LEND ME AN (Y)EAR!

At the death of the great Roman Emperor, Mark Anthony, famously said, “Friends, Romans and countrymen, lend me an ear”. Now we have our Chief of Army Staff, Gen V.K. Singh, proclaiming in similar vein, “Judges, Indians and Media, lend me an year”; that is to say, extend my tenure by one year, by changing my date of birth (D.O.B.) from 1950 to 1951. It seems an innocuous and “honourable” request, from a brave soldier. But the impression gaining ground is that the Govt has been insensitive and unfair, by not granting such a request to a man in uniform. The Govt’s silence is also being interpreted as a sign of weakness or wrongdoing. On the othe hand several articles have appeared showing how the issue has been minutely examined at various levels and different fora, resulting in the Ministry of Defence upholding 1950 as the D.O.B. Nevertheless Singh has defiantly sought redress from the Supreme Court, just one day after Army Day on the 15th January. The timing is ominous. Prior to this Singh has let it be known that he was being eased out of office because of his strong stand against corrupt army officers, like in the Sukna land scam. (Is he then insinuating that those who will step into his shoes are not as honest as he is?) Thereafter he said that he was being treated like a Pakistani. Was it wishful thinking? Would he like to be treated like a Pakistani general, who is not answerable to democratic institutions, and engineer a coup? Singh also vehemently opposed the partial lifting of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from some parts of Kashmir, defying a duly elected State Govt. Then again, he said that he had no dispute with the Govt. He now claims that he is fighting for his honour, and that of the army. Singh’s shifting stance is now looking shifty. His well-calculated manoeuvres indicate that he is a shrewd strategist and knows how to play war games. Against an enemy, it’s fine. But when it has serious ramifications for the country, it is like Russian Roulette, where somebody is bound to get hurt. During Indira Gandhi’s time Lt Gen S.C. Sinha was superseded for the post of Chief. He put in his papers, but he was feted by the opposition parties, and later made a Governor. Years later Admiral Vishnu Bhagat, Chief of Naval Staff, who hails from my hometown, Kanpur, came into conflict with the then NDA Govt and Defence Minister George Fernandes. He had to quit. At that time Bhagat’s younger brother had approached me to put in a word with Fernandes, with whom I had a good rapport. I declined, not least because I felt that it was not my business! The opposition Congress did try to make political capital of the situation. I fear that Singh’s case will also have political overtones, and possible overtures; coming as it does, just before the Assembly elections. Is it a mere coincidence that two of the States going to the polls are Punjab and Uttarakhand, that have a sizeable population of army veterans, serving officers and soldiers? There the BJP and its ally, the Akali Dal are in power. It would be naïve to believe that they will not extract political mileage to embarrass the Congress. It has already begun. Let me now get personal. I was born in February 1951, and studied in St Joseph’s College, Nainital, from where I did my Senior Cambridge in December 1965, at the tender age of 14. I was therefore underage for entrance tests to the NDA or IIT. Six of my classmates became defence officers, and five went to the IITs. One of my classmates was a course mate of Singh, when he enrolled in the 36th Course of the NDA in 1966. That classmate was born in 1949. In 1966 one had to be 16 years of age to enter the NDA, hence had to be born in 1950 or earlier. This holds true for Singh as well. If he now (or subsequently) claims that he was born in May 1951 (3 months younger than me), then he could not have entered the NDA in 1966. In India, fudging or changing one’s D.O.B. is child’s play. It is highly plausible that Singh’s school certificates show 1951 as his D.O.B. But the moot question is, “What was Singh’s legally maintainable age when he entered the army through the NDA?” If he entered, and got all his promotions, with his D.O.B. as 1950, then it is legally maintainable and logical that he exits the army on the same basis of 1950. One cannot have different yardsticks for entry and exit. It is worth recalling that the controversy was in the army records itself, and Singh had on past occasions, notably when promotions were due, given his written assurance that he accepted 1950 as his D.O.B. Thereafter the Defence Ministry, having examined all records, has taken a decision, which Singh should graciously have accepted. The present confrontation is one of Singh’s own making, for which he must pay the price. If he doesn’t go gracefully, then the Govt or the Supreme Court must show him the door, lest he set a bad precedent. Singh’s obduracy has also resulted in a succession crisis in the army hierarchy. This can seriously affect the morale of the army, whose cause Singh claims to espouse. There is another personal twist to this tail (pun intended) that dates back to 1966. It has been reported that incase Singh is shown the door, or quits prior to 31st May, then the Western Army Commander, Lt Gen S.R. Ghosh, will be the next Chief of Army Staff. He belongs to my aforementioned alma mater, where he was one year our junior, passing out in1966. This does not mean that I am rooting for my schoolmate. The judiciary and the defence forces have often been considered the most honourable pillars of the body politic. Let us keep it that way, Gen Singh. The country would have to pay too dear a price to lend you an ear or extend your tenure by a year. Ave Caesar! Sorry, Bharat Mata ki Jai! * The author, and his family’s association with the army, goes back over 150 years.