HOW CAN DEFENCE FORCES BECOME RELEVANT IN MODI'S INDIA?
The number one Law of Power is "never outshine the master judgement." This is enumerated in a bestselling and widely read book, "The 48 Laws of Power (1998)", by American author Robert Greene.
Why have the defence forces become so powerless in our country in spite of wielding most of the weapons? It is common to hear in the gathering of the armed forces officers that the bureaucrats have marginalised the defence forces and that their status is being eroded continuously. The forces also complain against the politicians for their lack of knowledge about the military affairs and their apparent distrust of defence forces. It is assumed that the politicians are gradually reducing the relevance and status of defence forces to emphasise civilian control and to preclude any chance of military takeover of the government.
But is this fear of military coup the real reason for downfall of the forces? It is very rare to see any worthwhile analysis of the reasons for degradation of the armed forces. The rank and file of the forces feel that the cause of this degradation of forces is the weakness of its leaders. The weakness of the generals and their inability to resign whenever they feel that the organisation is being wronged is considered the cause of this problem. The defence experts have also not pointed any shortcoming on part of the defence forces for the present situation and they have certainly not offered many solutions to the problem, except to advise the armed forces officers to take a confrontationist attitude towards the political masters and senior bureaucrats. Not many other solutions have been offered to correct this wrong and certainly no one has advised the defence forces to play the power game, correctly in democratic India.
The real power in Indian democracy is vested with the political masters. But the forces have aligned their fortune with inconsequential and nominal head of the government, the President. The political master of the defence forces, the defence minister is generally a political light weight who uses the portfolio to advance her political career. The forces have to realise that their best interest will only be served if the align with the real power and follow the first law of power.
The defence forces leaders are master at playing the power game within their own organisation but not many have tried to game the system of government. The forces and their leaders show off their abilities and sometimes even try to outshine the master. This is a folly and the cause of most of the ills of the forces.
As per the author of this very useful book, "the people howsoever competent they might be will come to ruin if they do not follow the first law of power." IAS officers know this rule and follow it in true letter and spirit and have thus managed to corner all the spoils of power. They remain faceless and hidden from the public glare and never ever try to overshadow the master (PM or Ms Sonia Gandhi as the case may be). The same was also highlighted in whatsapp post of an IAS officer which went viral. In this post, the officer highlighted the fact that the IAS officers are pliable, with no opinion of their own and always eager to please their political master. It seems that this law is taught in the IAS academy to the budding officers. The Babus are always eager to share the spoils of government with the master. This makes the master favourably inclined towards them.
Compare the image of a subservient corrupt and amenable Babu to that of a General who not only stands out in crowd due to his uniform but is also conspicuous by his upright and overbearing behaviour. The general carries the burden of legacy of his uniform and the great heritage of his organisation which prevents him from bowing down below a certain level in public, even in front of the master. The real master, no wonder does not like the situation and the organisation as a whole is made to suffer.
Senior officers of the Army host parties where they want to display their great organisations skills. The organisation uses or misuses all the resources and manpower at its disposal to ensure the grand success of the party. The parties are generally a success but the dignitaries for whom the parties are organised are annoyed by the display of pomp and show because it shows them in poor light as compared to the General Sahib. No wonder the Prime Minister failed to attend the party at Army Chief's house on the last Army Day. In this party he would have been one amongst the many guests and his attendance would have not added to his stature in any way.
Does any IAS Babu or Secretary or even the Cabinet Secretary, ever organises a party for the political masters in full glare of media? Why could not the General realise that the PM does not like to devote any effort to any activity which does not project his grand image and help his party win votes. The PM would have been more than happy to attend a Bara Khana with troops (more the better) on this day and address them in the full view of cameras from all the TV channels. It would have made for a great show.
Robert Greene observes that, "there can only be one sun at a time. Never obscure the sunlight or rival the sun's brilliance; rather, fade into the sky and find ways to heighten the master star's intensity."
In the Army one often hears that a brilliant officer with outstanding record of service and a star of the organisation has failed to be empanelled for further promotion. Such officers shine too brightly and knowingly or inadvertently obscure the light of their bosses. The bosses outwardly can do no harm to them and also praise them for their outstanding performance but do the damage behind their back while writing their reports.
It has been recently reported in press that a survey was carried out amongst the Indian Public to know their views about various organisation. The survey has reported that the Indian public respects the Defence Forces the most and have least respect for the political parties. It is a good thing for the forces and now the senior defence officers will cite these findings in various gatherings where politicians may also be present. The politicians will laugh it off publically but will try their utmost to belittle the forces in private and cut them to size whenever possible.
A number of Generals and senior officers come on various television channels where they bad mouth the politicians and other organs of the state. They shout the loudest to show their love for the country and the high standards of the Defence Forces. Politicians regularly follow these discussions to gauge the mood of the public and they develop a grudge against such defence forces officers. No wonder very few officers are appointed to high government offices after retirement and all such appointments are cornered by the so called meek and corrupt Babus. The same Babu who is caricatured badly in front of gentlemen cadets of IMA, course after course, in a lecture demonstration on Aid to Civil Authority.
The defence forces officers try to shine brightly when they take up any appointment in the corporate sector. The officers are not adept at playing the power games and inadvertently or by the sheer image of their uniform are seen better than their master. The proud history of defence forces does not let the retired officers to stoop low in order to show the master in better light. This is probably one of the main reasons for the forces officers not excelling in corporate India.
It said during military training on camouflage and concealment that, "a lady dresses to reveal and a soldier dresses to conceal." It seems that the senior officers who are far away from combat forget this teaching and start displaying their power and pelf to the civilians which is not only in poor taste but it makes the organisation a looser in the long run. They must give up the display of flags on their vehicles and use of military escorts in civil areas. To be popular amongst the public we must appear to be humble and as their servants. Because public is also a power centre in democracy.
But the real power centre in democratic India is the master. The author of the book advises, "avoid outshining the master. All superiority is odious, but the superiority of subject over his prince is not only stupid, it is fatal."
The master now is the PM Narender Modi. Prime Minister Narender Modi and his political party the BJP is very keen to project a very muscular and patriotic image. The PM will be happy to be projected as a strong leader, leader with 56 inch chest and audacity to take on any adversary. Such a leader can be an asset to the defence forces because their aims are almost aligned. The Army missed an opportunity after the "surgical strike" when it failed to project him as the "Avenger of Uri" or a strong leader who can strike fear in the minds of Muslim terrorists. The Army was busy projecting itself and outshined the master and obviously it had to face the adverse consequences. After the 1971 war also the defence forces lost their pay and perks in spite of winning the war because the Generals were busy outshining Ms Indira Gandhi, the real master at that time.
The Army could have brought the team of para commandos who carried out the surgical strike to meet the PM. The PM would not miss an opportunity to be seen with the warriors. The Army could have hailed the PM as the Lion of India and made him the Colonel of the Regiment of the Para Commandos.
This is not being political as some people will claim but being pragmatic. Even Sachin Tendukar the God of cricket has never ever uttered a word against the BCCI and that is the reason he has been bestowed with highest national award. Praising the PM for his leadership and boldness is not being political even if it helps him in winning some additional votes.
The defence forces generally stay busy in humouring the defence minister by making her ride a tank, ship or flying in an aircraft. The forces fail to realise that she is a political light weight and carries no clout in her political party. She should in fact be snubbed and shown the rule book whenever she tries to increase her political standing through opening of cantonment roads or when she requests the Army to build bridges. Such favours should only be accorded to the master and no one else.
Defence forces are in need of reorganisation to align their structure to fight the new war successfully. Similarly there is an urgent need to modernise the weapons and equipment of the forces. The defence forces can achieve these aims only with the blessings of the master. The forces should make a make plan for these and somehow advertise that these ideas are the brain child of the master. Thereafter, no bureaucrat or politician will have the power to deny these to the armed forces.
It is now the right time for the defence forces to dim their light slightly and ensure that the light of the master burns brightly. The forces should project Narender Modi as the master strategist and a bold general with not only the foresight to lead India to become a developed nation by 2022 but also transform the defence forces of the country into a modern and highly motivated force capable of instilling fear in the enemies of our great nation.
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