AFVOA Newletters of Year 2004

Page 60 of 153 present. 91. Five years ago the very same ceremony was overshadowed by political differences between France & the USA. The event, nevertheless, went through. The event was played down by the French Govt. while it was attended by President Clinton. Similarly, a few years ago, a ceremony to honour a German General at his grave in Rome was attended by large numbers of German officers who threw the famous “Heil Hitler” salute despite flashing cameras & walked away with shoulders held high. Uniformed men the world over share the feeling of disclain for politics & display strong bonding amongst themselves. 92. We, in India, do not commemorate any of our battles. We have hundreds of battle honours but they are confined to pages in books. The victory of the 1971 War, for example, is celebrated with the Service Chiefs saluting at India Gate. The event is played down by the press & media & none of the veterans are even invited. Can we, the veterans of this war, not join hands with the veterans of Bangla Desh, ignore regional politics & commemorate an event in which both fought shoulder to shoulder & achieved success? There are many other such examples of suitable occasions. 93. Similarly, Artillery guns are not equipment. They are colours for which a man is expected to give his life rather than let it fall into enemy hands. One does not lean against it; use it as a table or chair. Placing a casual leg on the trail of a gun is sacrilege. The gun carriage is used to carry the bodies of heroes to its final resting place. Yet, hundreds of times in multiple events, we see repeated violation of these norms. Do these feelings of hurt pride have to be swallowed bitterly? Can we not wait for the present generation to die out before using the very guns they served with as show pieces outside homes & officers messes? Can they not be a bit more sensitive to the sentiments of ex-servicemen? Maybe War Veterans can help restore lost pride, give value & depth to customs & traditions & make lives of serving personnel more meaningful. The only thing they expert in return is that they be treated with honour & dignity & that their fallen comrades are not forgotten. Is that too much to expect from a grateful nation? 94. I am interacting with the three services HQ, at the level of the Chief’s secretariat, to develop a project for improving the lot of disabled ex-servicemen. Instead of agreement & cooperation, I repeatedly get stock answers, pat responses, even a few sneers. No one says no. But it is not a clear yes either. The concept I am recommending requires no expenditure at all. It is the mind set of the serving man which makes me feel like I am wasting my time. One General, an ex-Chief, whom I approached for advice & an appointment, actually refused to meet me as he had no time for this matter. I spent an hour with the President of the Indian Ex- Servicemen’s League. I shudder to think about the tales of individual soldiers he recounted. If he is right, we need immediate action to help. I wonder what we ought to do. 95. I am attaching a note which may offer more food for thought. MILITARY OCCASIONS and EX-SERVICEMEN 96. Indian Ex-Servicemen usually participate in a few occasions:- a) Course get-together. b) Raising days / Reunions. c) Annual tea / dinner hosted by the arm at selected stations. 97. These events are social gatherings with little formal support. The events should