"Duty is our religion "
- Brig BK Ponwar
Editor's Note
An article by Lt Gen Prakash Menon published on 3 Sep 2024 by The Print triggered an interesting debate amongst concerned veterans .The article can be read on the link below. The varied responses from veterans published below will give the
readers a realistic overview of the subject and linked issues . Collectively are these views the true voice of faujis ,both serving and veterans? Let the readers decide !
The link of article by Lt Gen Prakash Menon :
All images are for symbolic representation only
Responses
Col NN Bhatia
We must learn from our old Indian (not Hindu) military doctrines modifying them to modern-day environmental needs.
Like military is apolitical, it must be secular and concentrate on today's hybrid, AI & cyber warfare to add to its combat effectiveness.
If our armed forces get rid of our secular tag, how will the Hindu military differ from Muslim countries' armed forces dominated by their religion over professional military values?!
Col Vijay Bhate
The present dispensation at the top wants such things to happen. See/hear the utterances of our leaders, especially CMs of UP & Assam in particular, not to talk of A Thakur & coy.
Sad situation indeed!
I remember during ' 84 during the disturbances that affected the Sikh people who were ready to be escorted by 2/3 army men rather than 10/12 CAPF men. Hope and pray such faith remains in our organization.
A Former DSSC Instructor
"What Gen Prakash Menon has highlighted is very true! I have seen it happening”
Gp Capt Johnson Chacko
The fundamental question is "Who is a Hindu?" The interpretation of the SC is that it is a cultural identity with no religious undertones.
Hindu is the cultural Identity of all who live in the subcontinent ensconced within the natural boundaries of Hindukush, Himalayas, dense jungles to the East and the oceans to the South.
Among these people, they pray to different God's. There are people who follow Sanatan Dharma, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism, and probably three crore more.
If we are truly secular we should find proportional representation in the Armed Forces without any reservations. Do we find it?
The Hindu identity can not be hijacked by one religious community without offending the others. If supremacy of Sanatan Dharma is being espoused in an institution of higher military learning, then it is unfortunate.
While at NDA as a Bn Cdr, after evaluating cdts for a particular trophy, when I announced the winner, a senior offr came to me and said "but he is a Muslim"!!!!
Should we follow Pakistan and Bangladesh? In Bangladesh, they were convinced that I was a Hindu. They asked, "If you are not a Hindu, how were you promoted to Wg Cdr? The answer was, I am a Hindu, following Jesus Christ. I share the same initials. That left him thoroughly confused.
Brig Neil John
Religion is something very personal to me. I in uniform wore the religion of my men. Which god exists that propagates hatred and arson? Which god actually says to dominate the world? Which god tells us not to be good humans?
We just interpret differently, and the hate propagators use religion to divide and stay in the limelight and in power.
The Indian army is the most fantastic organisation, and it needs to be kept free from religion and politics . I, as a Christian haven’t faced any promotional biases or even any kind of antagonism. But then I have seen debates ostracising other faiths, criticising ways and decrying that radicalism should be fought with radicalism.
Hinduism was, is and will be the most tolerant and the most inclusive way of life in the world. It has survived from the start of time because it was/is a way of life, worshipping nature and its elements. Suddenly, we want this great faith to traverse into realms of gods and goddesses who have to prove their supremacy and fight for survival.
The threat that is being professed is from Islam and its spread.
The practitioners of Islam, therefore, need to be educated that just because god said go forth and multiply, you actually don’t do that in this modern world. They need to be educated that traditions, customs, rules and laws in the era of the formative years of Islam were made to cater for those times.
In this century, those very laws need to be reframed and a better analogy extracted. The population dynamics is the major problem. But then we have governments that can put rules in place to ensure viable equal growth. Islam has to cure Islam. A radical Hindu mind is not the answer. I have heard a very senior leader say, "pahele kasai phir Isai!”
If we as military leaders build such narratives, god save us. We serve with all religions and communities. We have Sarv Dharm sthals. We attend all religious functions. Cause for us military men, the regiment comes first along with the nation, and religion actually is not even thought about. Naam aur Nishaan is sacred, our war cries are haled by all that wear the badge. Everyone says Jai Hind, Ram Ram, Sasriyakal, Salam alleikum … why do we want to only change into saffron or green?
It's sad if institutes of the Indian army even indulge in these gimmicks.
Brig Rajiv Williams
Since the debate is on Gen Menon’s article, I feel we need to debate just that and share views on the issues raised.
The DSSC Seminar on the theme ‘Idea of India’, bringing it in line with the historical legacy, anchored on the Hindu civilization seems a direct hit on the what was being taught in the Institution earlier. Are the earlier teaching anarchic and outdated, hence a need to revise the complete teaching aligned toward a thinking propagated by the current politico agenda of the ‘Colour’? Strategic thinking is based on contemporary dynamics and lessons (learned or un-learned) drawn from recent wars and battles with high-end technology but the same old rugged soldier (son of the soil).
Some comment was on the politicisation of the Army / Armed Forces being good or in-separable in the post 2000 context. Such a debate by itself can take many sittings, but to initiate a dialogue on the theme as mentioned in the recent seminar at the DSSC, to my way of thinking is just not right, as you are shaping the thinking of young budding professionals and leaders of tomorrow.
Some years ago, a similar exercise was conducted at the College of Defence Management (CDM), when Maj Gen Sandeep Singh was the Comdt and thereafter or may even be prior, such discourses were being encouraged. While I am sure it is good to know and learn from such dialogues, yet to have a series of such programmes at different platforms, stem from a firm Agenda of 'Change the thinking' and get in line !
That I feel is wrong and needs a rebut !
Adding knowledge and enforcing teaching of faith are different analogies and may be respected but not enforced by change in syllabi at various institutions.
Let us be cautious of the Agendas behind such initiatives and let the Army remain committed to its Roles and Responsibilities, which can only stem from its duty toward the Country, toward the men and toward self.
Brig BK Ponwar:
We have our Nation First. Duty is our Religion.
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