Regulating the Self Appointed Defence Experts

Editor's Note

This short piece by Col Shivaji Ranjan Ghosh  on a   relevant subject   would surely  be appreciated by  viewers of our electronic media  in India .  It pertains to subjects pertaining to national  security and  military matters and covers  defence ,strategy ,PME , leadership, selection, training, promotions,etc.

The programs are  primarily  focused on  Indian Armed Forces and  national security against the backdrop of regional security and happenings around the globe.

The author makes a strong contention when he raises doubts about the self-styled , self -nominated defence experts that are selected / nominated  /  picked up by various TV channels and  other agencies  that run these shows/ interviews to project certain views , perceptions, and opinions that are generally not authentic or professional and  far from the  truth that misinform and  mislead ignorant and less informed  viewers .

The author strongly advocates that this should stop, and a regulation  be brought into force  by the government or their  nominated defence advisers / experts  to prevent this from continuing in this manner . This would surely help in projecting the correct and authentic  views  and facts on various subjects and linked issues that are frequently covered, especially  by the national /state level  TV channels and private agencies that run these programs.

Editor ,MVI

Note - The pictures 📸 are only symbolic in nature and do not represent any character mentioned in the article . - MVI

Of late, veterans have been publicly highlighting very important issues including such diverse topics as Agniveers, the Russia-Ukraine War, the Gaza-Palestine situation, the Military-vs-Police relationship, the Defence Budget and so on. This article is to highlight another aspect that has been staring us in the face for a very long time and needs to be discussed. The Veteran, or more precisely, the “Defence Expert”, the ubiquitous angry old man who appears on prime-time television every night to share his insight into all matters military! Because, after all, to the common man, and to the panel on TV debates, the “gentleman” sitting there with a flowing moustache, the side-cap and, of late, a Modi

jacket (earlier known as a Nehru jacket) represents the Indian Armed Forces and the veterans’community.

That being so, it is time to ask ourselves a simple question. Are we to be represented by these non descript lot who claim to be the fountainheads of military wisdom? Some, a very few actually, do have the intellect and the etiquettes to be the torch-bearers of the military veterans, but a vast majority are nothing short of buffoons who have reduced the veteran’s stature to that of a caricature.

Let us start with their dress. Why on earth do they have to wear a side-cap when they appear on television? This started off with simply a Regimental cap, then someone added his regimental badge, then another added the badges of other units served in, like Rashtriya Rifles, Special Frontier Force etc. Next, inevitably, came the stars, one, two or three depending on the retiring rank, thus basically transferring the star plates from their cars to their caps. Then, with space running out on their caps, they shifted their focus to their jackets, and soon enough we saw the ridiculous sight of medals, ribbons, name tabs, commendation badges, parachute wings, missiles, diver’s badges, flyer’s wings etc emblazoned on the jackets. What happened to the dress code for veterans? More important, what happened to the moral code for veterans?

Next issue is their behaviour. We have had several instances where the Defence Expert has resorted to the use of foul language that would have got him kicked out of the hallowed precincts of any self respecting Officers’ Mess. Shouting at fellow panellists, gesturing wildly, openly taking sides with political parties has become a norm. A far cry, indeed, from the image of “an Officer and a Gentleman”.

We may derisively refer to the IAS cadre as “Babus”, but we can certainly learn a thing or two on the subject of dignified behaviour from their panellists. As regards their knowledge of the subject matter under discussion, the lesser said the better. An officer who served as a Lieutenant in J&K becomes a Kashmir Expert. An officer who would have been a junior functionary in an administrative installation in Leh would become a Kargil War Veteran. And for all these venerable gentlemen, a little homework with Google would provide them with the knowledge to impress those who know even less. And unfortunately, these handful of people become the public face of the veterans. The situation can be summed up by paraphrasing Sir Winston Churchill’s immortal words and stating “Never before in the history of the Armed Forces has so much

damage been done to so many by so few”.

It is high time to rein in these people. The Army HQ must lay down and enforce a code of conduct for veterans who appear on public platforms. No military insignia should be allowed , and no instances of ungentlemanly conduct should be tolerated. We have lived a dignified life while we were in service.

Let not a small bunch of self-seekers destroy that image.