The Malegaon Major
…is not related to the Indian Army as an institution.
Immediately after the arrest of the ex-Major comes the news that the Anti-Terrorist Squad is set to question a serving officer of the Indian Army in connection with the Malegaon blasts. Myriad newsreports claim that most of the accused have been associated with the Bhonsala Military School [BMS] at Nashik. Despite the misleading nomenclature, the army authorities have clarified at various times that the BMS has no relation with the army. It is also evident from the fact that unlike other government military schools, neither do serving military officers have any association with BMS nor do they take part in the activities connected with the school.
It is possible that extreme right-wingers may have their sympathisers in the military (especially in the 1990s, after the start of Kashmir insurgency, the Ayodhya imbroglio and other political issues). But then that is true of any other institution in the country, where fringe elements might be present. It is even possible that a few more links of other retired or serving military members to the Malegaon blasts might still be unearthed by the police.
Even then, it is nearly not as bad for the Indian Army as ex- Major General Shabeg Singh, a decorated war hero of the 1971 war, who fought alongside Bhindranwale and was killed during the Operation Blue Star. As with him and others during that period, the present case, by any stretch of imagination, is an individual aberration and not an indictment of the system. The virulently sensationalist Indian media would do well to remember this while reporting on the Malegaon case.
Good resettlement initiative????????????????????
PMR and one year stint as an advisor to maybe the ULFA, Jaish, LTTE, Drug Lords of the Bannana republics etc and with the goodies settle down in India with moolah that will make the Babu green with envy.
They no give but you get!!!!!
And you have ‘friends’ if you want to settle scores and no heartburns over any Pay coms.
you really think its just an aberration? I hope and pray you are right…at the same time..its time for the forces to introspect…there is no doubt that our armymen tend towards the right wing , being themselves discplinarians.. and its common enough for the young officers and the troops to be “temporarily” indoctrinated against our muslim brothers across the border as well as the militants in J & K..so it might be worthwhile for the top brass to take this more seriously and start thinking whether there is a problem before the its too late…the media is already out with the guns… Check this
@Ronin:
you really think its just an aberration?
Yes, I think so.
there is no doubt that our armymen tend towards the right wing , being themselves discplinarians.. and its common enough for the young officers and the troops to be “temporarily” indoctrinated against our muslim brothers across the border as well as the militants in J & K..
Yes and there are diverse opinions — leftist, liberal, right-wing — and they are all fine. They should be and are welcome in a diverse, democratic society. What you don’t want is extremists and terrorists of any ideological pursuit.
Temporary indoctrination… point taken to a degree, but are the actions of the military dictated by those indoctrination. Will they look at an Indian muslim military officer as an “enemy”? I don’t think so.
That is exactly the kind of portrayal one should avoid. The fringe elements are mere aberrations and there is no indoctrination on religious/ cultural/ social ideologies as an institution.
Dear Prag,
Why all this emerging at this point in time?
Politicians,Babus and Media jealous of growing trust of common countrymen in competence of Armed Forces has waged a full fledged war to salvage their creditablity by showing Forces in poor light.
Common man of this country knows all. They never pardon anyone who try playing with their sentiments.
[Comment edited]
Let me tell it like it is.
The NSCN(IM) has had army Instructors (on leave or retd) for weapon training for decades. These NCO’s may or may not have had much choice.
Similarly placed are countless NCO’s and JCO’s hailing from J&K. And believe me you don’t require a retired TA officer to put together explosive devices – average intelligence and great determination (to look/browse for the expertise) will be effective enough. So the leakage of expertise is not an issue at all. The politicisation, however, is the more serious issue. And only of the military. Those officers who have fought the ULFA will narrate countless instances where a significant chunk, (if not the majority) of the akhamia bureaucracy including all India services, have been subverted. Ditto for Kashmir Division. That is no great shakes – it is expected as part of the situation of countering terror.
At the executive levels of military units, commanded by majors to colonels and equivalent, the tasking is too specific and result oriented to allow any leeway for a personal political opinion to influence application of military force. That’s not to say that a commander in CI grid should/will not exploit local political intrigue to his advantage. But, that is mainly to meet his neutralisation targets and result areas. At strategic levels, it is not only possible but probable that a commander’s ‘inordinately strong’ politics will influence not only the tasking of lower executive levels but also the advice rendered to the higher political executive.
Regarding, politics in the army; the time honoured traditions, particularly in the fighting arms, revolves around the following:
1. The officer’s religion is the religion of his men as far as rituals are concerned – to be followed to the t.
2. Discussing women, religion, and politics is taboo.
3. Be friendly with your command – never familiar.
All this assumes that the officer is sufficiently convinced of his high standing in the society to play the game – dirtying his hands along the peasantry and yet remain aloof to foster an enigma to his men. This is the peculiar ‘indoctrination’, if you can call it that that helps him to execute orders that do not confirm to his hidden politics, with élan and aplomb. Parochialism is countered by instituting a complicated quota system of distributing officers to caste based regiments and units.
A close look at the present, however, will reveal that all assumptions do not necessarily hold good in ample measure. There were periods when the selection system(SSB) were ridiculously diluted to fill vacancies in the academies.
Take the pak army’s example. Zia’s ‘islamised’ officers are only beginning to command divisions. Our own ‘bigots’, if at all, must be much younger!
@ mangusta
True
@ Mangusta:
The officer’s religion is the religion of his men as far as rituals are concerned – to be followed to the t
Not really a valid observation, since in the majority of class composition units, the religion followed, even by the officers (public display, of course), is that followed traditionally in the unit and by the majority of the troops.
Now that u brought up ex- Major General Shabeg Singh, he wasn’t really a religious guy to have given up his better than average record and waging war against India. Infact unconfirmed sources even say his hair was shorn for a period of time and he smoked cigars. But his resentment and later opposition to India was a result of the high-handedness of the IA and Indira Gandhi’s govt. And maybe the assassination of his brother too. C’mon. U gotta smell a rat when a Maj Gen. gets booted a day before retirement.. right?
@Sushil
Exactly my sentiments. Perhaps my expression wasn’t as decidedly clear as I thought.
If defence forces can be compared to civilians in all aspects when it comes to pay related issues, then let us accept if they behave the same way as some of them!
don’t give surprised looks.it is not a ” holy cow”!
these are not my words but from issues discussed in the last few months .
Dear Prag,
these are very rare occurences, courtesy the selection procedure which also includes the psychological testing. apart from the selection, the environment in the Armed Forces is such, they get a holistic view, like even when dealing with terrorists in J&K they are daily meeting ppl who help them without any motives. they have seen muslims protecting hindus and vice versa during riots.
even in the present case, i do not think anything worthwhile is likely to come out of these army officers arrest. most probably it is a case of a retired officer joining a social organisation, and it is just being politicised (how else would u describe the police giving out all the details when an Army officer is involved). his offence as of now is only being in contact with an accused (not yet convicted or even chargesheeted).
i do not think the issue is even worth discussing unless the aim is to sensationalise. i have in an earlier post said, the armed forces get highlighted in the media for all wrong reasons. people feel very happy when they can prove that there are ppl like them in the armed forces (even if a miniscule number).
“It is possible that extreme right-wingers may have their sympathisers in the military (especially in the 1990s, after the start of Kashmir insurgency, the Ayodhya imbroglio and other political issues). But then that is true of any other institution in the country, where fringe elements might be present. It is even possible that a few more links of other retired or serving military members to the Malegaon blasts might still be unearthed by the police.” (quite funny when nothing, even worthwhile, except for their contact with the sadhvi??, forget concrete has been found).
we are reaching a stage where a trial by media is feared more than the actual trial. the fear is the quality of ppl in the media, especially those dealing with the defence forces (yuk).
@All
I hope so.
But I sometimes really feel disturbed on seeing a sharp dip in tolerance levels in our officers. Tolerance on the religious front I mean, there are many stereotypical thoughts floating around which must be nipped in the bud. Typically derog terms are heard about certain faiths – this reflects the utter contempt for our secular principles. Being more or less an atheist, it doesn’t affect me much but not good for the country ultimately.
@ Navdeep
Wait another 10 years. Military officers will be wearing a gamcha scarf, hawai chappals, 300 ka paan and mercury tinted gogs. The modern Officer and a Gentleman? Officers Messes will have songs like Jumma Chumma de de at parties. Breakaway from the British ethos. The Army in J&K will also have glorified encounter specialists. When war is imminent the Army welfare association will strike for better wages.When I was with the CG an officer went to the Minorities Commission to get redressal because he was not promoted. Soon fauj will also come to that level.
Then we should ponder and ask. Why? Who derogated them to this insensitive state?
After all we are always post-reactive and present-inactive. .
” The virulently sensationalist Indian media would do well to remember this while reporting on the Malegaon case.”
Media will do whatever fetches it more TRPs/ Readership. These small aberrations are very much required to bring in …..oooppppsss…boot in reforms!
Malegaon Major
Wow!! It fits
Booze Brigadier
Ketchup Kolonel
and now
…Malegaon Major
The chap could have gone to any other godforesaken place ( not beginning with an ‘M’) to do his sordid deed and we wound not have even heard of him from the media.
Now watch out for a Loathing, Litigating, left in a lurch Lt Colonel
@Rohit
Good one
“Now watch out for a Loathing, Litigating, left in a lurch Lt Colonel ”
Now let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PUCL/message/2790
The way the media is being used to spread the Malegaon episode it seems that the media has been given the task of Demoralisaing the Army before a negative verdict is given. It kills two birds with one stone. Tarnishes the Army and the NDA is being projected as involving army in politics.
What would happen if the MI gets into the act and gives leaks where MoD officials are in cahoots with HuJi and Paki nationals and bent on subverting the military. Hope it doen’t reach a level where the Army like the other citizens of India feels that the only way to get justice is to ‘take’ it.
Such low down stunts must cease or else the Armed forces will be demoralised and politicised beyong redemption just because the wily babus want to support their act of chicanery.
@Menon
IMHO if the MI has got some dope on these guys, (I’m sure they have- there was this case of a chief minister in North East rescently), then this is the time to bring it on.
Later it wil be too late. The IAS+ IPS gang is not bothered about its effect on the army’s morale in future and for the rest, ‘future’ is something related to an equity market.
The Malegaon case, even if there is an involvement of other uniformed people, should have been investigated without making it a media circus. Just because And if somebody thinks that the media is all pervasive and penetrating, it damn well is not! Does anyone know what happened to the ‘Cash for Votes’ issue.
There is no doubt that media is over projecting the Malegon Major episode. In fact now a days media is surviving on such masala type news and trying to over do things. In fact the recent articles on Army etc is the part of substantial and spirited plan by the vested interests in media to defame army and its officers in a systematic capmaign. Why they do not do the same thing to police and civilan officers? Because this is sensational. Secondly if they write about them they would be screwd immediately. Army can not do any thing except represnting to MOD and feel unhappy. But police and civilan govt can twist tails by other methods. They are ovedoing things to project as if army is aiding terrorism. Even in Tehelca cases army guys were over blown while civilan corrupt guys are still going strong. Army guys have been already punished. Hope they would derive some wisdom and act on national interests tahn some personal benefits by denigrading some organization who can not defend themselves
Tolerant
@ Tolerant
“In fact the recent articles on Army etc is the part of substantial and spirited plan by the vested interests in media to defame army and its officers in a systematic capmaign. Why they do not do the same thing to police and civilan officers?”
Well sir, that’s one view! The other view can be that the Nation still feels that the Armed Forces are much above all this? Should the Armed Forces remain ‘A cut above the rest’ or be part of the decay?
Sir, I will eagerly await your response.
Read this
http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2005/12/terrorist-sympathiser-mrsukla-sen.html
http://www.dailypioneer.com/133109/‘Lt-Col-has-no-direct-link’.html
Mr Veeru,
Thanks for your response.
I agree that civilians and every one looks at army as the last bastion in the present crumbling Indian nation that is getting devoid of values and truthful living. It is not only in India but also in the entire world that Army stands out as the model of discipline and blemishless conduct. I subscribe to your thought. My point of contention is the extra enthusiasm that is being shown by the media in their depictions in TV through clippings, flash news and scrollings as if the whole army has gone backing terrorists in this country. In fact, Army as an organization, if it has to take sides and bring pressure on minorities in this ocuntry, they would not have confined themselves to the barracks all these days. They would have been on the streets through a Coup de tat long ago. The very fact of the Indian army remaining on the back seat itself is the indication of its commitment to the constitution and norms of democracy in this country. You can not deny this fact. The only problem what Army had was their long standing and frustrating issue of pay and problems of equivalence with civil counterparts. Army as you said has to be top in the country in all aspects and people expect this. Then why Army is being given step motherly treatemt in this country? A sure point for MOD about grievances. Why army has to beg for its dues. Again there is a limit to this. You do not expect unionism in their representations. Civilian govt reacts and raises the bogy of discipline when these representations reach some limit. That is what happened when chiefs represented that they would not implement pay commission recommendations recently. MOD even hinted action and gave a veiled threat. Ball immediately rolled back. Probably Army guys are getting prepared to accept screwing till the next pay commission because there is no way out for them. Army does not fight on empty stomoch in any country.
Cases of indiscipline is there occasionally in all organizations. So army too. But such are are negilgient in army. Police forces are also disciplined in this country to a great extent except few incidents of CRPF going out in mutiny some time ago and Army had to disarm them in which a Major was killed. My point is that isolated incidents should not be overblown. At present there is a great tussle between Army officers and the civilian Babus ( IAS men). Naturally these civilan men are in better position to defend themselves as they are at governing end. As some one said earlier on this blog that Army has to be under civil control. But not under civilan babu control. That is what happening now. The guys who are deciding about army appear to be prejudiced as seen by most of the people in uniform. All actions have to be tansparent in governing. But that is no so in India. The tussel has gone for very long since the days of C in C and later FM Cariappa.To days crisis involving babaus and army guys is the outcome of this long standing frustrattion.
My point is why media does not focus high on various charges on civilians and Police guys although there are many instances. Most of the civilan cases are unnoticed and do not get attention. Most of the news papers can not function if they are out of favour of the ruling elite.Defamation suits would follow soon. There are very few who can stand out. Such establishments and their leaders are trapped in various charges in this country. It is a known fact that those who rule do not expose their limitations and shortcomings while others are pressed on. Otherwise for them there is no existance. This country is a democratic country. Periodic elections bring these guys including shady and corruptir guys to power. Can a political party win if the deeds are exposed? So they would go all out to scrub off all shit under the mat. The ruling elite and parties have their own people in media. They will take care of this. Army has nothing like this except to give some press statements that are also severely edited and censored.
Therefore my contentions is that media should play a positive role in promoting army image than on sensationalism that of late has taken charge of journalism in this country that is getting devoid of all values and decent governing. Remenber how American media handled water gate cases and other president Clinton’s cases about sex? They did not spare them. Can we do such things in India? I am sure we shall not.
Tolerant.
@ Tolerant
But police and civilan govt can twist tails by other methods. They are ovedoing things to project as if army is aiding terrorism. Even in Tehelca cases army guys were over blown while civilan corrupt guys are still going strong.
BINGO. Read this
@ Tolerant
Sir, I am honoured that you subscribe to my thought.
You do have a point. You would agree that every new company sets aside a huge budget only towards image building. The result of this exercise is what determines where the future business of the company is headed.
The problem probably was that the military so far did not take the ‘image building’ exercise very seriously. The civilians are by and large clueless about the military. They still feel that beyond the notice board – ‘Defence Area, Trespassers will be prosecuted’, live certain creatures from Mars. They just cannot behave like the civilian lot.
From here on one can debate;
# whether to inform them that the military people too are ordinary mortals or,
# the military strives to keep the perceived image intact.
Dear Mr Veeru,
Thanks for response.
In fact, army was kept aloof from the civilian influence over the years before indpendence. Army Cantonments are located far away from civilian areas and civilan residential araeas were not allowed to grow close by. Except some civilian servents staying in the out hoses in officers residences not many civilans were there in cantonments. The officers were also trained at academies such that they were out of civilian influences and purely remained professional. This went on for very long even in sixtees. With passage of time and encroachment of civilian areas in cantonments , intraction became more and more. Earlier, the only information channels were newspaers and radio. But with technical explosion in recent times, availability of TV everywhere and the recent growth of internet world wide , army no more remains a frog in the well . It has undergone great change. The regimental traditions too have dwindled. How many times dinner nights ( silent ?) are held in military units that used to be very common in sixtees?Military officer to day is much more informed than what we had earlier. Influence is natural. One can not be a passive on looker always. However it does not mean that Army has to directly involve in civilian politics. Years ago talking politics was a taboo in army. Even to day it is a taboo. Yet people are more informed today and they do harbor views. Army is viewed as a Holy cow all these days and we wish it remains. But circumstances do make influence on organizatios. Army is no exception.
The important point to note is that technical expertise for assembling an explosive device is no more a big secret. One can always get information on internet in great details including the various make shift explosives and initiating devices. A normal cracker manufacturer can supply the know how. A bit of ingenuity is what required and all the terrorists have this. In AP state in Royala seema areas it is alleged that almost every house manufactures bombs. Terrorsits in India no more need an inspiration or technical advice for assembling explosive devices and inititaing them. The second aspect is the psychological support to these outfits. This greatly depends on moral fibre of the uniformed men. I like to draw the attention to formation of Indian National Army that was formed and commanded by distinguished Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose years ago. The members were invariably the captured soldiers from British Indian Army. They were the loyal trrops of India. But Netaji could transform them to join INA. That was the national inspiration to which they were drawn. It is also true therefore that loyalty need not be eternal and depends on many other factors. In India there is no reason to doubt about the loyalty of uniformed forces.The present tussle between Civilian Babus and political leaders with army has to be sorted out or else trouble would soon appear and this could be the reason for erosion of much cherished values. One can read the blog posts on the sites to know the situation to day. See the reactions of men for the article in India Express. Writing on the wall has to be seen. Better done earlier it is better. Secondly, the vicious TV campaign against the army should be stopped and blocked forthwith as this is doing very great damage to the entiren nation. In fact such investigations even if they are to be conducted should have been out of public sight as this could do great damage to the morale of troops. The investigation team is being blamed for leaking information to media. Why it should be don? There is no doubt that law is above every one. But there have to some procedures. It can not be free for all and wild actions. All these arrests may not stand in court as the evidence could prove to be false. Then what happens? If Purohit and all others are acquitted in a court of law can the governmen that remains a mute witness to the happening bring back the respect to Purohit and others even if retired. Can they take away black scar from armys face? They can not do it. So the present over enthusiasm should be curbed. Investigations must go on no doubt. This should not be washing of dirty linen in public. That is going on now. If Purohit and others get acquitted can they file defamatory suit agaisnt the agencies that are highlighting the show at present They should in fact. Can the bitternes be taken away from army that could finally prove dangerous and disastrous to the country at a later stage? Kindly think over .
Tolerant
All
Malegaon blasts gave some clue
While army is having high flu
Media is busy and making army a big mess
While army guys are busy saying YES
All these years they said three bags full
While boots got worn out in the usual drill
“You are right Sir” was their eternal gimmick
While the babus ruled with a mighty stick
Clueless..
Malegaon episode has tarnished all
Those on towers are sure to cilmb down the wall
The guys would surely now show the defense
Many would still sit on the surrounding fence
The episode is purely one in infinite
the guys would forget and enjoy at ladies nite
Purohit would be soon left behind
many would have now an axe to grind
Pay commission trouble would now be in rack
All will go back now with empty sack
Is the whole episode an engineered one?
To defame the army to single out as said and done
There is some thing like offensice defense
Like a tiger growling caught in cage and fence
Are the civilian guys now trapping an army guy
To prove that in army all is not sky high
Clueless
@ clueless
In all youir poetic zeal you forgot to mention one thing.
If the Nation pushes the Army man to the wall this is what he may resort to.
Though the incident is still to be confirmed and is under media trial, the truth may be far from the appearance. But suggesting means by publicising the incident to the soldier is spellling doomsday.
Dear Menon
WILL THIS BE ENOUGH ?
If the cat is pushed to the wall
Sure it would strike with a ferocious call
Army that has been pushed all these years to the end
Could be the reason for the present action and bend
What we see today is a media trial and craze
In the end the guy could come out clean like fire in blaze
Honor of the guy is no doubt at stake
Even if the charges are found to be dubious and fake
Do not condemn the guy till the charges are proven
Nothing would fall soon from the sky and heavens
The media in India has now got the sensational news
These have to seen their distorted views
Clueless
hi all,. interesting article by maroof at( http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20081124&fname=Cover+Story&sid=6.).. . just about sums up the issue.. lets leave this episode here once and for all ..cheers
Isn’t there something weird that the MI is not involved in the investigations into the Malegaon case? Or, is the Govt. of the day scared that they may uncover the truth. If a serving Army officer can get involved in such an act (as suspected) why can’t the Leader of the main ruling party also be suspected of being a foreign agent? Do we have any investigation agency that is capable of investigating this? Maybe the aim of the foreign power is to demoralise the Armed forces and create secular disharmony in the country. After all the relatives of the Leader of the ruling party were involved in the first multi-crore weapons scam.
Does the Govt. of the day not trust the MI and the Armed forces and prefer that the case be handled by a ham fisted ATS who have still not able to find any clues to the serial train blasts in Mumbai and the Gateway of India or is there more to this? The Army should also be involved since it may be a major security breach in their organisation.