Sullied brass
The problem of corruption at higher ranks in the defence services can only be tackled by systemic reform.
Law shall not stop with the punishment of petty crimes by little people. It must also reach men who possess themselves of great power. ~Robert Jackson
Indian Express has a news story highlighting corruption cases at the top echelons in the Indian Army. Nothing shockingly new there, except a noticably interesting trend: these corruption cases have recently moved on from the usual suspects — the logistics types — to the operational commanders in the army.
Whenever any such story is highlighted by the media, there are five reflexive defensive reactions to any such story from the service members, veterans and their sympathisers.
One, blame the Indian media which loves a sensationalist story. This is nothing but an attempt to garner more readership and TRPs by making a mountain out of a molehill.
Two, dismiss these incidents as mere aberrations. The whole flock should not be castigated for these few black sheep.
Three, provide a social context — these officers also come from the society. When the society itself is so corrupt, how can anyone expect its army officers to be honest?
Four, draw a bigger line to make the misdeed appear relatively smaller. Has anyone looked at the corrupt deeds of our politicians, bureaucrats and corporates? Look at the Madhu Koda case and these misdemeanours by the army brass pale out in comparison.
Five, an emotional appeal — look at the sacrifices being made by the army to keep us safe. There is need to overlook such minor transgressions as a kind of cost for the yeoman service rendered by the army to the nation.
The only question that these justifications do not answer is about the quality of leadership in the defence services. Military culture, as many commentators on this blog never tire of reminding us, is all about leading by example. Surely, this is not the kind of example the nation would want its services to emulate from their leaders in uniform.
Defence services, for historical and socio-political reasons, have an exalted position in the Indian society. Their leadership will always be held to a higher, exacting standard of values because the society and the nation sees civil society as more dishonest, more self-indulgent, more corrupt, more disloyal, less disciplined and more materialistic than military culture. The burden of these expectations — the cost of being different from (and superior to) a bloody civilian — can not be dissociated from the honour, respect and privileges which come with donning the military uniform.
Finally, the question is not merely about punishing those who have been caught red-handed and proven guilty. Stopping at punishing those trapped gives rise to more adherents of the Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not get caught.
The rise in corruption cases at higher levels in the army is perhaps an indicator of a deeper systemic malaise, which needs tackling the root cause of the malady, and not stopping at only treating the symptoms. This is the mistake often made, and is being made by the Indian Express, in stopping at only calling for Mr. Antony — who suffers from whatever is the opposite of charisma — to come down strictly on the erring generals.
The long-term solution is to undertake systemic reform which would require a lot of political will on part of the defence minister. That is hard work. And as that old poster observed — Hard work has future payoff. Laziness pays off now.
It is sad that the Hon. Def. Min. Sri AK Anthony does not want to wield the power of the state vested in him to influence the Chiefs of Staff to do the right thing.
Nepotism, corruption, pseudo-professionalism, sycophancy, inability or reluctance to widen our professional horizons, lack of any forum for serious internal discussions, authoritarianism which stifles genuine differences of opinion, an illiterate and unprofessional top brass which is afraid of either seeing or exhibiting competence, internal empires and cliques based on lanyards, academies, military/sainik schools/RIMC, adhocism, lack of sensitivity towards the ranks and utter disconcern for their professional needs etc etc are many such ills that are afflicting our forces. Sadly, we either close our eyes towards them or stubbornly refuse to discuss them. Jingoistic chest thumping about patriotism, Siachen or Kargil, sacrifices etc are not the hallmarks of a professional army. Professionalism and competence are what all modern armies need and Indian Army needs it no less!
Extract from an old post by Pragmatic. I carry this with me at all times.
IMO This should be spray painted on the Chatwode Hall
The Nation has seen how the theheka episode actors were dealt by the Civil Services and the Army. There were almost equal numbers of similarly placed military and civil service officers involved in the episode. While Army swiftly shown them door the Civil Services rewarded their theheka-veterans with promotions …!
The ten listed in the blog post were cases dealt with during the span of 04 years including those, where the individuals involved were already punished with dismissal.
One is not asking Pragmatic to look at the proportion of corruption in the services in comparison with those in similar levels of civil bureaucracy because mentioning of corruption in the civil bureaucracy is blasphemous in this blog. Also since corruption is assumed as perks no one is asking reform in civil bureaucracy.
The corruption in defence forces is indeed a worrying phenomenon which is generally on increase.It is generally the logisticians which are traditionally suspected and blamed.Its more worrying is the increasing five star culture ,lavish gifts being accepted by the brass and declining moral values.The term privilege is being extended a bit too far.The organisation has to look with in and brass may have to lead by example.their are very few generals that can be counted as penny honest.also the logistician is ultimately controlled by the executive branch.Moral corruption is even more dangerous.Sycophancy and promotion of own kind is even more dangerous as it has even more deeply entrenched in the system.biased promotional policies,favouring the people based on their arm or service and flawed distribution of vacancies is eroding the values furthur specially the distribution of vacancies of av 2 need to be examined for fairplay.
“Finally, the question is not merely about punishing those who have been caught red-handed and proven guilty. Stopping at punishing those trapped gives rise to more adherents of the Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not get caught.”
At least this is a different from the rest of our society. Corruption exists everywhere, but in India, people in power seldom suffer when caught. Please tell me which politician or senior bureaucrat has been sent to jail and had his career terminated when caught with his hand in the till. One need look no further than the strange case of the “Hon’ble” CJ of Karnataka. The “Hon’ble” CJI is calling for still further reports even after the Collector of his home district has confirmed that the allegations of encroachment on public lands is correct. He continues to remain in office.
“The long-term solution is to undertake systemic reform.”
What reforms do you suggest? And who will monitor them – the “honest” politicians, bureacracy or judiciary?
Why only the armed forces being blamed for thievery? Criminal behaviour extends across the spectum from the judiciary (CJI Dinakaran is the latest example) to the Police (uncountable examples), and Politicians (Madhu koda) and Bureaucrats (can’t even name them but they surely exist).
The criminal CJI Dinakaran of Karnataka and the criminal Madhu Koda are blatantly spitting at the system without an ounce of shame or guilt — in other words, common thieves wearing the regalia of the state. Of course, politicians like M. Karunanidhi will pretend that CJI Dinakaran is being hounded because he is SC/ST, not because the CJI is a criminal, but that is only because M. Karunanidhi himself is a criminal guilty of stealing 10s of thousands of crores from the state exchequer and lives in a rather large glass mansion to throw stones at others. If the state cannot crush these criminals and throw them out, no point discussing what kind of a power India is going to be in the future, because India will balkanize if the current situation extends for many more decades. Citizens only put up with a criminal state for so long before losing patience (note the maoists).
“Why only the armed forces being blamed for thievery?”
Because only the armed forces make it a point to repeatedly claim that they’re made of better stuff. When you publicly claim to be better, you damn well make sure you are!
[1] Losing it:
Even if they protest too much, the loss of saint_soldierly fiscal or
other virginity always results in military excommunication, their
‘religious laws’ work. So there.
[2] Let ‘em do it:
All militaries – all ranks – all centuries – have never been squeamish
or morally hand tied when grabbing ‘enemy’ stuff. The Indian Faujis –
eg see their history of their Pioneer Regiments brought home a good
amount of booty from Peking; in 1971 despite notices put up in
captured enemy villages in the western sector [ "Hands in pockets
and think of Sam"] one could see soldiers happily depleting Pak villages
and farms. Chalta hai. Art treasures, Swiss Nazi stashed gold etc.
Rubies in military Burma, Prime real estate in Pak Mil Inc. etc etc
[3] WHY should girls (~civs) have all the fun ?
Some namak in the dal is routine – civvy street need not get their
pants in a tizzy. Jaane bhi do. Let the GI boys and brass also join the
party. A fair share of the civvy loot must be intitutionalised – even
paramilitaries must be allowed to join the carnival. After all as the
distinguished ‘Father of the modern African kleptocracy’ Mobutu Sese
Seko of the Congo ‘ actually told his countrymen in one public address
” If you want to steal, steal a little cleverly in a NICE way. Only if you
steal so much to become rich overnight, you will be caught’ [ quote
from National Geographic July 2008 issue. ] Our Father of the nation
got it all wrong in his experiments with truth. Modern India has set him
right by putting him on all high id currency notes. Money is all – for
Civs or Mil or MMS.
[1] ’systemic reform’
[2] ‘What reforms do you suggest? And who will monitor them –
the “honest” politicians, bureacracy or judiciary?’
——————————————————————————–
(a) What if Mil RTs* are promoted all the way up to Chaplain / Maulvi or
Pandit Generals ? So make moral rearmament easier at higher levels ?
Just not enough to Bell Book and Candle only the Poor Bloody ORs.
(b) Why give Honorary Brigadierships & Colonelships to Liquor barons,
[ Mohan (Dyer, remember ?) Meakins ] film actors, cricket players.
Respectfully request Swami Ramdev ji to become Hon Colonel of the
Regiment of the APTC types for starters. And someone from St Stephens
College too if they can figure out their Principals and PhDs, so on.
*
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/23-recruit-religious-teachers-pass-out/541624/
“Defence services, for historical and socio-political reasons, have an exalted position in the Indian society” That is an interesting observation by Pragmatic when seen in light of continues official degradation of the defence officers in comparison to every Tom Dick And Harry in the warrant of precedence since the nation attained independece.
Dal, Rum, Golfcart, Siliguri Acregate are nothing.
What sickens is the ridiculous levels of sycophancy that the Brass expect, encourage and demand today:
Today’s photo in the Tribune ( 01 Dec 09 ) shows a Lt Gen riding into the sunset on a horse buggy with a brass star plate. One small step more and there will be brass stars pinned to the horse’s ass.
And some years ago the TOI reported a scene in S. Block where a 2 star touched the feet of a 3 star as an indigenous mark of desi respect. I have the clip.
Prag,
I again ask the same question.
when was the court of inquiry ordered in the supposedly land scam. was it after indian express reported it, or was it the indian express reporting the court of inquiry IN PROGRESS.
at least appreciate the armed forces for doing their job and fighting corruption in the best manner (even when there is just a suspicion of corruption).
before u start the case write the facts, especially in this land scam case ( i wouldlike to see u fall flat on ur face like Arnab Goswami).
I told u so. Make hay while the sun shines. And any one who doesn’t is either insane or stupid. No suspicion – if any one would have even a bit of self respect, they would have offered unconditional resignation. Not let every one make tamasha of them selves.
The first casualty of tamasha is the truth.
There are enough unscrupulous people on both sides of the cliques. Honest ppl do not need to get involved.
[...] towards any corruption in the armed forces. The second, and the more important one, is about the excuses being furnished that mean little except delaying the inevitable — a systemic plan to reform and restructure the defence services. 04 Dec 2009 | Concerning [...]
PS
December 1st, 2009 at 6:03 pm
D
And some years ago the TOI reported a scene in S. Block where a 2 star touched the feet of a 3 star as an indigenous mark of desi respect. I have the clip.
PS could u upload it on u tube and post the link here
asking for reforms for the Army from the Civil administration is asking the thieves to make laws for the police. hahaha
Great