Armed Forces: Only soldiers make role models for soldiers

The Indian Armed Forces are increasingly under the lens as their involvement in scams come to light. Recently, a very senior Army officer, Lt Gen PK Rath was found guilty of complicity in the Sukhna land scam in North Bengal and was sentenced to loss of service for two years and forfeiture of 15 years service for pension by court martial. The Adarsh land scam in Mumbai, which is currently under scrutiny is further going to erode  the Army’s image. Under the circumstances, it is of utmost importance that the role-model concept in the forces should be strengthened. In the military, seniors are known to lead from the front, and soldiers are the best role models for other soldiers.

The role model as a concept is well defined. At the Indian Military Academy, this is honed in into the soldiers. The matter is very simple. Just as a child takes to his mother first, the Gentleman Cadet (GC) looks up to his Directing Staff (DS). This is his first interaction at the service level and the role model concept is intuitive thereafter. In the armed forces as professional soldiers there is a great deal of interaction with one another under adverse conditions. This acts as a catalyst thus picking up role models life long. Just as in life it is not institutionalised but is a convention and serves the system well, so it is in service. Should some thing be done with a part of the system to institutionalise it for better gains is the moot point?

Besides the parents the first role model is the teacher, or any one who sets an example. He is a person from whom a person imbibes a set of behavioral values. It is some one who does not call attention or some one who makes a fortune selling himself as one. It thus transpires that society automatically selects the best role models. Just as the DS leads by example while in the Academy, later in life, the CO, Brigade or Division commander or even a peer doing a course can be a role model. School too gives role models who withstand the test of posterity, RIMC is one such example.

The role model is a set of expectations that society places on an individual. It is an unspoken bond and is judged by the behaviour of an individual. By an unspoken consensus certain actions and behaviour are considered appropriate or inappropriate. Thus the role of doctors’, teachers and other professions are pretty well defined. The easiest identifiable role models are glamour stars and sportsmen. The question that needs to asked, “Are they in it for the organisation or themselves”? It therefore, transpires that society has well established roles for defence personnel as well. Why then are these not presented to the nation?

The shortage of officers could well be because of the tarnished image of the forces. Today the only rampant news is corruption, in which the image of the soldier, especially its leaders has been tarnished. Where are the sacrifices of the soldiers who are keeping the militants at bay? Thus the youth sees what they feel is the pulse of the state, and the bottom line is simple: money counts – and that is what they follow. On the other hand the Army correctly keeps away from showcasing itself, but in a media savvy world the old horse will have to learn a few new tricks.

In order to attract youth of our country the forces need to showcase the sacrifices of their soldiers. There are many young people out there who make sacrifices every day, their story at the national level needs to be told very often. They  are the real role models those who give their today for our tomorrow.  The armed forces make true professionals. People join at the lowest rank and serve all the way up through to the top. People do not come from outside and start soldiering, to reach the pinnacle.

The history of India is replete with instances of bravery and honour, which instill pride amongst all of us. People's behaviour is influenced by their perception of how other members of their social group behave. If the group starts behaving differently, then they need to be corrected and discipline enforced. Because the forces are not inspiring the youth with correct role models, corruption within the forces are on the rise.

In civil society there are a large numbers of role models. There are great industrialists, civil servants, such as the two famous Election Commissioners, Seshan and Lyngdoh. These people have been through many challenges and they have lived up to them. They have also got their due from society.

However, the role of the soldier has been steadily downplayed. Post independence, the forces have fought five wars and combated low intensity conflict situations for years. Yet, the civilians seem to know only Sam Manekshaw. They are not aware of the many others, whose stories are spoken in regimential history. The stories of these brave sons need to be told. That way, society will be made aware of the role played by its soldiers.

Brig CS Thapa (Retd) is an advisor to the Pioneer Dehradun and writes a column, 'Mount View' for its Dehradun and Chandigarh editions.

(The views expressed in the article are that of the author and do not represent the views of the editorial committee or the centre for land warfare studies).