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Indian Army questions its own colonial mindset
08/24/08
Indian Army questions its own colonial mindset
It is not just Arms purchases or treating civilians with colonial mentality. Indian Army's internal rules are also not changed from colonial times. We have just physically replaced British Officers with Indian Officers, but, mindsets have not been replaced. Indian Army behave like our colonial masters. Hope fully the new generation of offiers will change it one day. Here is an interesting change, that may not be an indicator for Indian Army colonial mindset change.
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Army changes seniority rules for GOCs-in-C
By Sridhar Kumaraswami
New Delhi
Aug. 24: The hierarchy-conscious Indian Army issued a letter earlier this month outlining the "order of precedence" and seniority of Army commands based on "the date of raising" (of these commands) that will decide the priority on "listing/seating" of senior Army officers at official events.
According to the August 7 order, the Pune-based Southern Command tops the list, followed by the Eastern Command in Kolkata, Western Com-mand in Chandimandir, Central Command in Luck-now, Northern Command in Udhampur, Training Com-mand in Shimla and the South-Western Command in Jaipur.
Army sources said this would not affect the seniority of individual officers and was only meant for "standardisation and uniformity" in service listing for correspondence and seating at conferences. It was issued by the Army’s general staff branch and sent to all commands.
The Indian Army has its origins in the British Raj, and some commands, such as Eastern Command set up in 1920, originated long before Independence. Kolkata, however, became its headquarters only in 1963, after the China war. The Western Command was set up in 1947, while the Northern Command was formed in 1972, after the Bangladesh war. The newest is South-Western Command, set up in 2005, so it figures at the bottom of the list.
The prickly issue of precedence has stirred a debate within the Army. An officer questioned the "colonial" practice of ranking commands based on the date of raising. "Northern Command in Udhampur is perhaps the most crucial, but it’s fifth on the seniority list... Perhaps it’s time for a change."
The subject of precedence hit the headlines recently after the death of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, when it was found that five-star generals (Field Marshals, Marshals of the Air Force) did not figure in the Government of India’s warrant of precedence.
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8 comments
colonial (subjugating) attitude of the Indian Army's (and Air Force)towards the common Indian citizen and when they will get over that mentality. Unless that happens, projects like Arjun etc will
continue to suffer because there is no pride in being an Indian. You almost always hear the comment "angrejon kay
jamanay main ......" by retired or snr. army officers. I may not be 100% correct in this statement but we have to Indianize
and adapt the tactiques of our ancestors and be proud of whatever is Indian.
jamanay main ......" (translated "In British times..)
That is why We should bank on new generation of officers. We must (as much) fast eliminate the senior officers and bring in the fresh blood.
to be dragged, kicking and screaming
all the way into the 19th century if
not the 20th. 21 is way out.
The Pentagon has twice the number of
loos required because it was built
when racial segregation was in Force.
Army HQ in India has half the number
required because star pees are reserved.
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