Corruption in the Armed Forces: Sort out the Generals First.

MAY THE ALMIGHTY BLESS ALL HIS CREATIONS

It is well written and factual and should be read by all faujis, especially OR. The last sentence is the most interesting, that it may hurt honest generals. I believe that honest generals (or indeed, honest officers at any level) would certainly not be hurt by it, and would rather encourage its wide dissemination.

Corruption in the Armed Forces: Sort out the Generals First.

by Shailesh Ranade, 27 July 2012

 

The past two years have been a disaster for the Armed Forces, especially the Army. The drubbing they have received is worse than nuclear explosion over Hiroshima during WWII. In five years flat, Japan was up and running and catching up with the developed economies. The Indian Armed Forces are not likely to recover any time soon. In fact the situation is likely to get worse. This is because the destruction is not of government property like ships, tanks, and aircraft but of the only asset that the military officer has – moral fibre. When the officer loses his moral fibre, he is not in the military anymore. He only dresses like a military officer.

I hear arguments like, “the officers and men come from the same decaying Indian Society”. We don’t expect them to be honest, “when there is muck all around”. All these arguments are completely flawed. When a person joins the Academy as a Cadet, he is exposed to a culture which is completely different from the other careers that he can choose. If the same person were to choose Engineering, IT, Medical, Mass Media, Bollywood etc, he is in effect a part of the same decaying, scheming society that is run by the mafia and black money where cheating is the norm.

Everything the military man does is different. He stays separate from civilian populations. His mess is different. He dresses differently. His eating habits are different. He excels in table manners. His hospitals will be of better standards. He has no problem with availability of bread and water. His cantonment will be the most beautiful and cleanest place in town. His justice system is different and more efficient. More importantly, his work is different. Often 24x7x365. He can be recalled from leave if required. In disturbed areas or in times of war, he may not return home to his family. He also gets a gun salute at his funeral and flags will be flown at half mast.

The military man is made of different stuff and needs to be different. How is it that an “honest” Cadet turns into a “thief” General in 30 years? In fact I am willing to stick my neck out by stating that there are a lot more thieves in the higher ranks than have come out in the media. These are NOT aberrations any more. It is a trend. A disturbing trend, indeed.

The fish rots at the head first. So it is with the Armed Forces. (In this piece, Generals also include Admirals and Air Marshals. There are many more corrupt Generals than the latter two, hence the generalization). To win the war on corruption, the country needs to sort out the Generals first.

Thieving: It is often believed that Generals do not follow the rule book. When an Officer reaches the Flag Rank; he is free to do as he pleases. In fact it is his privilege, as some of his personal staff will mention. Mess Secretaries will often complain that Generals will take along tooth brush, toothpaste and bath room slippers when they vacate their rooms. When they vacate their houses, they will take along the carpets, curtains, and paintings etc which have been bought from Unit Funds. If the civilians don’t believe this, just watch what happens when the Flag Officers vacate their bungalows. It is brazen daylight robbery. Most Generals are simply petty thieves.

Punishment: Generals are often not punished for their misdemeanors or professional misconduct. Punishment is restricted to middle levels like Brigadiers and Colonels. Enough cases come to my mind. The loss of INS Andaman and Vindhyagiri in peacetime did not see any Admirals sink. The Kargil War did not see any Generals get the boot. The crash of 482 MiGs over the last 40 years has not grounded any Air Marshal.

ACRs: If a junior officer is ambitious to make it to Flag Rank, only two options are available.  Either he has to be the son of a senior military or government officer or he has to hitch a ride on the shoulders on a General by becoming his Staff Officer or ADC. The other attributes in the ACR do not matter. To have an outstanding ACR, you need to please only one person – your boss. The reviewing officers who “concur” would probably not know the officer on whom the ACR is rendered or he is not being honest. It would be a good idea, to have 360 degree reporting. The men who you Command should know what kind of a person they are promoting to General rank. ACRs should also be publicized. If an officer has done some good work, then the Unit, Division or Command should know about it.

Pay and Allowances: Military is the only career in the world where you can start only at the bottom. A person can never join the military at the level of a Brigadier or a Colonel. The reverse is possible. Enough military men have joined as Vice Presidents, General Managers, and Directors etc. Some have become entrepreneurs. I know of a JCO who is now a MD and employs 200 people. A few have joined politics. While a military man can join any profession he chooses, the reverse will almost certainly end in failure. Imagine hiring a Vice President from a top MNC Bank and making him the GOC of a Strike Corps or a Carrier Captain. The poor chap wouldn’t have a clue. The military man, by nature of his training is vastly superior and is often the last resort for any assistance. His pay and allowances therefore should not be linked to other sundry and mundane government jobs. If the military needs more pay, just give it without asking questions. Only a fool will chop his right hand. Can our Service Chiefs please speak up and convince the government? Incidentally, anyone ever heard of a Service Chief resigning to uphold the honour of his service or the welfare of his men?

Warrant of Precedence (WoP): Much is said about the WoP. A four star General is currently at No 12. Does it really matter whether he is at 12 or 25? In the US, the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff is at 50. In the UK, thanks to the Royalty, the Chief of Defence Staff is way behind. Since these are only Ceremonial positions, the pay and perks should not be linked to the Order of Precedence. It does not matter whether the General sits in the 1st row or 10th row. If a General who leads a million men into battle feels belittled, he may not attend such a function. But then he may forego his ambassadorship or governorship (next point).

Post Retirement Sinecure: A scrutiny of the list of Governors in India tells one a lot about the kind of people occupying these positions. Are these “gifts” for services already rendered? Frankly would a General really relish the job of a Governor where he is not better than a glorified servant? A few years ago, an Admiral willfully demoted himself to the level of a lowly Joint Secretary to occupy a position in New Zealand. What happened to the honor code? What hints are the men in uniform getting? And then they have the gall to crib about Warrant of Precedence?

Post Retirement Jobs: Senior Officers are expected to do something respectable once they hang their boots. They are expected to join professional bodies, give opinions, lecture on strategic issues, guide the youth, work for the under privileged etc. Instead we find that they have no qualms about pimping for arms lobbies and all kinds of nefarious activities. Flag Officers should be banned from positions in the Government and Private Sector. Give them a decent pension till they kick the bucket. If they want to make money as honest citizens, please leave the fauj as Colonels.

Land/Estates: Senior Officers have suddenly become dalals when it comes to land deals. The Adarsh, Sukhna land scams are well known. There are other areas too where defence land has been grabbed by private parties only because the lording General was hand in glove with vested interests. Apart from the odd Colonel in Adarsh, all the Officers involved are Flag Officers. In fact there are 3 Service Chiefs in the Adarsh Scam. “At no time did they know what Adarsh was about” says one Chief. Really? How innocent?  Speaks volumes about their situational awareness. These senior officers had the power to punish and dismiss personnel. Now they themselves are being marched before a Judicial Commission.

Statutory Complaints and Court Cases: Ask any Major General or equivalent. He will say that the military is a glorious profession. And when he is not promoted further, all hell breaks loose. A glorious profession suddenly becomes the worst profession in town. Generals too miss promotions and choice appointments. What follows is a flurry of complaints and court cases. Why be a bad loser and wash dirty linen? Not getting promoted does not mean the end of life. But it shows our senior officers as selfish, self serving individuals.

Generals are supposed to be held in awe. His every word is a Command. An order may even lead a jawan to his death. However, jawans these days are quite news conscious. They see their Generals spread-eagled on the front covers of national magazines. The Generals’ lack of morals greatly affects the morale of his juniors. In the future, jawans may begin to question every word of their senior officers. In fact the next war may have already been lost. The situation is critical. The next generation of Generals may well imbibe Tagore’s: “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high”. Time to forget Chetwode.

 

I am sorry if this piece hurts honest Generals. I am sure there would be a few still left.

Only Seshan can say thus!!!

Only Seshan can say thus!!!

No one escapes T. N. Seshan

Politicians are bad, 

bureaucrats are spineless and partial, history taught in schools is rubbish, businessmen fuel corruption in politics, 

public sector is tragic, 

journalists are the worst of the lot, "sold for a bottle of whisky;" 

and the judiciary, "I'm not allowed to speak."

Thus spoke the Chief Election Commissioner in a thundering two – hour sermon to the students of the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) at Ghaziabad on Wednesday. 

Mr. Seshan was invited by the students to speak on he role of business houses in elections.

Mr. Seshan reiterated his views on his erstwhile colleagues of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) but singled out those from UP and  Bihar.

"They have no moral fibre; 

from the Chief Secretary down to the Patwari in the village, no one is impartial,"

 he said."Their backbone is comprehensively broken; and nowhere is it as comprehensively broken as in UP and Bihar ."

The former civil servant went on to conclude that brains were not required to enter the privileged service. 

He then recalled that he scored 190 marks out of 200 in history, more than his score in physics, to qualify for the IAS. 

Mr. Seshan took pains to elaborate his bio - data after the hosts declared that the man needed no introduction.

 He has two birthdays: May 15 and December 15, one of them being the "official birthday". 

He wrote his school - leaving exam and the intermediate exam twice (the first time the papers had leaked in 1947).

Mr. Seshan recalled his stint at the Planning Commission. 

The government  had earlier found him "unsuitable" for the post of Cabinet Secretary, so he went to the Planning Commission — as OSD, which meant "Officer in Search of Duty".

 He felt that "In Mr. Hegde's 11, I was the 12th man." 

Once in the Planning Commission, he returned his office clock as nothing began on time; 

a week later, he returned his office calendar as no meeting was held on schedule.

After the self - introduction, the Chief Election Commissioner revealed the historian within him, and urged the aspiring managers to be proud for being an Indian. 

He narrated the wonders of the ancient Indian civilisation.

" India was a great country long before others stopped living in caves. You belong to easily the most unsurpassable culture ... but what passes as history in text books is rubbish."

 The medieval history of  India didn't have a profound impact on him. "After 650 AD, Indian history reads like Santa Barbara ."

The contemporary Indian society is a sad story for Mr. Seshan. "What is not corrupt in this country? India 's central vice is corruption; the centrality of corruption is election corruption; and the centrality of election corruption is the business houses."

He said that a lady had told him that she spent Rs. 55 lakh for an election in Delhi for a constituency of 50,000 voters. "But she was defeated, she came and told me the winner had spent even more."

Another tragedy for the nation, Mr. Seshan declared, was the public sector. "Indian public sector was the greatest management calamity to hit any country ever.

"The only bigger calamity Mr. Seshan could think of was the Indian Press. "The journalists are sold for a bottle of whisky." When a student said that it was the same press which had told the world about his greatness, Mr. Seshan said, "If my chastity is being proclaimed by
prostitutes, I don't want such chastity."

A Fantastic Proposal

What is “Arthakranti Proposal” & who has given the proposal ?

“Arthakranti Proposal” has been given by a Pune (Maharashtra) based “Arthakranti Sansthan” which is an Economic Advisory body constituted by a group of Chartered Accountants and Engineers. This funda has been patented by the Sansthan.

Arthakranti Proposal is an effective and guaranteed solution of Black Money Generation, Price rise & Inflation, Corruption, Fiscal Deficit, Unemployment, Ransom, GDP & industrial growth, terrorism and good governance.

What is in the Proposal ?

“Arthakranti Proposal has 5 point of actions simultaneously.

(1) Scrap all 56 Taxes including income tax excluding import duty.

(2) Recall & scrap high denomination currencies of 1000, 500 and 100 rupees.

(3) All high value transaction to be made only through banking system like cheque, DD, online, electronic.

(4) Fix limit of cash transaction and no taxing on cash transaction.

(5) For Govt. revenue collection introduce single point tax system through banking system –“Banking Transaction Tax (2% to 0.7%) on only Credit Amount

Important Points to note:

(1) As on today total banking transaction is more than 2.7 lakh crores per day say more than 800 lakh crores annually.

(2) Less than 20% transaction is made through banking system as on today and more than 80% transaction made in cash only, which is not traceable.

(3) 78% of Indian population spend less than 20/- rupees daily why they need 1000/- rupee note.

What will happen if All 56Taxes including income tax scrapped :

(1) Salaried people will bring home more money which will increase purchasing power of the family.

(2) All commodities including Petrol, Diesel, FMCG will become cheaper by 35% to 52% .

(3) No question of Tax evasion so no black money generation.

(4) Business sector will get boosted. So self employment.

What will happen if 1000/ 500/ 100 Rupees currency notes recalled and scrapped  :

(1) Corruption through cash will stopped 100% .

(2) Black money will be either converted to white or will vanish as billions of 1000/500/100 currency notes hidden in bags without use will become simple pieces of papers.

(3) Unaccounted hidden huge cash is skyrocketing the prices of properties, land, houses, jewellery etc and hard earned money is loosing its value; this trend will stop immediately.

(4) Kidnapping & ransom, “Supari killing” will stop.

(5) Terrorism supported by cash transaction will stop.

(6) Cannot buy high value property in cash showing very less registry prices.

(7) Circulation of “Fake Currency” will stop because fake currency printing for less value notes will not be viable.

What will happen when Banking Transaction Tax (2% to 0.7%) is implemented :

(1) As on today if BTT is implemented govt can fetch 800 x 2% = 16 lakh crore where as current taxing system is generating less than 14 lakh crore revenue.

(2)When 50% of total transaction will be covered by BTT sizing 2000 to 2500 lakh crores, Govt will need to fix BTT as low as 1% to 0.7% and this will boost again banking transaction many fold.

(3) No separate machinery like income tax department will be needed and tax amount will directly deposited in State/Central/District administration account immediately.

(4) As transaction tax amount will be very less, public will prefer it instead paying huge amount against directly/indirectly 56 taxes.

(5) There will be no tax evasion and govt will get huge revenue for development and employment generation.

(6) For any special revenue for special projects, govt can slightly raise BTT say from 1% to 1.2% and this 0.2% increase will generate 4,00,000 crores additional fund..

Effect of “Arthakranti Proposal” if implemented today :

(01)Prices of all things will come down

(02)Salaried people will get more cash in hand

(03)Purchasing power of Society will increase

(04)Demand will boost, so will production and industrialisation and ultimately more employment opportunity for youth

(05) Surplus revenue to the govt for effective health/ education/ infrastructure/ security/ social works.

(06) Cheaper and easy loans from banks, interest rate will come down.

(07) Tendency of society will changes from scarcity to quantity.

(08) Spare money for political system for clean politics,

(09) Prices of land/ property will come down,

(10) No need to export beef to cover up trade deficit

(11) Sufficient fund for research and development.

(12) Society will be free from “Bad elements”. 

At the end of the day become an officer first (Butler in public)

Butler in Public
By Lt Col S. Riaz Jafri (Retd.) 
Westridge, Rawalpindi

During the recent swearing-in ceremonies of the PM and others being televised live, I noticed a senior army officer pushing the chair for a dignitary, which took me back to an event in1954. Allow me to narrate it in some details.

It was the first re-union of the Corps of Pakistan Signals in March 1954 and the finals of the Inter Regimental Hockey were being played at the GHQ Signals Regiment Rawalpindi hockey ground. General Muhammad Ayub, then the C-in-C of Pakistan Army, was the chief guest. It was customary then, and it may be the practice is still in vogue now, to detail a local ADC from the unit for the visiting General as the unit officer was expected to be better informed of the local environs than the General’s actual ADC. I, a Second Lieutenant, was detailed to perform this onerous task and was introduced to the General on his arrival by our then Director of Signals, Brig. Zaman Janjua (an uncle and godfather of Asif Nawaz Janjua, later General and the COAS of Pakistan Army). I felt heavy over my shoulders for the task assigned to me but at the same time was looking forward excitedly to the best part of the job - to ride in the Chief’s car after the match, sitting in the rear all by myself, and directing the chauffeur to take it to the JCOs’ mess where the General accompanied by the officers was to take a short cut on foot for addressing a Durbar and later attend the Bara Khana there. During the match I was seated immediately behind the General in the second row on an upright chair while the Brig. was sitting next to him on the sofa. After a while General turned his head half back towards me and asked for the cigarette. (For security reasons Cs-in-C did not smoke others’ cigarettes). I cranked my body rearwards and signaled the Chief’s big moustachioed and turbaned chauffeur for the cigarettes, raising my two fingers motioning for a smoke. He immediately produced a States Express Triple Nine (999) tin and the General taking a cigarette lighted it with his Ronson lighter. I felt pleased for having performed my first task efficiently and reasonably well. 

During the interval a mess waiter brought the tea for the General – a simple cup of tea and a few biscuits. While the General was helping himself with a drop of milk and half a spoon of sugar, I, without even getting up from the chair stretched myself a little forward and pushed the coffee table by the side of the General closer to him to place the teacup on it. The match came to the end and the General was chatting affably with the players when Brig. Zaman started slowly closing in upon me. With a menacing look in his eyes, clenched teeth and in a low voice so that others around do not hear but certainly in a harsh tone, he chastised me stern and straight there, “Since when have you started behaving like a butler in public?”. “Beg your pardon, Sir?” I stammered. I did not have the foggiest idea of what I had done.

“Don’t push the table yourself. Ask someone around to do it. You are an officer and behave like one.” Having scolded me well and proper he melted away, leaving me aghast. Oh my God – that was some dressing down. I forgot all about the prestigious ride in the Chief’s limo – in fact I did not have the heart to ride in it anymore. I asked someone to explain the route to the driver and trailed behind the others towards the JCOs’ Mess.

That evening we had the Corps Reunion Dinner in the Signals Officers’ Central Mess, Rawalpindi. General Ayub was the Chief Guest and in his usual best. The Army’s entire top brass was there and so were many young and senior Signals Officers. Cold drinks were being served before the dinner and everyone seemed to be enjoying the evening. Only I had not recovered from the reprove of the evening and was mulling over it quietly in a corner with other subalterns. Suddenly, I noticed Brig. Zaman, glass in hand, weaving through the maze of officers as if looking for someone and lo; sure he smiled as he spotted me. Seeing him making for me I lunged forward and wished him ‘Good Evening, Sir’. Putting his arm round me he pressed it lightly and patting me on the back affectionately said, “Jaff, look after your guest (the General). Do anything you wish here. This is your home and you are the host. Go and get him a drink”. The Brigadier was clearly compensating for the reprove he had administered to a subaltern earlier that evening.

Oh! Blessed be the Lord, he didn’t have to do it. But, how thoughtful, how fatherly, how magnificently compassionate of him?! Second Lieutenant Jafri was immediately his old jovial self and part of the crowd. The Brigadier had salvaged the spirits of a young officer.

Time marches on. In comes January 1970. Preparations to stage the annual Horse & Cattle Show at the Fortress Stadium Lahore are near completion. General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi is holding one of his daily adm conferences for the final fine tuning of the event. The Shah of Iran was to be the Chief Guest at the Opening Ceremony. “Who will present the Shah with the scissors in the platter to cut the ribbon?”, asks the General. All present look expectantly towards him for the honor. “Who else deserves it more than the person who has worked so hard to make this show a success ?” and then with a poignant pause, he announces, “ CO Signal Battalion”. There is a thunderous applause from all. But lo and behold, Lieutenant Colonel Riaz Jafri rises somberly and says impassively, “Sir, I am sorry, I cannot do it”. There is a hush. Everyone is wonder struck at such a response. “But why, oh Shah Jee, why?”, asks General Niazi. (Niazi used to address Col. Jafri as Shah Jee at times). “Because, Sir, I cannot be a butler in public!” Replied Colonel Jafri calmly. Somewhere deep down in him Second Lieutenant Jafri had spoken out.

And, up above in the heavens. Brig. Zaman nodded his approval with an understanding smile. May he keep smiling ever there in the heavens. Ameen.

For young offrs only 
Pl read the above from the pakistani army , for everyone to emulate , have the balls to say no to the chu#@##@#@ , Either u will become CO or go to the MCO but at the end of the day become an Officer

कोर्ट मार्शल

कोर्ट मार्शल

आर्मी कोर्ट रूम में आज एक केस
अनोखा अड़ा था
छाती तान अफसरों के आगे फौजी बलवान खड़ा था

बिन हुक्म बलवान तूने ये कदम कैसे
उठा लिया
किससे पूछ उस रात तू दुश्मन की सीमा में जा लिया

बलवान बोला सर जी ! ये बताओ
कि वो किस से पूछ के आये थे
सोये फौजियों के सिर काटने
का फरमान,कोन से बाप से लाये थे..

बलवान का जवाब में सवाल दागना अफसरों को पसंद नही आया..
और बीच वाले अफसर ने लिखने के लिए जल्दी से पेन उठाया..

एक बोला बलवान हमें ऊपर जवाब देना है..
और तेरे काटे हुए सिर का पूरा हिसाब देना है..

तेरी इस करतूत ने हमारी नाक कटवा दी..
अंतरास्ट्रीय बिरादरी में तूने थू थू
करवा दी..

बलवान खून का कड़वा घूंट पी के रह गया..
आँख में आया आंसू भीतर को ही बह गया..

बोला साहब जी! अगर कोई
आपकी माँ की इज्जत लूटता हो
आपकी बहन बेटी या पत्नी को सरेआम मारता कूटता हो..
तो आप पहले अपने बाप का हुकमनामा लाओगे??
या फिर अपने घर की लुटती इज्जत खुद बचाओगे??

अफसर नीचे झाँकने लगा
एक ही जगह पर ताकने लगा!!

बलवान बोला साहब जी ! गाँव का ग्वार हूँ बस इतना जानता हूँ
कौन कहाँ है देश का दुश्मन सरहद पे
खड़ा खड़ा पहचानता हूँ..

सीधा सा आदमी हूँ साहब ! मै कोई
आंधी नहीं हूँ
थप्पड़ खा गाल आगे कर दूँ मै
वो गांधी नहीं हूँ!!

अगर सरहद पे खड़े होकर गोली न चलाने की मुनादी है
तो फिर साहब जी ! माफ़ करना ये काहे की आजादी है

सुनों साहब जी..सरहद पे जब जब
भी छिड़ी लडाई है..
भारत माँ दुश्मन से नही आप जैसों से हारती आई है..

वोटों की राजनीति साहब जी लोकतंत्र का मैल है..
और भारतीय सेना इस राजनीति की रखैल है..

ये क्या हुकम देंगे हमें जो खुद
ही भिखारी हैं..
किन्नर है सारे के सारे न कोई नर है न नारी है..

ज्यादा कुछ कहूँ तो साहब जी..दोनों हाथ जोड़ के माफ़ी है
दुश्मन का पेशाब निकालने को तो हमारी आँख ही काफी है..

और साहब जी एक बात बताओ..
वर्तमान से थोडा सा पीछे जाओ..

कारगिल में जब मैंने अपना पंजाब
वाला यार जसवंत खोया था
आप गवाह हो साहब जी उस वक्त मै बिल्कुल भी नहीं रोया था..

खुद उसके शरीर को उसके गाँव जाकर मै उतार कर आया था..
उसके दोनों बच्चों के सिर साहब जी मै पुचकार कर आया था..

पर उस दिन रोया मै जब उसकी घरवाली होंसला छोड़ती दिखी..
और लघु सचिवालय में वो चपरासी के हाथ पांव जोड़ती दिखी..

आग लग गयी साहब जी दिल किया कि सबके छक्के छुड़ा दूँ
चपरासी और उस चरित्रहीन अफसर को मै गोली से उड़ा दूँ..

एक लाख की आस में भाभी आज भी धक्के खाती है..
दो मासूमो की चमड़ी धूप में यूँही झुलसी जाती है..

और साहब जी..
शहीद जोगिन्दर
को तो नहीं भूले होंगे आप
घर में जवान बहन थी जिसकी और
अँधा था जिसका बाप
अब बाप हर रोज लड़की को कमरे में बंद करके आता है..

और स्टेशन पर एक रूपये के लिए जोर से चिल्लाता है..

पता नही कितने जोगिन्दर जसवंत यूँ
अपनी जान गवांते हैं..
और उनके परिजन मासूम बच्चे यूँ दर दर की ठोकरें खाते हैं..

भरे गले से तीसरा अफसर बोला बात को और ज्यादा न बढाओ..
उस रात क्या- क्या हुआ था.. बस
यही अपनी सफाई में बताओ..

भरी आँखों से हँसते हुए बलवान बोलने लगा..
उसका हर बोल सबके कलेजों को छोलने लगा..

साहब जी...उस हमले की रात
हमने सन्देश भेजे लगातार सात
हर बार की तरह कोई जवाब नही आया..
दो जवान मारे गए पर कोई हिसाब
नही आया..

चौंकी पे जमे जवान लगातार गोलीबारी में मारे जा रहे थे..
और हम दुश्मन से नहीं अपने हेडक्वार्टर से हारे जा रहे थे..

फिर दुश्मन के हाथ में कटार देख मेरा सिर चकरा गया..
गुरमेल का कटा हुआ सिर जब दुश्मन के हाथ में आ गया..

फेंक दिया ट्रांसमीटर मैंने और कुछ भी सूझ नहीं आई थी
बिन आदेश के पहली मर्तबा सर...मैंने बन्दूक उठाई थी..

गुरमेल का सिर लिए दुश्मन रेखा पार कर गया
पीछे पीछे मै भी अपने पांव उसकी धरती पे धर गया

पर वापिस हार का मुँह देख के न आया हूँ
वो एक काट कर ले गए थे मै दो काटकर लाया हूँ

इस ब्यान का कोर्ट में न जाने कैसा असर गया
पूरे ही कमरे में एक सन्नाटा सा पसर गया

पूरे का पूरा माहौल बस एक ही सवाल में खो रहा था
कि कोर्ट मार्शल फौजी का था या पूरे देश का हो रहा था????????

you didn't earn the right

Copied from an email received.Thanks for this:-)

This is a true story. But it relates to USA. I wonder and wish if we have a Martha Cothren in India too. 

In September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a History teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks in her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 'Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?'
She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said.

'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. Kids called their parents to tell them what was happening and by early afternoon television news crews had started gathering at the school to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk-less classroom. Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniform, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. They went halfway around the world, giving up their education and interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedom you have. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

By the way, this is a true story. And this teacher was awarded Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year for the State of Arkansas in 2006. She is the daughter of a WWII POW.

Do you think this email is worth passing along so others won't forget either, that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by our Veterans?

Let us always remember the men and women of our military
and the rights they have won for us.

Dont question till you have all the facts; else pick up a weapon and stand the post !!

 Dont question till you have all the facts; else pick up a weapon and stand the post !!

An article I read today.... Dont question till you have all the facts; else pick up a weapon and stand the post !!

I am an officer posted on the line of control. Yesterday was Sunday, and also Dussehra. Got to know it only from the newspapers that are spread before me- a day late by the time they reach my post. The nice part is that I receive a whole bundle after they have been pored over in the headquarters.

We went out on an ambush last night. There was information that an infiltration attempt could be made through our area. I have been receiving the same information daily since the last six months. Hopefully we will have a fire fight tonight.

Seven of us slipped out of our post, 300 m from the line of control, after last light. A half hour walk and we deployed in two groups. The weather gods were not happy (maybe because I didn’t know Navratras had begun). Light rain and mist descended and visibility was down to three metres. We try and peer through the white haze till the eyes hurt. I hear a soft snore on my left and give a hard nudge. Tomorrow, over a hot cup of tea after we return to the post, we will laugh and tease him.

It’s midnight, cold and miserable. I flex my index finger to make sure it slips into the trigger guard in time to shoot the terrorist who might suddenly appear three steps from me. Suddenly, the chatter of machine guns jolts us out of complacency. It is followed by the soft ‘thump, thump’ of mortars ejecting their bombs. I am glad for the distraction, as the whole ambush is now fully alert.

We wait for the mortar bombs to fall. Shit… they seem to be falling on my post. There are mixed feelings running through me. I am safe, but what about my soldiers on the post. The firing grows in intensity- rocket launchers and mortars open up from our side. It’s frustrating because we can’t see anything. I briefly think of returning to the post but have a job to do tonight, and there are good soldiers back on the post.

We return in the morning and thankfully all is well. One splinter injury-flesh wound only, and a living shelter damaged. We all sit around a breakfast of hot puris and bhindis, exchanging anecdotes, feeling proud about how we weathered one more day on the line of control.

A three hour nap and the first newspaper is spread before me. “Dropping guard at the LOC” is the headline of a Mail Today article. It says ‘Indian troops have been sitting ducks’ in the August incident and that the foiling of infiltration attempt in Keran ‘has been taken with a pinch of salt’. Harinder Baweja in Hindustan Times says that the Army has been ‘found wanting’. Tribune wanted to know ‘how porous is the security system’ on the LoC. Asian Age informs me that ‘Army is under attack from the MoD’. I always thought those attacking us were across the LoC. Should I now look over my shoulder?

A large number of journalists are now questioning our tactics along the Line of Control. It is easy to pass judgment when sitting in air-conditioned offices and speaking on the telephone to ‘well-informed sources’ who have an equally comfortable chair. It is also unfortunate that some of our retired officers have also jumped on the media bandwagon to slam our ‘defensive mindset’ and ‘lapses’. Did no soldiers die when they were commanders? Has the army suddenly forgotten its ethos because some of our officers have retired?

Let me not quote facts and figures because I have no access to them. My senior officers tell me that the security situation in J&K is improving. Violence, infiltration levels, civilian causalities are down, and there is less fear on the faces of people. I believe my seniors because I see it everyday.

Can I do more? Maybe I can eke a little more out of my aching muscles and sleep filled eyes. Will it help? I don’t think so, because the newspapers will not cover what I do, but look for the one who does not. I just hope I am not one of their victims.

I am an Indian Army officer- proud and confident. I know what I have to do. No other profession in the world demands that you lay down your life in the defence of people you do not even know. If you question my commitment, please be prepared to wear the Uniform and man the LoC in my place.