REBUFF TO DIPLOMAT

Date: Tuesday, 10 May, 2011

 

Dear Ambassador Bhadra Kumar,

I know you would like to be addressed by that prefix, even though it is an appointment and not a RANK. I hope you know the difference between the two. For your education a defence services officer is commissioned by the President of India and given a parchment commissioning letter, where as all civil officers are appointed to their services. Imagine retired officers adding prefixes like Cabinet Secretary, Secretary, Addl Secy, DIG, IG, DGP, Commissioner Customs/IT/Excise to their names. Pity is that nearly all officers in the IFS retire in secretary grade. But even the laggards and incompetents who retire as ambassador in the grade of addl secy/ jt secy use the prefix, AMBASSADOR on retirement even though they may not have been found competent enough to represent us in a country other that Burkina Faso!

Now about your taking umbrage to Gen Roye's remarks on the comments made by you during the debate and telling him to confine himself to his profession and not pass judgement on diplomatic matters. That is the least diplomatic riposte from an ex diplomat.

I know of another frustrated ex diplomat who is invited very regularly by the TV channels.   He makes obnoxious remarks about all and sundry and is a chronic apologist for Pakistan just because they want to add spice to a debate.

Even I felt that you had been exceptionally critical about Gen VK Singh's remark. Does not the Chief ( remember there is only one CHIEF, who is the leader of a fighting force, and not dozens of them) have the right to answer a reporters question in a straight forward manner if he is asked about his command's capabilities? Why should he say "No Comments" and send a wrong signal not only to his force, his country but also to Pakistan? For God's sake stop worrying about diplomacy when we have to send strong signals that we are a country to reckon with. Our diplomacy has not got us anywhere as we have nearly always been caught on the wrong foot because of sheer incompetence.

I have been Military Attache in a prestigious embassy for three years and I can tell you that out of the seven IFS officers four  would not have gone beyond the rank of Major in the ARMY, the highest one could go on time scale basis in 1975. But all the four prefix their names with the word ambassador on retirement, despite having claimed salary of a non existent gardener or putting in false monetary claims or just sleeping on the job. The bane of our country is that we are governed by mediocre civil servants, as there is no filter to separate the grain from chaff.

Take a criticism sportingly and for a change lets not disparage each others professions.

Regards

Lt Gen SK Bahri

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Friday, May 06, 2011

To: Bhadrakumar Melkulangara

Subject: Re: Your Appearance Times NOW on 05 May 2011

1.   Pardon me, I  forgot that in that unatrophied brain of yours, you & your ilk are the repository of all intellect. Talk is cheap,  e mails cheaper!! .

2.   Perhaps you never heard of the adage 'War is diplomacy by other means' .But then what would I know a simple bumkin of a soldier ? .

3.   You appear to have forgotten 1971, Hyderabad, Junagadh, Goa, Kashmir Siachin, Kameng etc. Thank the almighty that soldiers do their job, and effectively too- otherwise you would have us lose Sikkim, Sir Creek and the Valley long ago. It is all there in your notings and archives.

4.   Yes, we certainly shall seek reimbursement from Pak when the time comes- with penal interest. You shall not be consulted.

5.   You are not privileged and hence your view needed to be retorted to. As for crumbs, let your fierce opposition  speak, not your loudspeaker.

6.   As I said contradictions are too rife in what you write- disconnecting imaginary pecuniary returns to your  DNA!!

Where does Dynasty Not Ancestry, (or is it Dust Not Ability), come into this?

7.   Thank God the soldiers have upbringing, and neither DNA , nor Pedigree; the last reserved for the canines and the felines .

8.   Sleep well my friend. Despite his atrophied brains, our Chief shall ensure that you and your kin remain safe and cosy in your bed.

9.   Thank  the Fauji that he applies his cuture to you and does not leave you unprotected. His Loyalty to his country is unquestionable 

AR

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From: Bhadrakumar Melkulangara

To: Maj Gen Arun Roye <arunroye@yahoo.com>

Sent: Thu, May 5, 2011 10:47:15 PMK

Subject: Re: Your Appearance Times NOW on 05 May 2011

The problem with you people is that you seemed to have developed your muscle at a time when the brain atrophied. In any case, what business do you have to pass judgment on diplomacy? Stick to your profession which is soldiering, and try to do well there. I shall be privileged if you don't heed my views. It may be your people's culture to seek 'reimbursements' from the Pakistanis, but my family or my DNA does not seek such favours.

Nor am I seeking any 'crumbs' from the government of which today I am one of the fiercest critics on foreign policy issues. But then, you seem to apply your own fauji culture across the board to us civilians in concluding that every word you speak or every view you hold must get some pecuniary returns. Do not think others are like you. 

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On 5 May 2011 22:33,

Maj Gen Arun Roye <arunroye@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Mr BhadraKumar,

      

I am not an aquaintance. On coming across your comments/articles, so far, I always felt that whereas they had some substance there was a load of contradictions. Tonight, on TIMES NOW, I saw what I always feared, that in INDIA we have spawned few

'intellectuals' in MEA who do not how to spell it, leave alone understand its nuances.The reason we lost the diplomatic battle to Pak .

    

 For the nth time I felt ashamed, that an Indian, in his quest for popularity with our neighbours and crumbs from theGovernment of the day, I saw an educated and self proclaimed intellectual sell his soul, to remain in circulation.

    

A controversial person on screen is always appreciated by the electronic media,( man bites DOG- syndrome) but youoverdid it.There is one person I know who will switch off when he sees you on screen after today. [ COMMENT: THERE IS "ONE

MORE" !!!]

    

Your invitations are going to be likely from across the border, and I am sure they shall reimburse you appropriately.

     

I do wish that you had the gumption of talking of intellectual capacity of some erstwhile PMs,FMs/ Foreign Secys or others in corridors of power, when you were in service. From your service days, you knew a COAS cannot hit back.

    

Shame on you. Sir.

    

With no regards

    

AR