ANOTHER GOOD SOUL PANDA DEPARTS

BORN : 16 JAN 1997

GOD : 25 DEC 2010

PANDA

YOU LEFT US DEVASTATED, GRIEF IS NOT HOW WE WILL DESCRIBE BUT A SPACE THAT WILL REMAIN VACANT FOREVER.

REST IN PEACE.

TUNGA THE SMALL PUG

On 08 May 2010

A TRIBUTE

We were away from our home,
To return the day next,
The small Black Pug embraced God's warmth,
Taking away all sorrows and pains,
A loss SO GREAT AND PAINFUL,
Rest in Heaven in peace.

ABLE TO DISABLE

The news that COAS, General Deepak Kapoor is a medical category (P2), and the storyline in the Times of India news article, that the retiring General will draw 20% more pension due to medical category has a sinister implication and it tries to imply that this may be a practice admist Senior defence officers superanuating from AHQ for drawing additional pension.

We hope this is not so or else the integrity of the officers will be at stake.

Why, it is so ?

Nurses -VS- Nursing Officers is killing the ethics of human relation practice in the Army Medical Corps. Why and who is responsible for this trend? To blame individuals will tantamount to an array of creed discrimination and even if this is correct, individual contribution should not lead to Organisational discrimination. The problem is not with individuals but with the mindset that the society formulates over a period of time.

The Nursing profession is the only trade that the defence services do not recognise as Military Professionals but as an Auxiliary service that aids the ailing soldiers in peace operations and not during combat.

The worst part is that even the Political setup and the intellects have accepted Defence Services recommendation- that it's a service assisting the Military and should not be given a status akin to other Military personnel.

Where as the pay structure can be debated and that a difference may be made in the pay scales of the Doctors and the Nurses, the doctrine that they should be alienated from the mainstream of Military command structure is not justified .

The Armed Forces have gradually side stepped the Nursing Officers in various forms (a) By denying them the Olive Green Uniform, an administrative action upheld by the court of law, (b) Removal of Weapon Training, as they are non-combatants, (c) Denying them the Military status by calling them "Members of Military Nursing Service" and withdrawing even the Staff Car facility to the only Major General of the Nursing Services, (d) Taking away the power to write the Annual Confidential Report from the Principal Matron and vesting the same to the Ward Medical Officer, (e) Conferring that the Rank given to them is to provide protection from sexual harassment, (f) Not giving them the benefits of Bagga Commission recommendations and, (g) Providing lower weightage to service while calculating the pension of the Nursing Officers.

Mr Anthony, the Defence Minister plays the role of a silent spectator. The first women President has done little for them. The media has circumvented this issue so far and maybe at some point of time they will come to our rescue.

Will someone be Sane and prudent enough to listen to them with an open mind and restore their work place dignity.

LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL

An extremely interesting article for weekend reading of my civilian friends and those in media. Enjoy this lucid, pacy article.

Have a great weekend mulling tover it.

LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL IN LADAKH One is surprised at the information being fed to the Public, on the subject. Statements made by Government officials do not appear to be taken seriously. It is felt that the perspective needs some clarification. Those who might have seen the Indian Borders in Punjab, Jammu region, the Line of Control in J&K, Siachen, or in the North East at Nathu La etc would imagine the LAC in Ladakh to be similarly held. This is not so. Our defences here are at places that are tactically sound and logistically sustainable. There is no ’eyeball to eyeball’ contact, in Ladakh. The areas forward of the defences are patrolled as per policy but patrols cannot cover an entire length of the LAC to prevent patrolling by the adversary, particularly when we do not wish to escalate the situation in pursuance of Government policy. Any attempt to consider areas visited by our patrols as defence posts would repeat the basic mistake of 1962, when most unsuitable non tactical positions were occupied due to a misplaced belief that the Chinese would not attack. Army generals accepted this from the GOI and paid heavily for the same; even the PM lived to regret formulating that policy. Yet, have we learnt any lessons from that experience? Unfortunately we have not; because we have not yet found the moral courage to face the truth. Accepting mistakes made in the past would be the first step to learning. The report on 1962 by Lt Gen Henderson Brooks continues to gather dust in South Block. Some reports in the Media linking the Army’s routine operational alerts to activities such as Chinese patrolling are misleading the Public. Even if the op alerts were not a routine affair they can do nothing to prevent Chinese patrols coming across our perception of the LAC. People must be aware that there have been a number of agreements between British India and the government in Tibet, in the last two centuries. While we may have inherited our positions from the British the Chinese certainly do not honour the agreements made by Tibet in the past. The alignment of the Border between India and China remains to be resolved. Sardar Patel, in a letter of 07 December 1950, had warned the Indian PM of Chinese intentions but these warnings were ignored. A most impractical Forward Policy was ordered which Gen Thimayya refused to implement in 1959. It was implemented only after the retirement of Gen Thimayya. The result was a most humiliating defeat in 1962. On 21 November 1962 the Chinese announced a cease fire which involved a 20 km withdrawal from the Actual Line of Control on that day, in Ladakh, and across the “illegal” McMahon Line in the East. (That is what the Chinese called it). The implication is quite significant. Though India did not agree to the proposals the same were implemented. Indian proposals at that time were rejected by the Chinese. The Indian Leadership at the time could not think of any other options. In Ladakh there is no single line which can be called the Line of Actual Control. Our perception of the Line is different from the Chinese perception. Hence there are two lines. Both countries continue patrolling to their own lines. This has carried on for years and will not stop till the difference in perception is resolved. Talks to decide the boundary issue have made little progress. Since these are under discussion giving details of these would not be in National Interest. However one thing we may note. The Chinese have always patrolled up to what we perceive is their version of the LAC. Never beyond that. But what is their perception of the LAC? In the absence of any line being indicated by the Chinese, we have to conclude that the line upto which they patrol is their claim line. Drawing attention of the public to the number of patrols is as meaningless as IAF transport aircraft landing 23 km from the LAC. What is important is that there have been no clashes or face offs. (From the point of view of stopping incursions). For defence of our territory against conventional threat we are more than a match for the Chinese all along our land borders. This includes use of our Air Power. Even in 1962, had the Higher Direction of War been better, the Indian Armed Forces could have given them a bloody nose, even with the forces available at that time. One can say that it is easy to comment with hindsight. One must understand that the intention is not to only criticise past leadership. The intention is, to remind everyone, that we better learn our lessons from all past wars. It should be common knowledge that Nuclear Deterrence needs better Direction of War at the Higher level. With knowledge of conduct of all previous wars including OP VIJAY in 1999, one observes that the Higher Direction of War has been a major weakness in all our wars. Maybe we got away in the past because our adversaries were equally bad if not worse. I wonder whether we will enjoy a similar advantage in future, against all possible adversaries. For the current problem, hyped by the Media, one must realise that the Indian Army, on its own, cannot stop the Chinese patrolling unless the GOI clearly orders it to do so, accepting the consequences. The more informed public may like to place their faith in all Government agencies dealing with the situation with a hope that the Border issue with China will be resolved at the earliest.

The above views are the author’s own.Lt Gen KK Khanna, PVSM, AVSM**, Veteran The Indian Army

HYGIENE & SANITATION

Hygiene and sanitation is a major civic concern which needs to be addressed immediately. What ails the society is not self cleanliness which is in abundance, the cleaning of self and body is embedded in the religious ethos of Indian culture and it is a ritual that is practiced with extremity. In the end India is described as “One of the dirtiest places to live in”.
Having travelled the length and breadth of the country I have come across filths and garbage even in the posh localities with hardly any dissent by the local and blatant neglect by the civic bodies.
The divide of rich and poor differentiates in house sanitation, posh toilets etc, where as the poor use the money which is just adequate for maintaining daily livlihood and in the absence of state machinery dump the garbage outside unashamed, a mirrored image of unique Indian psyche.
Spittoon is the modest way of disposal of spit sitting in nawabi style which has taken a macabre specter and to see the babus spiting into the waste paper basket in the offices and the corners of the stairways are common.
Even Institutions have neglected the hygiene and sanitation, a cost saving measure over other activities. The next cuts were on maintenance of the buildings followed by downgrading of other set standards due to regular reduction in budgetary sanctions. Indeed the state of affairs in all government institutions and organization is pathetic.
The concern of the Health Department, invested with wide ranging powers to arrest such neglects certify recklessly without caring for the health hazard it poses.

Providing hygiene and sanitation should be the job of the government (the civic bodies) and stringent penalty must be imposed in case the local populace flout the rules or acts that leads to poor hygiene and sanitation being maintained by the state.
Indians are aware of the benefits of good hygiene and sanitation but individual contributions has limited effect unless the government ensures that a common civic code is implemented across the board and that adequate funds are made available with accountability fixed on erring officials. Once such codes are laid the common public flouting civic values should be heavily fined if they endanger the civic ammenities provided and maintained by the state. Till such measures are taken we will remain in the doldrums and endanger the health of the common Indians.

Equality a misnomer, the war of words is on and the facts leading to inequality is not being introspected.Medical profession and medical ethics is all about medical doctrine and duty towards the patients. Moreover nurses and doctors are complimentary and to equate them will destabilise the system.

In the army somehow the aspect of equality between the doctors and the nurses came in the foreground and snowballed into a issue which even today see no sign of abating. It is here that we must enter into a dialogue and say that the issue is not of equality but of dignity. A doctor is the Master in medical profession and they should compliment the nurses and grant them the dignity of co-existence.

Under the umbrella of the DGAFMS, we have to co-exist. We only seek equality in terms of pay-commission recommendation and surely pay-parity can never equate respective professional positions. A flag car, or accepting Bagga Commission recommendation for nursing officers or providing same uniform will never equate both the profession but will surely provide dignity and social recognition to the nursing faternity and encourage them to give out their best.

At the same time the nurses must shoulder their responsibility without treading into the territory of the doctors and carryout patient care with dedication. We must follow the medical ethics and not become commanders, as our profession is to follow the advise of the doctors and provide patient care.

I am sure we will over come the differences and the old days of mutual trust and social co-existence will be restored.

GABBAR BHAI

At Chandimandir we knew he will leave us, but we never expected that it will be so soon. He left for heavenly abode to attain the higher pedestal of life on 12 July 2009 at 1402 hours, after giving us so much love for the last 12 years.

He was full of life, and welcomed us with so much love and affection that we forgot the sadness that creeps in time and again to make us feel low. What made him so special was his continuous affection and alertness. We never found him asleep but always alert looking at us or awake at the slightest noise of anything and everything.

He may be anywhere but he will always be there in our heart and hearth. Today his absence is so profound that another GABBAR is entering into our life.

MUMBAI AFTERMATH

Tears of despair for the loss of near & dear ones and for the Indian soul, a feeling of helplessness for the common men and a sense of dejavu to go and strike deep inside the terrorist heart so that it is crippled for ever.

But have we Indians awaken to become conscious of the plight of the common men or its just reactive prognosis that will get buried in the passage of time, only time will tell if we have taken up and absolved to take the gauntlet to protect the interest of the common men in the streets.

The intellectuals, the bureaucrats, the corporate bosses and the politicians are talking and inculcating a feeling that the steps to install a through security setup is need of the hour ..... will they allow hours to tick by till the resolves are buried in the hours of dead sands.

The soldiers have once again done what they are supposed to do. Major Sandeep Unni Krishnan has laid down his life and Capt Singh is fighting to regain back his eyesight at a Mumbai hospital (alas his sacrifice is not known to the nation). The police force of Mumbai despite its limited resources have done what best it could do and has lost many bravenhearts in protecting Mumbai.

Raj and Uday Thakrey has kept mum and unlike the anti north grenade have preferred to take shelter inside their home. Heads of politicians have rolled but none have been punished for inaction which has led to the tragedy - a disgrace to the Nation.

I am deeply hurt and my sentiment goes out with the family of those who have lost their kith and kin to the bullets of irrationality. May GOD give peace to their soul and strength to we Indians to come out stronger with a resolve to defeat the evils lurking inside and outside.

THE JAWS OF DISCRIMINATION

Our hopes rest but then will the fruit be delivered. Slowly and surely that hope is receding. Our Chief's letter is apparently receiving some attention up the ladder for re-structuring our pay and allowances.

At least the CAOS could have been more transparent and apprised us about the proposed modification recommended by him. The cloak and dagger attitude is simply unbecoming of the CAOS.

My Chief you could have asked for more pay for the doctors instead of recommending for reduction in grade when all perks and perquisites are based on Grade Pay. After all we are being paid less MSP no NPA and yet you felt that the command will suffer. Somehow, you have shrouded your parity of pay with the Nursing Officers in the name of the Command & Control in Military Hospitals. Their are many specialists AMC doctors who by the acquisition of their specialisation overrides the treatment prescribed by the non-specialised AMC doctors whose grade pay may be at par or more than the specialised AMC Doctor. Does command and control suffer- maybe as per you it suffers?

Be more magnanimous and try and accommodate us in the Military fold and don't shroud our contribution by acknowledging us by use of graceful words. Frankly your letter brings out your hypocrisy.

FROM CLOSE QUARTERS

The media is highlighting Lt. Col. Purohit and maligning the image of the defence services. Why should the Army be made to be feel ashamed for a deed of one unworthy officer which otherwise is the deed of one and many in the Civil Lineup? We in the Army hold our head high and discard such rotten apples and put our house in order.

Erstwhile COAS, General Sankar Roy Choudhary, in a interview with one of the news channel, was very vehement in conveying that the Army has failed in abetting such incidence despite that such in-house systems exist to check and monitor such activities, but then we are the only organisation which is transparent in dealing with such cases and to set our house in order. We beleive that this criticism is made with the intend to set our house in order.

Much is being made out of the involvement of the Army and the media has left no stone unturned to point the fingers at the benevolent force that guards its traditions of valour and Service before Self.

The defence services is not corrupt and we believe in preserving our honour and integrity which is deeply rooted with the aim to protect the interest of the Nation. It is only the army which is the last resort for overcoming all failures and preserving the fabric of the nation. It is in the best interest of the Nation that defence services are kept ahead of petty politics and bureaucratic dominance.

ET TU BRUTE

I read Julius Ceaser and the stabbing by his trusted friend Brutus.... and today I find my cadre in the same boat left bleeding in the name of "Loss of Command & Control".

Do we deserve better pay when our civilian counterpart are placed in much lower grade. The Father of my organisation has represented that we should be denied the parity of pay with regular service officers and so much so that blogs are full with happiness in our plight of degradation.

Honourable men, you have accepted granting of permanent commission to Women Officers in non-combatant role with the benefit of full Military Service Pay whereas you have denied us full Military Service Pay on grounds which is contradictory. You have accepted women as regular armed force officers and discarded the Nursing Women Officers by denying them their place as regular Army Officers.

What we lack ? Is it our profession that make us pariah! It is no doubt that we life in dark age and the Army has institutionalised apartheid.

We strongly believed that Armed Forces Officers pay and allowances should not be less than that of the IAS Cadre and rightly so you have acheived that for yourself leaving us out in cold with recommendations of downgrading our pay & allowances.

Despite all we will remain committed to our profession and we will take pains to serve the ill and the injured, with hope that maybe sometime you will realise and absorb us in the fabric of the Armed Forces as equals.

SERVICE WITH SMILE

The Indian Army was a lovely place to work. A congenial atmosphere where women are respected irrespective of their belonging to different cadres by profession or by marriage.

Lately, a silent change and vigorous manoeuvre by few officers of the Army Medical Corps is openly provoking disrespect to this cadre. This is eroding the sense of belonging to the organisation along with lost trust in the medical work field.

Old issues, which led to this relates to the uniform of the nursing officers and their demand of Officers status at par with the rank structure they hold. Alas the doctrine that the Nurses have to take orders from the doctors and rank structure at par would not allow a professional direction by juniors in rank was a matter of great deliberation. The issue was cleared with the Nurses directed to were Beige Safari and continue to wear their ranks as a deterrent from abuses and to remain as members of the Military Nursing Services.

This is a the history the past and maybe it will take few more decades till professional requirements and job role will not hold good ground to deny us our place as Army Officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

Maybe it is time to understand the medical requirement and work in tandem for the benefit of the patient. Maybe it is the time for the Army Doctors to respect the Nursing Officers as ladies and give respect to the profession. Maybe a right phrase for addressing them be advised ..... Maybe the age of Nursing Officers be respected by the Interns and other Doctors and addressing them be suitably devised.

It is better to understand that diagnosis, prescribing medicine and performing surgery is the beginning but patient care and cure comes from good nursing care. Work place dignity and pride allows one to give their 100%, and we are humans who look to serve with dignity and pride, at least give us that.....

Today the Nursing Officers are working in a strained atmosphere and with distrust with cadre consciousness being openly exercised to show the Nursing Cadre their rightful place in the Organisation. Even the Other Ranks at times convey that we are not Army Officers and we do not command salutation... this and more not even a courteous good morning....??? slowly and steadily the whole relation of medical ethics and nurse patient relation is going bad.

We are once again searching for our lost dignity and performing the nursing service without smile only to keep our Job. Many have left and many more will leave the service for lack of self respect and dignity. The "LADY WITH THE LAMP" is slowly but surely fading away in the gloom of disrespect and cadre discrimination.

The old days were good and despite our white tunic the dignity and respect were sincerely guarded in the Gentlemen Officers of the Armed Forces.

ushpa

HONOUR & BRAVERY

Maj Sunil Ganpathy is not with us and will be remembered as a brave soldier who did his duty despite peril and uncertainty in life. I remember the young, courteous & brave Coorgi who was full of life. A man of valour who left behind his young wife and two sons & old parents.I salute the brave family who has faced the massive grief with courage and has made the heroic sacrifice of their son look so much more magnanimous."A Soldiers never dies he just fades away......" Sunil will never die nor will his memories fade away.
PUSHPA

WALK IN THY SHADOW

The shadow of uncertainty loomed in front of me and my God, Igguthappa was the only one on whom I left my destiny. I cleaned the green algea moss growth from the stone pavement and prayed in silence "God take me away from this life and give me a chance to grow in life", he heard it and today I am what he distined me to be. A nursing career in the army with a small caring family and all the basic amenities.Today I think of those early years and I pray for so many others who like me have dreams to live, "Igguthappa give them the strength and guidance to live their dreams". I also pray to him for blessing my beautiful Coorg and the people of Coorg.

Pushpa

TUNGA THE DARLING

She was our Gods gift and she gave a new meaning to our childless life. Since 1994 she lived with us, shared our happiness, sadness and joy. She never complained and always welcomed us with love and affection. The darling is with the Gods (Tuesday, 26.02.2008, 03.42 pm) and we are greatful to her for giving us immense happiness. We remember you and will miss you always, no one can ever take the special place you hold in our hearts. TUNGA DARLING keep all tormented souls in happiness from the Heavenly abode and make us understand the meaning of selfless love.

TEARS OF DESPAIR

The small girl was crying and asking her Dad not to leave her but to accompany her or keep her with him. A Police Constable walks up, trying to hide the tears of despair in his eyes. Your daughter, isn't is sad to leave them, I have given my son a cell phone so that I may speak to him often. He walks away with the same determined stagger of a cop but with a furlong look, a look of despair of missing his loved ones.

The world has become a small place but is it right to keep the loved one apart, and if required for how long. Do we need a policy in place by which it is mandatory for all organisations to arrange suitable placements for seperated families so that they are able to meet often.