Monthly Archives: August 2018

Strike corps are trained to be first movers in case of conflict

The resources of the corps, which is headquartered at Mathura with ‘strike’ elements located across Indo-gangetic plains, has been tasked to the Northern Command.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 26

To maintain a credible deterrence in eastern Ladakh, India has moved key elements of the Army’s “1 Strike Corps”, otherwise tasked westwards, to eastern Ladakh.

The resources of the corps, which is headquartered at Mathura with ‘strike’ elements located across Indo-gangetic plains, has been tasked to the Northern Command. These resources include armoured formations and infantry combat vehicles, besides troops. Without getting into specifics, sources said the 1 Strike Corps had already moved its elements to eastern Ladakh.

Besides the 1 Strike Corps, two other Strike Corps – headquartered at Ambala and Bhopal — face Pakistan. The strike corps are naturally trained to be first movers in case of conflict.

Since May last year, a standoff continues between the armies of India and China and there is no immediate chance of the April 2020 status getting restored along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

“There is lack of trust that exists among the armies of either side,” said sources. The Tribune had reported in its edition on July 26 how there has been no consensus on troop pullback. The move of the 1 Strike Corps to eastern Ladakh adds to the existing troop numbers for India.

China has been making infrastructure for accommodating troops, which is a clear indication that it is preparing itself for the long haul.

The first full-sized tank regiment — 45 tanks — moved to Ladakh a decade ago. The plateaus at 14,000 feet and more are interspersed in the folds of the major mountain ranges — the Greater Himalayas, Karokaram, Ladakh and Zanskar — are ideal tank country, flat with ample places to hide in the folds of the valleys.

During the 1962 India-China war, five of the US-built AMX-13 tanks were airlifted.

New Delhi’s decision of adding more tanks is based on China declared decision to practice rapid movements.

Rising 23,218 feet above sea level, it is the second-highest peak of the Nun Kun massif, located in the upper Suru Valley along the Kargil, Zanskar road

Photo credit: Indian Army

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 27

As part of Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations and to commemorate 75 years of Independence, a mountaineering team from 26th Battalion of the Punjab Regiment and the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, has successfully scaled Mount Kun in the Kargil region.

The team, consisting of two Junior Commissioned officers and 10 other ranks from the battalion and 13 Army personnel from NIMAS had been flagged off by Lt Gen PN Ananthanarayanan, General Officer Commanding, 9 Corps, from Yol cantonment on July 7.

Rising 23,218 feet above sea level, it is the second-highest peak of the Nun Kun massif, located in the upper Suru Valley along the Kargil, Zanskar road. It lies to the north of Nun Peak and is separated from it by a 4 km long snowy plateau.

Offering varying degrees of difficulty in climbing, the expedition involves all aspects of serious technical climbing such as infixed roping, using ice axes in front point climb, scaling with ascender-descender gadgets and other techniques. 

Cooperate to resolve dispute, both states told

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pays tribute to police personnel who lost their lives in border clashes. The state announced three-day mourning. PTI

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 27

Even as uneasy calm prevails along the Assam-Mizoram border where five police personnel lost their lives yesterday during violent clashes, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has called a meeting of chief secretaries and DGPs of the two states on Wednesday to work out a peace formula.

Editorial: Assam-Mizoram feud

In a statement in Parliament today, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said interstate border disputes would only be resolved with the cooperation of the state governments involved and the Centre would play the role of a facilitator. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma today said his government would approach the Supreme Court for the protection of inner line forest reserve from destruction and encroachment and deploy 4,000 commandos along the border with Mizoram to make sure that “not an inch of Assam’s land is encroached by the neighbouring state”. Sarma said, “Satellite images have shown that roads are being constructed and forests cleared for jhum cultivation along the border which cannot be allowed. We will move the Supreme Court to ensure that the forests are protected. Also, we will deploy 4,000 commandos.”

CRPF DG chairs meet

CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh chairs a meeting with officials of the force to chart out a strategy for peace in the area

Sources in the CRPF said they were trying to bring back normalcy in the violence-hit area. CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh today chaired a meeting with senior officials of the force to chart out a strategy to maintain peace in the area, they said. It is learnt that the DG also briefed the Union Home Secretary on the prevailing situation along the interstate border.

Meanwhile, two battalions of the CRPF have taken control of the situation in the trouble-hit area after Union Home Minister Amit Shah intervened and spoke to the CMs of both states, asking them to disengage and maintain peace.

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 25

To commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas, veterans from the tricity paid homage to soldiers who had laid down their lives in the line of duty during the 1999 conflict with Pakistan, at a solemn function held at the Major Sandeep Shankla war memorial here today.

Among those who paid floral tributes at the memorial were Gian Chand Gupta, Haryana Speaker; Gen VP Malik (retd), who was the Army chief at the time of the conflict; Admiral Sunil Lanba, former navy chief, Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi (retd), Lt Gen Raj Sujlana and Lt Gen Harcharan Singh (retd).

Keeping in view the Covid protocols, only a limited number of dignitaries and ex-servicemen were invited for the event organised by the local chapter of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement.

Chandigarh, July 26, 2021 Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday paid homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war, with a call to youth to join the armed forces to serve the nation.

On the 22nd anniversary of Kargil War, the Chief Minister laid a wreath at the War Memorial at the Bougainvillea Garden in Chandigarh. He saluted the 54 brave sons of Punjab who laid their lives during the Kargil Operations

Remembering their sacrifices on the Kargil Vijay Divas, Captain Amarinder Singh paid tributes to the valiant Indian soldiers who braved the harsh weather to give a befitting reply to the Pakistani armed forces that had intruded in Kargil, Drass and Batalik areas in July 1999.

During a brief interaction with the young NCC Cadets and Lady Cadets of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, Captain Amarinder exhorted them to join the armed forces to uphold the country’s sovereignty and integrity. They could also become role models for the youth to imbibe a spirit of patriotism and nationalism amongst them, he added.

An impressive Guard of Honour led by PAP Group Commander DSP Davinder Singh was held with participation of PAP Band. Several senior retired and serving defence officers attended the function.

Senior Advisor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) TS Shergill, Secretary Defence Services Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Director Defence Services Brig. Satinder Singh, Vice Chancellor Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University Lt. Gen JS Cheema (Retd.) and Secretary (Political) to CM Major Amardeep Singh were also present.

New Delhi: For Vijay Kumar, Rajesh W. Adhau and V.V. Sharma, being doctors was career, but their heart bled for the olive uniform — the Army.

As the country celebrates the 22nd anniversary of the Kargil Battle and pays homage to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice while fighting Pakistani soldiers, the three doctors, who are now Colonels in the Army, are proud of having saved hundreds of lives during the battle.

The three doctors, along with another who is now retired, won the Sena Medal for Gallantry, for playing a pivotal role in reducing Indian casualties by treating the injured on the frontlines, amid heavy gun fire, with no regard for their own safety.

While these doctors knew what they had signed up for, the Kargil Battle brought out the best in them.

“Before joining the forces, I was aware of all these circumstances. You can learn from history that doctors have always played their role, even in old wars like World War 1 and World War II. But yes, it was really a different experience,” Col Kumar told ThePrint when asked if he knew what he was getting into when he signed up after finishing his MBBS.

He added: “A military hospital provides a stable environment and you are adequately equipped. But in Kargil, it was about managing the casualties in a rugged high-altitude area with no cover and especially under heavy enemy fire and artillery shelling. I used to manage casualties inside temporary bunkers, and also in the open, which was quite challenging in extreme weather conditions.”

Also read: Vajpayee took journalists, analysts to Kargil frontlines. In 2020, Modi can’t even say ‘China’

In the line of fire

He is supported by Col Adhau who said when he first joined the Army, he was “so happy” to get his first posting at the prestigious Army Hospital Research & Referral, Delhi Cantt.

“I thought I would be there forever. I never really thought that I would be a part of an ongoing war, where I would be operating on soldiers wounded by gunshots in an area of extreme shelling from the enemy side,” he said.

But then once put into the frying pan, the doctors fought shoulder-to-shoulder with their fellow soldiers.

“War scene is dreadful, as one is surrounded by casualties, catastrophe, fear of impending death. That is natural but as they say ‘courage is to hold on a minute longer’ and the true gallantry, valour and zeal to defeat the enemy who had encroached our land with wrong intentions was far more motivating than the war scene and its after-effects,” Col Sharma said.

“Every passing day was creating epoch stories of heroism exemplified by our soldiers and officers. This motivated me to not let them down and I decided to move with them to the war zone in the middle of battle,” he said.

Their first job was to provide immediate medical help to the war-wounded so that casualties were minimised.

This meant that field medical camps had to be set up in close proximity of the battlefield, so that at the time of evacuation, the doctors could start first aid and resuscitation in the ‘Golden Hour’ after injury, when treatment is most likely to be effective.

“Because of me moving close to the battlefield, I could save about 150 casualties. Whenever I meet these soldiers and their families, it gives me strength and their smiling faces, which are full of gratitude, often tells me that I have done my bit as doctor and soldier in uniform,” Col Sharma said.

Also read: Kargil: What kind of a democracy are we that we are shy of facing the truth about our wars?

Moving memories

Col Kumar will never forget a soldier whose life he could save only because he decided to be in the battlefield.

While he, along with his Alpha Company of a Battalion, were moving towards the Line of Control in Dras sector on 27 May, 1999, they suddenly came under intense fire from the enemy, by heavy weaponry and artillery shelling.

“Many soldiers of the Alpha Company got injured and sustained multiple splinter injuries, including one fatal case. During this attack, one of the young soldiers lost both his hands. He was bleeding profusely and was unconscious due to shock when I attended him,” Col Kumar recalled.

He and the unit Battlefield Nursing Assistant shifted the patient behind a rock to cover him from incoming enemy fire, as the engagement was still going on from both sides.

“I managed to stop the bleeding by compression bandages on both the hands and further administered IV fluids to manage shock. Afterwards, we shifted the injured soldier with others to the next medical echelon by stretcher till the road head and thereafter by ambulance. He was then airlifted to Forward Surgical Center (FSC). He survived because of his strong will to live and timely medical management in the battle area. I will not say that this incident broke me, but it was indeed an emotionally demanding day for me, seeing many young boys of the company sustaining lifelong injuries and trauma of all sorts in a matter of a few seconds.”

While it is popularly believed that doctors are immune to seeing pain, the three doctors told ThePrint it was not the case.

“When I was at Tololing complex, one of my jawans from the mess staff had recently got married. During a chat with him, I asked ‘Why are you joining the front line? You should be amongst the administrative party!’ The brave lad replied ‘Sir, fighting the enemy is my final Dharma! I have to fight against the enemy!’ After two hours, I received an unfortunate call informing me of our first casualty by a gunshot wound in the forehead (It was the jawan mentioned above). I was completely shattered after hearing this. Later, when Capt Vikram Batra made supreme sacrifice, I lifted his mortal remains and felt extremely sad,” Col Adhau said.

(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)

Also read: How Indian Army’s valour and Vajpayee’s diplomacy won the Kargil War for India

Soldiering is a calling. It epitomises three cardinal principles of the oath: one, a soldier signs an unlimited liability contract; two, a runners-up position is unacceptable; and three, unity in diversity is non-negotiable. It is in pursuance of these principles that he delivers. In Kargil, as always, our soldiers upheld every part of the contract.

ALL GUNS BLAZING: While celebrating our success in Kargil, it’s time to pay homage to the men who laid down their lives. File photo

Lt Gen Mohinder Puri (retd)

Former Deputy Chief of Army staff

IT’S been 22 years since Pakistan’s perfidious intrusions in the Kargil sector brought the country to the brink of war. This article is not about why and how Pakistan stabbed us in the back and totally surprised the polity and the military, but it is a tribute to the young officers and men of 8 Mountain Division, which I had the honour and privilege to command.

Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice, displaying unique courage and bravery which many a time went beyond the call of military duty. As I reminisce these past years, I think of some of the officers, who perhaps today would have been commanding brigades, and similarly the young soldiers who would have risen in rank in their respective cadres. But the legacy they have left behind is far richer and will outlive any rank which they would have attained in uniform.

Kargil was a call to arms which witnessed some of the most intense battles fought at altitudes ranging from 14,000-18,000 ft, in one of the world’s most inhospitable terrain and under adverse weather conditions. The one lasting impression left embedded in my mind is the unique quality of the soldier of the Indian Army. For a minute, imagine him waiting for the order to advance to capture an enemy post in inhospitable terrain, with heavy snow, temperatures at minus 30°C, and observe enemy artillery targeting his detachment. With one command from his leader, he moves with his comrades for the final assault without a second thought on whether he will return to see his family, his expectant wife, children or ageing parents. He overcomes these emotions with a high sense of duty, courage, determination and unflinching loyalty to his unit, the Army and the country. Many of the sacrifices by these young men have become a part of our folklore, and must be narrated to keep their memories alive and as a source of inspiration for the youth of today.

Soldiering is a calling. It epitomises three cardinal principles of the oath: one, a soldier signs an unlimited liability contract; two, a runners-up position is unacceptable; and three, unity in diversity is non-negotiable. It is in pursuance of these principles that he delivers. Steep cliffs, high mountains, weather, ice and snow, the restrictions on evicting the intruders from own side of the demarcated line, and the disadvantage of assaulting uphill against an entrenched enemy, are for him par for the course. ‘Naam, Namak and Nishan’ is his creed, nothing less will satisfy him. In Kargil, as always, our soldiers upheld every part of the contract. This is what makes our soldiers the cynosure of all eyes. Woe betide any adversary who casts an evil eye. Young India displayed its might. The world still wonders. Our soldiers picked up the gauntlet, and delivered. This is the saga of inspiration for Young India and our folklore for the years and decades ahead.

Every successful attack had a story of ferocity in execution and the glory it brought to the regiment, the Army and the nation. Some of our young officers and men who went into battle fought tenaciously, and many returned draped in the national flag. They were us, from every walk of life, from every part of our motherland. Unity in diversity! They had fire in their belly, and they scripted history.

Take the story of Capt Vijayant Thapar, a fresher from the Indian Military Academy, for whom honour, duty and upholding the family values and traditions were of utmost importance. Before going in for an attack on one of the most formidable features held by the enemy, Vijayant told his men that “if I turn back, shoot me, and I will shoot anyone who turns back.” This was the level of motivation of this young officer, who on hearing that his company commander had been killed, assumed command, and though the sub-unit captured their objective, Vijayant was hit by machine gun fire while leading his men to victory. He was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.

The 1999 Kargil war is replete with stories of valour and bravery. Capt Anuj Nayyar was part of his battalion’s attack on a tactically important feature. Anuj’s company commander was injured, and the command devolved on his young shoulders. As the sub-unit advanced under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, Anuj moved forward and destroyed the first bunker with a rocket launcher and grenades. Still under heavy fire, he led his men to destroy two more bunkers. The company then began its assault on the last remaining bunker, but while clearing it, an enemy grenade directly hit Anuj, killing him instantly. Anuj was posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra.

The 50-day war vindicated the training, motivation, esprit de corps and camaraderie of the Army and since it brought the battles and its aftermath to our living rooms, it created euphoria of a rare kind. Corpses of the brave dead were cremated with honour in every nook and corner of India, representing the might and strength of every citizen.

The 8 Mountain Division won three Param Vir Chakras, the nation’s highest gallantry award. Capt Vikram Batra, Honorary Lieutenant Yogendra Yadav and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar were the recipients of this coveted award. While Vikram was awarded the PVC posthumously, the other two are serving and living legends at our training institutes, motivating the future generation to achieve glorious heights.

Vikram Batra was a small-town boy from Palampur, who while in college was highly motivated to join the Army. He was commissioned into his battalion and soon thereafter, sent to the icy heights of Dras to throw back Pak intruders. Besides being renowned for his courage, he is also remembered for the success signal, Yeh Dil Maange More, which he conveyed to his commanding officer on successfully accomplishing his task.

In the second attack which was to follow a fortnight or so later, Vikram displayed his qualities of leadership in leading his sub-unit to capture a tactically dominating feature in the face of heavy enemy fire disregarding his personal safety. Despite sustaining severe injuries, he continued to lead and later succumbed to his injuries.

In the same unit as Vikram and in the same battalion attack, then Rifleman Sanjay Kumar displayed rare courage for a young soldier when he singularly charged the enemy fortification and though severely injured, continued to engage the enemy to assist his sub-unit to overcome the opposition. The third recipient, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, also a greenhorn, was involved in an attack in which he sustained seven bullet injuries; but he pressed on and succeeded in killing four enemy soldiers in close combat. He refused to be evacuated till the objective was captured.

This story would be incomplete if I don’t mention the families of martyrs who having lost their loved ones, continue to live life with pride and dignity. One such lady is the wife of a martyred soldier, Naik Bachan Singh, who was killed during the early stages of the war. Displaying immense courage and fortitude, his wife, Kamlesh Bala, educated her twin sons to the best of her ability and today, one of her sons, Capt Hitesh Kumar, is a commissioned officer in his father’s battalion.

Today when we celebrate the hard-won victory with joy and ecstasy, we need to take time to pay our homage to the 527 officers and men who made the ultimate sacrifice. Today is also the time for the millenials to draw inspiration that Incredible India is also Invincible India. 

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has introduced a new Bill that seeks to prevent the workers of establishments that are engaged in “essential defence services” from going on strikes, or the lockouts of such units.

Essential defence services refer to establishments engaged in production of goods or equipment required for any purpose connected with defence.

According to the government, these services are those the “cessation of work of which would prejudicially affect the production of defence equipment or goods; or the operation or maintenance of any industrial establishment or unit engaged in production of goods or equipment required for any purpose connected with defence; or repair or maintenance of products connected with defence”.

Introduced earlier this week, the Bill will empower the government to prohibit agitation or strikes among such workers. It will also empower the government to ban lockouts in units engaged in these services.

At the heart of the ordinance and the Bill likely lay a strike proposed by the employees’ federations of ordnance factories from 26 July — against the government’s decision last month to corporatise them.

Also read: China in focus, Army’s Strike Corps units reach Ladakh as part of ‘rebalance’ strategy

What does the draft law say?

The Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021 says it is meant to provide for the maintenance of essential defence services “so as to secure the security of the nation and the life and property of public at large and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.

It will empower the government to prohibit strikes, agitations of workers employed in establishments the government decides to mark as essential defence services, and prevent lockouts of such establishments.

If a person employed in an establishment engaged in such services starts or takes part in a strike considered illegal under the proposed law, they will be liable to disciplinary action (including dismissal) and imprisonment for up to one year or with fine which may extend to Rs 10,000 or both.

The penalties are higher for those instigating or giving financial aids to such strikes.

The Bill also prohibits layoffs by employers for workers of industrial establishments engaged in these services.

Why now?

In its statement of objects and reasons, the Bill specifically cites the Indian ordnance factories, the oldest and largest industrial setup under the Ministry of Defence, whose employees’ federations had called for an indefinite strike from 26 July against the government’s decision to corporatise them last month.

This proposed indefinite strike perhaps triggered the ordinance and the Bill — on such a short notice — even as defence sources insisted that the move had been on cards for a long time.

The strike was proposed after the government decided to corporatise the 41 ordnance factories across India into seven 100 per cent government-owned corporate entities, registered under the Companies Act 2013. The decision was taken to improve autonomy, accountability and efficiency in ordnance supplies, and streamline functioning.

The federations then declared an indefinite strike from 26 July despite the government’s assurances to take care of the employees’ conditions of service.

While bringing in the Bill, the government said it is essential that an uninterrupted supply of ordnance items to the armed forces be maintained for the defence preparedness of the country and the ordnance factories continue to function without any disruptions, “especially in view of the prevailing situation on the northern front of the country”.

“… it was felt necessary that the Government should have power to meet the emergency created by such attempts and ensure the maintenance of essential defence services in all establishments connected with defence, in public interest or interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India or security of any State or decency or morality,” it said.

Also read: LoC, cameras, action — how hi-tech equipment is helping Indian Army guard the border better

Impact on OFB and others

The Bill will affect the nearly 80,000 workers employed across Indian ordnance factories — considered among the critical organisations in defence — and other establishments the government might tag as engaged in essential defence services.

The Bill does not explicitly state whether private companies in critical defence services will be covered under it.

In the past, attempts to change the functioning of the ordnance factories have been met with stiff resistance from the employees’ federations. Three federations had called for a strike over the proposed move last year too, but subsequently called it off after a “conciliation meeting” with the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

This is despite three committees on defence recommending corporatisation between 2000 and 2015 and it being listed as one of the 167 transformative ideas to be implemented within the first 100 days of the second term of the Modi government.

A senior defence official pointed out that while those engaged in essential defence services may not be allowed to go for strikes, and may face punitive actions after the Act comes into effect, the draft law also takes away the employers’ rights to lay off workers.

“It is a good Bill which has been brought considering the past strikes carried out by defence PSUs and others,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Also read: Defence Ministry issues tender for over Rs 40,000 crore to build 6 submarines domestically

New Delhi: Specialised elements of a Strike Corps have reached Ladakh and the soldiers are undergoing reorientation training and familiarisation as part of the Army’s efforts to ‘rebalance’ its deployment on the northern, western and northeastern borders.

According to sources in the defence and security establishment, various new elements from the Strike Corps have reached Ladakh, including certain artillery units with specialised firepower, armoured and mechanised columns as well as the infantry.https://7adaf996796edf2f1ba77f47ee0e6b5e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

“This is part of the re-orientation training. This is not a permanent deployment as they will come back to their stations after some time. They will be replaced by the rest of the elements from the particular Corps. The Strike Corps will come into play when there is a need,” a source told ThePrint.

This development comes at a time when China continues to amass thousands of soldiers close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and carries on with heavy military construction activities on its territory, which is a clear indication that it is preparing itself for the long haul.

Also read: China revises Galwan Valley clash toll to 5, says PLA troops were ‘besieged’

New strategy for Ladakh

In April, ThePrint had reported that the Army put in place a new summer strategy for Ladakh and also implemented key changes in the Order of Battle (ORBAT).

To counter the continued deployment by China, India has retained more troops and equipment in Ladakh, besides the 3 Division, which is in charge of the LAC, and the 14 Corps Reserve.

This is in addition to the Strike Corps that will now operate in Ladakh.

In January last year, Army chief General M.M. Naravane had announced that the Army will be looking into rebalancing deployment and strategy along the borders.

As part of the efforts, a major decision taken was the dual-tasking of a Strike Corps. This means that the Strike Corps, which used to focus only on Pakistan earlier, will now have to look after China as well. China will also be its primary focus henceforth.

For this, the Strike Corps had to let go of some of its formations while retaining others.

The armoured division of the Strike Corps had also become the Army Headquarters Reserve Division as part of the new strategy.

The corps also had a new division attached to it and they specialise in mountain warfare.

Furthermore, the 17 Mountain Strike Corps (MSC), which was earlier the only Strike Corps deployed against China, also got one more division attached to it from the East. Prior to this, the 17 MSC were operating with only one division.

Sources said that key changes of this rebalance have been implemented and the focus will now be on reorientation and training of the soldiers to cater to their new task.

(Edited by Rachel John)

Also read: LoC, cameras, action — how hi-tech equipment is helping Indian Army guard the border better

Army ranks are better known than those of officers of the IAF and Navy, and the consequences can be quite annoying — and funny

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. PTI file photo

Gp Capt Paramvir Singh Sodhi

The Indian Air Force, the Indian Army and Indian Navy are part of a bigger gamut called the Indian Armed Forces and all three sister services need each other to meet their professional goals and civil recognition.

It is a known fact that for various reasons, the ranks of the Indian Army are more well known and recognised by civilians, though thanks to Wg Cdr Abhinandan and Shahrukh Khan, who played the role of Sqn Ldr Veer in the movie ‘Veer Zara’, the ranks of Wing Commander and Squadron Leader have better resonance. To overcome this problem, the IAF and Indian Navy officers sometimes introduce themselves to civilians by quoting their rank equivalent to the Indian Army.

A friend, who is a Group Captain in the IAF (equivalent to Colonel in the Army), happened to visit Hyderabad and ended up staying in a hotel near the airport as he could not get accommodation in any Officers’ Mess. The polite but enthusiastic receptionist made him fill in the personal details and said, “Dear Captain, here are the room keys.” His words, though courteous, irked the Group Captain. He told the receptionist, “You can either address me as Group Captain or you can call me by my name. If you address me as Captain, you are demoting me by three military ranks. The equivalent of a Captain is a Flight Lieutenant in the IAF.”

The receptionist listened attentively and replied with extraordinary courtesy, “Sure Captain, I will follow that.” The Group Captain understood that explaining to him the ranks was to throw pearls before a swine and he moved on.

The receptionist could make out that the guest was not happy and immediately informed the lady who was in charge of customer care. She called up the officer in his room: “I am aware of the incident, sir, and will personally look into this. You can trust me Commander.” The military officer, keeping his calm, informed the young and energetic lady that Commander is a rank in the Indian Navy and its equivalent in the IAF is Wing Commander. He asked her to educate herself about the military ranks using Wikipedia. She assured him that such a mistake would not occur in future.

After making the entire hierarchy of the hotel staff familiarised with the ranks of the Indian Air Force, the confident Group Captain thought he had brought a change in the knowledge level of employees and they would not cause any embarrassment to officers in future. With these thoughts, he moved on to check out of the hotel only to find that his name on the bill was prefixed with the rank of Lieutenant. This was the last nail in the coffin. With a heavy heart, the Group Captain bid goodbye hoping that some day people will understand and know the equivalence of military ranks.

Military ranks and their equivalent should be taught as part of the school curriculum, and especially so when these can be used as titles under the purview of Article 18 of the Constitution.