, “Jawans would be participating in discussions and give their valuable suggestions on topics related to operations and functioning of the defence forces.” Top government sources also told India Today that “the suggestion to include jawans in the conference came from the Prime Minister himself.” The Times of India, also quoting sources, reported that the JCOs, NCOs and Other Ranks would participate in a session on “Morale and Motivation” on 6 March, in which the Prime Minister will interact with them.
This conference is pitched at the strategic level. Let alone JCOs or NCOs, even officers below the Corps Commander-level would have little to contribute. As far as out-of-the-box and innovative ideas by junior ranks is concerned, the armed forces already have in place mechanisms to carry out detailed interactions at various levels of command to discuss and incorporate fresh suggestions. Morale and motivation of soldiers is a preeminent leadership responsibility at all levels of command, and is done on a 24-hour basis.
Not only such a participation would serve no useful purpose in a strategic conference, but it is also detrimental to the sacred chain of command in the Army. Even within the armed forces the chain of command is sacrosanct. When things go wrong it is the Commanding Officer whose head rolls.
Given the presence of the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the military/MoD hierarchy, the presentations by JCOs/NCOs and the interactive session would have been nothing more than a well-orchestrated robotic spectacle.
In my view, the presence of the JCOs and NCOs was not to give them their share of limelight or to gain from their wisdom, but to showcase direct formal contact between the political leadership and the rank and file. Traditionally, the contact was restricted to visits to forward areas, Sainik Sammelans and sharing tea/meals with soldiers to uplift their morale. Direct contact between political leadership and the rank and file, bypassing the chain of command, has been practised by Right-wing political ideologies in the past with disastrous results. This practice simply sidelines an inconvenient military hierarchy proofing the political leadership against any dissent/threat.
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The Prime Minister’s address
The Prime Minister symbolically addresses the Combined Commanders Conference, reiterating his vision, defence policy and focus areas, apart from the morale boosting laudatory references. The inputs for his speech are formally provided by the Services. The draft is prepared by the CDS. After vetting by the Defence Secretary, it is forwarded to the PMO for finalisation. Since 2014, PM Modi has given his personal touch to these speeches by adding his own inputs. Fairly detailed extracts of his speeches of 2014 and 2015 were put in public domain. However, since then only sketchy details have been provided.
This year, the PM gave an unusual ambiguous direction for which there is no direct interpretation. I suppose his office or the National Security Advisor (NSA) will issue necessary directions in due course.
The official extract states: “Prime Minister stressed the importance of enhancing indigenisation in the national security system, not just in sourcing equipment and weapons but also in the doctrines, procedures and customs practiced in the armed forces.” While the first part of his direction is well understood, it is the indigenisation of “doctrines, procedures and customs” that lacks clarity.
Military thought has evolved over the centuries as a continuum, and technology continues to drive change and reform. All modern armed forces are well versed in it, and all, including our own, adapt it to the specific needs and environment. The principle reason for India being defeated by invaders for 1,000 years was our failure to adopt and adapt to modern military strategy, tactics and technology. It could well be that the PM was exhorting the armed forces to draw upon Mahabharata and Ramayana. Nothing sums it up better than ThePrint’s 50-word edit.
The PMO will also have to clarify about the indigenisation of customs. In fact, the most anglicised officer of the Army, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa as Commander-in-Chief/COAS led the drive to “Indianise” the armed forces. There are no customs that the armed forces follow, which are not followed by the Government of India and the political hierarchy in their formal functioning. Even before “Jai Hind” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” were adopted by neo-nationalists, these had been formalised in the Army. “Ram, Ram” is used as a greeting in many regiments since colonial times. Beyond this, such a direction only smacks of ideology. There is difference between customs of Service and authorised use of manpower in form of sahayaks, bands, messes, Service canteens, safai men and washermen. The latter do require reforms to save on manpower and promote egalitarianism.
One only hopes that the idea of indigenisation of “doctrines, procedures and customs” was merely the imagination of an ignorant scriptwriter in the PMO run wild and not the views of the PM himself.
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.
Stop politicising the Armed Forces. Mere bureaucratic babus who arent trained at their job does not run the show in this organization. And the UPA leaning Print should definitely stop bringing out articles like these which really does nothing substantial but just helps absolute laymen( with no experience, no knowledge about the ideology, about work pattern of the forces ) spew venom about the forces with their little and wrong knowledge. Neither the bureaucratic babus nor the political so called leaders are deemed fit to decide for the forces. Matters related to the defence should be dealt only by leaders who belong to the organization. The internal mechanism of the military cannot be political/social and vice versa. It doesn’t work that way cause it believes and follows different ideology. One cannot have a democratic military force. Forms of political ideologies do not work in the military. No regime in the world has democratic military/ communist military. Military is military and should be left at that and is best managed by the ones belonging to it.
Funny i see many keyboard warriors here badmouthing a retired soldier who has served the country proudly just because his political opinion is different without having done diddly squat for the nation
Techi: Very well said Sir !
Most of these “patriots” – many of them NRIs – would never dream of sending their kids to the Armed Forces. Instead, they would covet a “Green card” rather than donning the Army’s “Green beret”. Not that it would deter these armchair patriots from slinging mud at a brave man and a patriot who actually has served the nation by joining the forces. Sadly, in Modistan, criticism of Prophet Modi is the highest form of sedition – at least that is what people in the Modi cult believe. Whether the nation can survive this onslaught on its identity and ethos by the fascist forces of Hindutva is another question.
Perfect line “The principle reason for India being defeated by invaders for 1,000 years was our failure to adopt and adapt to modern military strategy, tactics and technology. ”
Content lies in the brains of reader. A hyphenated mind will just absorb the propaganda infected image.
For all those criticizing Gen Panag for this thoughts rich article, please come with some valuable criticism in Facts and Figures. Veteran’s experience and knowledge mustn’t be used for name shaming each other.
Content lies in the brains of reader. A hyphenated mind will just absorb the propaganda infected image.
For all those criticizing Gen Panag for this thoughts rich article, please come with some valuable criticism in Facts and Figures.
Veteran’s experience and knowledge mustn’t be used for name shaming each other.