GEN VK SINGH COURAGE & CONVICTION

COURAGE AND CONVICTION It was on 7 Dec 2013 that I purchased the book, ‘Courage and Conviction’ by Veteran Gen VK Singh, former COAS of the Indian Army; and I finished reading it from cover to cover (in all 351 pages) on 23 Dec. While the first half of the book meanders at a slow pace; the second half is fast and revealing. Readers ought to keep their personal prejudices aside, whether one is pro or anti VKS; for only then, can one grasp the true import of the book. The narration and style of presentation is lucid without any frills. Officers who have taken part in 1971 war and in Sri Lanka Operations, especially those from the Infantry, would be able to relate better. VKS pulls no punches; but narrates the events as they unfolded. It does require Courage & Conviction to put down in black & white as to how the Security of the Nation is being compromised by the Mandarins (read Bureaucrats) in South Block. The book does not mention it, but a discerning eye can see that the duo MMS and AKA, epitomes of honesty and probity in public life, but mute spectators to unsavoury happenings in their spheres of influence, are unmitigated disasters for the Country. Having read the book, the question that comes to one’s mind is, ‘How come the Bureaucrats (pejoratively referred to as Babus) have come to exercise such a stranglehold on the Country?’ The answer is not far to seek. In a Democracy, the people are the stake holders; and, the Legislature (ie. elected representatives), the Executive and the Judiciary are the three legs on which the edifice of Democracy, ie. good governance rests. But when the Legislature (ie. elected representatives) are busy minting money with the help, assistance, support and connivance of Bureaucrats; and the Judiciary is perceived to be abdicating its responsibility by looking the other way, the Country is bound to sink to such sordid depths. The next question that arises is, ‘In a Democracy, have the Armed Forces no role to play or are they not stake holders in ensuring good governance?’ They do and they are; provided the three Service Chiefs make their presence felt and assert themselves. In a Democracy, the Armed Forces are subordinate to their civilian masters. However, Civilian Control over the Military in a Democracy, means, control exercised by the Elected Representatives of the People and NOT by the Civil Service (ie. Bureaucrats). Unfortunately, it is perceived that over the past six decades our Service Chiefs (with notable exceptions) have allowed themselves to be psychologically brow beaten by the Bureaucrats in the Ministry of Defence, who by subterfuge and policy of divide & rule, honed into a fine art, have been constantly driving the daylights out of the politicians by raising the spectre of a Military Coup. So much so that, today, our Service Chiefs, who otherwise are paragons of soldierly virtues, are perceived to be kowtowing to the Babus (Bureaucrats) in the hope of being rewarded (for their subservience) by a gubernatorial post or a ‘plum ambassadorial post’ to countries like Guatemala, Honduras or Nicaragua. It is also sad to note that in the aftermath of every war the Country has won, be it in 1965 or 1971 or Kargil Operations in 1999, as a reward (!!) the standing of the Service Chiefs has been brought down notch by notch in the Warrant of Precedence. The book, ‘Courage and Conviction’ is informative and absorbing; and, is a MUST read for all citizens who value Justice, Freedom & Liberty; and believe, ‘The safety, honour & welfare of your country comes first, always & every time’. http://www.infibeam.com/Books/courage-conviction-autobiography-general-vk-singh/9789382277576.html