Sir, it may be construed as bitterness as i leave the armed forces in a few months.Yet, i will say that i was very proud of the ethos and the pragmatism the Indian Army has displayed. Your front page news about the events of 16th Jan 2012 has dented this pride to such an extent that i am ashamed. It is not sensationalism as many have commented ,but a sorry state of politico-defence relations and more importantly blatant miscommunication on part of the Army. In an organisation where even a menu change in the officer messes requires permission of the seniormost dining officer,it is shameful that the elected government was not informed about large scale troop movements around Delhi.This erodes the very office of DGMO. Yet., i feel this was a skirmish bound to happen. It is the nature of the protected cloistered cantonment mindset. A phrase i think was quoted by Hussain Haqqani in an article a few years ago in your paper. The more one is insulated the more are the chances of a regression in intelligence and a stunting of rational thought. This point is made in Matt Ridleys book "The Rational Optimist", in which he mentions about the regression seen in Tasmanian natives as they never interacted closely with other civilizations. Archaeologist Rhys Jones called it a strangulation of the mind. The same afflicts the Army. The only solution is to engage in administration by appointing officers who are promising who work with the beaurucracy and politicians on a regular basis and engage as well as enjoy the hustle bustle of the democratic process. Its time we in the army stopped considering ourselves as unique and above board. We serve this nation first and foremost ,not an ideology or an organisation.
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