A retired air force officer writes about a generation that has not seen a war and does not know how to respect those who serve in the armed forces.
Arjun Subramaniam
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It’s a pity that we are in this state of insensitivity not only to the armed forces personnel but to teachers, elderly people, honest and hard working employees.
The root cause is our education policy wherein be have no room for the youngsters to compulsorily go through at least a stint of grilling under NCC or NSS if not a compulsory service under the armed forces.
NCC & NSS are two such organisations that can bring the values of hard work, social empathy and spirit of service and in the process develop team work and respect for each other.
The quick buck syndrome that most of us are willingly or unwillingly trapped into has further demolished the necessity of character that needs to be ingrained into is from childhood.
As rightly analysed by Stephen Covey the trend in the recent years is that we are giving more importance to the personality traits of people and do not have the ability to inculcate the character traits that speak far more loudly than the quick fix superfluous personality traits.
Getting what we want from parents (instant gratification) has made us arrogant and in the process we have no idea of what patience, decency or living in scarcity is.
Written very well. There is a need to keep sensitising our people, more so in south. Unfortunately the Party in power which represents the Govt and its policies must take a lead. In the narrative described, if there was a written directive to give priority to the matters concerning Defence personnel, it may have been different.
“Soldier and God are honoured and prayed ,while in distress.soldier is slighted ,God is shunned once the distress is blown over.” When the Government is callous to the plight of Servicemen ,what to expect from Country men?
Jab china, Pak, terrorists se fategi to izzat apne aap ho jayegi.Tab tak we have to put up with a callous and corrupt set up and pl also remember offices like sub registrar offices, RTO etc are into wrong money through the day,no idealism will cut the ice.
Dear Author,
I acknowledge the problem brought about by the article but what is the solution?? I am of firm view that respect can not be demanded and it comes from within.. do you think your article can change Indian perception. No it can’t. I read that you retired as a Air Vice Marshal, that’s a pretty senior rank sir. May I ask you what did you do while in service to address this issue and the outcome.. Crying after retirement is no solution.. Dear sir learn to acknowledge your faults than blaming others for their callous attitude…As you sow, so shall you reap..
Well said Mr. MM Swami. If people never had the moral and mental courage to stand up for principles, propriety, etc while in service, or never opened their mouth against injustice, expecting others to do so is hypocritical. We never heard the AF pursue vigourously the case of an airman killed by a ruling politician’s son by rash driving in Calcutta because it would ruffle feathers. Another airman in uniform was beaten up in public for a silly parking skirmish. Not heard any senior officer’s comments. We don’t hear anything from the senior lot regarding rank and status degrading by the babus as it affects mainly the middle level or juniors. Scared of opening mouths while in service even for just causes in the name of ‘discipline’ is just not done.
very true
Having gone through the article and the comments, a few things stand out. The major reason why there is complete insensitivity on the part of civilians towards the Armed Forces stems from the failure of the current dispensation to honour and respect the Armed Forces. In the absence of organisational respect, it is futile to expect respect from those not even remotely connected with the Armed Forces. It is common knowledge that geographically the South Indian states are not affected by enemy from the Western Borders. However, the landscape is undergoing a churn with China becoming more aggressive, and the next was is likely to affect South Indian states as much as the North Indian states. It is to be hoped that in such an environment, the South Indian states will understand the importance and the role played by the Armed Forces to protect the sovereignty of the Country, as a whole. Further more, the government must learn to respect the Armed Forces for the trickle down effect to permeate the South Indian states.
Our society at large and the politicians in particular are too willing to pay lip service to the Fauj & Faujis as long as nothing concrete needs to be done. However imagine once the Faujis also start doing their duties in an arbitrary and unreliable manner , the price will be unaffordable.After all they are part of the same society which looks after self interest first and always. We need to be able to have some heroes to look up to. Believe me it is in the interest of the common man to make the faujis to think that they are special At least the hollow feeling of pride makes them do unimaginable good for the country on most occasions. If the society needs no heroes -then so be it.
I happened to be at Atlanta air port and saw whenever army or men in uniform pass thro’,people stand and clap for them. It really boosts morale of those who spend days under stress. In India I have not seen such a gesture, This year 15th Air India has announced priority check in for our armed forces. Better late than never. At least educated mass should respect and honour our soldiers.
It is the reflection of the mentality of Indians; especially south Indians who have never experience the heat of war and sacrifices of soldiers in their family. Otherwise also as a whole no politician no bureaucrat give a damn to soldiers and def forces. Whatever modernisation taking place or pittance being given to the def is courtesy our enemies. The day pak and China stop fingering India the def forces will be downgraded to the status of ATM security staff. There is no love lost for def. The def Pers irrespective ranks should encourage their wards to join any other uniformed service under MHA if at all inclined to join a service in uniform. There is no pride, charm or respect for the def forces anymore. Every Indian is responsible to fight for defend his freedom.
Historically, people in South have been less exposed to attack by foreigners. The concept of izzat to their defenders is culturally alien to them.
Secondly, the government of the day is callous and busy in cashing on political capital. The soldiers have been cut to size by official degradation in status and grade below Police and regular humiliation by Babudom playing the fear of coup. Moreover, in a society where survival is so difficult, respect to soldiers would be last thing in minds of common people.
Things can change only when respect is instilled at school and same supported by Government policies Which is far cry from the present political dispensation which only caters to a vote bank
Donor make comments which divide south and north.Feelings and Humanity are more important.
What can you expect from a society which disregards the very farmer who gets the food to its table, where teachers are disrespected and doctors mistreated. People remember God and Defence forces only in times of trouble. They even forget that its the armed forces who help them in times of natural calamities. SAD
Absolutely, Sir! It is but a reflection of increasingly materialistic society where in money rules over all else. Innumerable instances of property grab of serving personnel by their own brothers with the courts and the police caring two hoots for the soldier as they have been compensated well by the local resident brother whose prowess cannot be matched by the serving brother who visits once/twice/thrice a year only. The sheer insensitivity of the society towards the serving soldier and his family with regard to the special circumstances they face is apalling to say the least. Patriotism for Indians is restricted to shouting on I day and R day or watching Bollywood parade around with flags.
Well articulated facts of present day society Sir. But how do people in armed forces get their rightful compassion from all sections of the society, is something that has always bothered me. How do you propose to address this issue?
Really a deplorable state of affairs! I am trying to do my bit….. Control the controllable!
Those who want to join project VALOUR are most welcome. The project is aimed at instilling the value or importance of valour in the youngsters!
9830952306
It’s a pity that we are in this state of insensitivity not only to the armed forces personnel but to teachers, elderly people, honest and hard working employees.
The root cause is our education policy wherein be have no room for the youngsters to compulsorily go through at least a stint of grilling under NCC or NSS if not a compulsory service under the armed forces.
NCC & NSS are two such organisations that can bring the values of hard work, social empathy and spirit of service and in the process develop team work and respect for each other.
The quick buck syndrome that most of us are willingly or unwillingly trapped into has further demolished the necessity of character that needs to be ingrained into is from childhood.
As rightly analysed by Stephen Covey the trend in the recent years is that we are giving more importance to the personality traits of people and do not have the ability to inculcate the character traits that speak far more loudly than the quick fix superfluous personality traits.
Getting what we want from parents (instant gratification) has made us arrogant and in the process we have no idea of what patience, decency or living in scarcity is.
Each family send one child to the defence compulsorily beginning from our top leaders will change the situation…
Written very well. There is a need to keep sensitising our people, more so in south. Unfortunately the Party in power which represents the Govt and its policies must take a lead. In the narrative described, if there was a written directive to give priority to the matters concerning Defence personnel, it may have been different.
“Soldier and God are honoured and prayed ,while in distress.soldier is slighted ,God is shunned once the distress is blown over.” When the Government is callous to the plight of Servicemen ,what to expect from Country men?
Present Govt is required to make a law for compulsory army training for one and all.That is the only way to mould theirs mind.
Jab china, Pak, terrorists se fategi to izzat apne aap ho jayegi.Tab tak we have to put up with a callous and corrupt set up and pl also remember offices like sub registrar offices, RTO etc are into wrong money through the day,no idealism will cut the ice.
Dear Author,
I acknowledge the problem brought about by the article but what is the solution?? I am of firm view that respect can not be demanded and it comes from within.. do you think your article can change Indian perception. No it can’t. I read that you retired as a Air Vice Marshal, that’s a pretty senior rank sir. May I ask you what did you do while in service to address this issue and the outcome.. Crying after retirement is no solution.. Dear sir learn to acknowledge your faults than blaming others for their callous attitude…As you sow, so shall you reap..
Well said Mr. MM Swami. If people never had the moral and mental courage to stand up for principles, propriety, etc while in service, or never opened their mouth against injustice, expecting others to do so is hypocritical. We never heard the AF pursue vigourously the case of an airman killed by a ruling politician’s son by rash driving in Calcutta because it would ruffle feathers. Another airman in uniform was beaten up in public for a silly parking skirmish. Not heard any senior officer’s comments. We don’t hear anything from the senior lot regarding rank and status degrading by the babus as it affects mainly the middle level or juniors. Scared of opening mouths while in service even for just causes in the name of ‘discipline’ is just not done.
very true
Having gone through the article and the comments, a few things stand out. The major reason why there is complete insensitivity on the part of civilians towards the Armed Forces stems from the failure of the current dispensation to honour and respect the Armed Forces. In the absence of organisational respect, it is futile to expect respect from those not even remotely connected with the Armed Forces. It is common knowledge that geographically the South Indian states are not affected by enemy from the Western Borders. However, the landscape is undergoing a churn with China becoming more aggressive, and the next was is likely to affect South Indian states as much as the North Indian states. It is to be hoped that in such an environment, the South Indian states will understand the importance and the role played by the Armed Forces to protect the sovereignty of the Country, as a whole. Further more, the government must learn to respect the Armed Forces for the trickle down effect to permeate the South Indian states.
Our society at large and the politicians in particular are too willing to pay lip service to the Fauj & Faujis as long as nothing concrete needs to be done. However imagine once the Faujis also start doing their duties in an arbitrary and unreliable manner , the price will be unaffordable.After all they are part of the same society which looks after self interest first and always. We need to be able to have some heroes to look up to. Believe me it is in the interest of the common man to make the faujis to think that they are special At least the hollow feeling of pride makes them do unimaginable good for the country on most occasions. If the society needs no heroes -then so be it.
I happened to be at Atlanta air port and saw whenever army or men in uniform pass thro’,people stand and clap for them. It really boosts morale of those who spend days under stress. In India I have not seen such a gesture, This year 15th Air India has announced priority check in for our armed forces. Better late than never. At least educated mass should respect and honour our soldiers.
Well, this is what India as a nation has come to. Its time, people learn to respect servicemen from the armed forces.
It is the reflection of the mentality of Indians; especially south Indians who have never experience the heat of war and sacrifices of soldiers in their family. Otherwise also as a whole no politician no bureaucrat give a damn to soldiers and def forces. Whatever modernisation taking place or pittance being given to the def is courtesy our enemies. The day pak and China stop fingering India the def forces will be downgraded to the status of ATM security staff. There is no love lost for def. The def Pers irrespective ranks should encourage their wards to join any other uniformed service under MHA if at all inclined to join a service in uniform. There is no pride, charm or respect for the def forces anymore. Every Indian is responsible to fight for defend his freedom.
Historically, people in South have been less exposed to attack by foreigners. The concept of izzat to their defenders is culturally alien to them.
Secondly, the government of the day is callous and busy in cashing on political capital. The soldiers have been cut to size by official degradation in status and grade below Police and regular humiliation by Babudom playing the fear of coup. Moreover, in a society where survival is so difficult, respect to soldiers would be last thing in minds of common people.
Things can change only when respect is instilled at school and same supported by Government policies Which is far cry from the present political dispensation which only caters to a vote bank
Donor make comments which divide south and north.Feelings and Humanity are more important.
What can you expect from a society which disregards the very farmer who gets the food to its table, where teachers are disrespected and doctors mistreated. People remember God and Defence forces only in times of trouble. They even forget that its the armed forces who help them in times of natural calamities. SAD
Absolutely, Sir! It is but a reflection of increasingly materialistic society where in money rules over all else. Innumerable instances of property grab of serving personnel by their own brothers with the courts and the police caring two hoots for the soldier as they have been compensated well by the local resident brother whose prowess cannot be matched by the serving brother who visits once/twice/thrice a year only. The sheer insensitivity of the society towards the serving soldier and his family with regard to the special circumstances they face is apalling to say the least. Patriotism for Indians is restricted to shouting on I day and R day or watching Bollywood parade around with flags.
Well articulated facts of present day society Sir. But how do people in armed forces get their rightful compassion from all sections of the society, is something that has always bothered me. How do you propose to address this issue?
Really a deplorable state of affairs! I am trying to do my bit….. Control the controllable!
Those who want to join project VALOUR are most welcome. The project is aimed at instilling the value or importance of valour in the youngsters!
9830952306