It was circa 1990, during the address to officers by the COAS at DSSC Wellington, one infantry officer had the temerity to suggest that something be done about providing better opportunities to infantry officers for nomination to attend DSSC Course at Wellington. He further explained that the Staff Course had become so important for promotion to higher ranks and that infantry officers did not get time to study due to operational commitments.
Well, the Chief went ballistic; some raw nerve had been touched. He himself was a gunner and an air op officer . When he took over as the Chief, a leading National daily , had wondered as to how a battle hardened Force like the Indian Army had thrown up a Chief without any battle experience. The General was known for his strategic thinking rather than for soldiering. Mandal Commission was the then rage, across the country. He thundered, “I do not want mandalization in Army, we cannot have a quota system for infantry” . After a long, seemingly never ending diatribe he declared “ we have a fair system and anyone can reach the higher ranks”
Well, the Chief went ballistic; some raw nerve had been touched. He himself was a gunner and an air op officer . When he took over as the Chief, a leading National daily , had wondered as to how a battle hardened Force like the Indian Army had thrown up a Chief without any battle experience. The General was known for his strategic thinking rather than for soldiering. Mandal Commission was the then rage, across the country. He thundered, “I do not want mandalization in Army, we cannot have a quota system for infantry” . After a long, seemingly never ending diatribe he declared “ we have a fair system and anyone can reach the higher ranks”
Recently, in circa 2015, the present Chief, during his visit to Mhow, addressed the officers in the Station. In the course of his talk, he disclosed, “....... I am a Non-psc officer , and I have reached where I am through sheer soldiering. We do have a fair system in the Army .....”
He happens to be the first non-psc Chief. Well, we have come a full circle.
3 comments:
There should be a healthy inter-arm and by extension inter-service rivalry much like the sub-unit competitions that happens in every unit. It is when perceived distortions come into the system and creates reservation then it induces folds into the fabric and weakens it.
Ash, I agree.... reservation is bad , in any case, should it be unavoidable, well, it could be a temporary corrective measure. Honestly , I don't understand MS Branch. (c++ and java have more integrity and are easier understood)
In view of the present infantry chief overtaking an Armd officer and the stupidity paradox that we see all round us ....would you smart thinking types want to relook this two year old post ??
Hasn’t someone in MS or super MS made some changes or could it be at a even higher level and just a one time aberration ??!!
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