PML (N) VICTORY BRINGS HOPE IN INDO PAK RELATIONS

Since #Nawaz Sharif's decisive victory in the 11 May 2013  Pakistan elections, he and Dr #Manmohan Singh, have conversed amicably by phone and have invited each other for visits and interactions. #Indo-Pak relations, which has been fraught with tension, mistrust and hostility for decades, appears to have received a positive boost from this stunning electoral comeback. Going by Pakistan’s track record, of playing the “victim” while sponsoring an “open secret” proxy war against India, critics will be quick to highlight that Mr Sharif has once had a reputation for being soft on militants as he was one of the world's only political leaders to recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan eight months after the Islamist group seized power. 

 

However, there are two areas which make Nawaz Sharif stand out as a pacifist: his continued emphasis on need to have better ties with India; During his last stint as Prime Minister, from 1997 to 1999, he talked with his Indian counterpart, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, about possible solutions to the #Kashmir dispute and inaugurated a "friendship" bus line from the Indian border to Lahore. Secondly Mr Sharif has nurtured a hard stance towards Pakistan Army. Sharif has been "punished" in the past by the Pak Army for his soft stand towards Kashmir and India.

Cognizant of the fact that any growth in #Indo -Pak #friendship will actually render Pakistan’s overly high defence expenditure as unnecessary, the Pak army has always tried to sabotage such noble efforts, especially those from the civil polity. Will these hopes be a false alarm with the Pak Army trying to cripple the Political setup in Pakistan once again or stall any peace initiatives with aggressive posture at the borders/ line of control with India similar to the #beheadings.

Fortunately, what is of interest in the #Pak Military and Political nexus is that in reality, The Pak Army’s strength is relative. It will be able to wield greater power only if the civilian setup under Sharif shows incompetence. Strengthening the hope towards a better governance is the indication that there was very little influence or interference of the Pak Army in the recently concluded elections in Pakistan. Perhaps for the first time, improving relations with India was a positive issue in the Pakistan elections with the Kashmir issue taking a back seat. 

The book “between mosque and military” by Hussein #Haqqani bluntly brings out the truth about Pak politics out of the cupboard and highlights the role of the #ISI and the Pak Military in steering Pak internal Politics in their favour. What needs to be seen is whether an army which has been at the helm of power and decision making waits and watches or seeks an opportunity to ambush the new government using the islamist card.

Mr Sharif, being a wealthy steel magnate, understands the importance of opening Pakistan's crippled economy to trade with India, a South Asian economic powerhouse and one of the world's leading emerging markets. Dr Manmohan also being an economist first understands the benefits of increasing trade with Pakistan as a pathway towards improving relations on the whole ambit of Indo Pak relations.

Pakistan is experiencing democracy on a new level with even the Judiciary openly challenging the authority of the country’s leaders and the military. With the ex Pakistan President Musharraf scuttling from court room to Advocates after returning to his homeland, things definitely seem to be improving in the right direction accross our western borders. Surely the change of Premiership to Mr Sharif’s hands would only add to the chances of fostering a better tranquil atmosphere among the two enemy states.

But I Guess for the UPA, any desires of better relations can only be a reality, if Mr Sharif lays out a clear and strong policy on export of #mujahedeen’s and terrorist organizations. All said, India should definitely rake in this opportunity and work out an environment for progress towards better relations. I for one am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for a sunset to the age old tiff between two nations which were once one.

THE SAHAYAKS DEBATE

The sahayak system in the Indian Army has a long and intricate history. It’s a story just waiting to be told, but essentially it’s all about a unique system that only members of the Armed Forces would comprehend. Individual interpretations and misinterpretations of the so called ‘demeaning’ and ‘unbecoming’ work by Sahayaks and their treatment has been distorted, with prejudiced or little understanding. The media, twitterrati, Government, armchair activists, hidden whistle blowers and many more have targeted this aspect as a convenient scapegoat.

The #batman, #attendant, #orderly, #bearer, “#flunky”, #helper, #sewadar, #sahayak and #buddy have been an integral part of any military system since times immemorial just like there have always been helpers or attendants for other Government functionaries. #Orderlies were used as far back in time as the Greeks, in the Roman Senate and even during the times of #Chanakya and Emperor Ashoka.

The concept of the sahayak has been perceived by many as akin to that of a domestic servant. This is not the case and as per my knowledge the army has very clearly laid guidelines which are adhered to while dealing with buddies. Buddies being combatants by nature are not employed for demeaning or tasks which is not in conformity with the dignity and self respect of a soldier. Let me also reiterate that in today’s modern military the sahayak has no role to play in the family life of the officer.

The Army has a unique system and is organized with view to be effective in war. A #combatbuddy is inherent to the operational requirements of the organization and is a time tested system which helped foster camaraderie and esprit -de -corps which is vital during conflict as well as peace. A sahayak, is an intrinsic fallout of the Buddy System. He serves as an assistant to the officer, primarily to enable him to function more effectively as a leader (by taking care of mundane day to day requirements, thus allowing him to focus on important issues). An officer in nearly most deployments, by virtue of his appointment, does not really have any support! He needs his buddy to relieve him of basic duties. The unique bond of camaraderie that an officer shares with his buddy, forms a very important part of officer men relationship and gives him a clearer understanding of the soldiers he commands.

But what about the soldiers? Do they feel a sense of pride in serving their officers or do they find it below their dignity and an affront to their self-esteem? The modern Indian soldier is educated and is an aware person. He has his own aspirations and concepts about soldiering. Instances of misuse and fear of wounding the soldier’s self-esteem have made the parliamentary standing committee on defense to call for its abolition. The story goes to say that 30,000 combatants, more than an Army Corps strength are believed to be deployed to assist serving officers as part of the “Sahayak’’ system. There are aberrations in every organization. What is prudent is to catch the individual officers who default and take corrective departmental action against them. The current logic making the rounds in the self proclaimed human right activists is like saying that if one walks, he can fall - so let’s cut off both his legs!

As a post script, I would like to relate to a true incident from the early 90’s, when my fauji uncle, who had been retired for 11 years then, fixed his daughter’s wedding with most of the wedding function planned at home. Four days before the final wedding date, my uncles old sahayak ( now a portly 55-60 year old mustachioed Jaat) unexpectedly landed up. On being questioned how and where, he said “I came to know that ‘Shipra baby’ is getting married. Thought you would need my help!’

 The old man thereafter supervised all the wedding arrangements putting even youngsters to shame with his unrelenting energy. The most touching image was during the "pheras". The old man stood respectfully behind my uncle and aunt throughout the ceremony, blessing the couple like a family elder.

Ode to the army man

“Hey you know, yesterday another army man died and another was injured at the border, fighting some insurgents,” I said.

“Ya things keep happening there everyday.”

I was frankly quite shocked at this remark. I never expected such casual attitude towards that man who laid down his life so we could live fearlessly. So we could travel in Metros and crib about all the ‘unnecessary’ security checks. So we could have a fun weekend at the mall with our kids. So another 26/11 would not happen.

I wonder where have we become so insensitive?

My first memory of an army man came from the ’84 riots. My city, Ranchi had been burning for a day now. Literally burning. From our terrace we could see smoke arising from all corners of the small city that Ranchi was then. We could even guess if now it was Bhatia sports shop up in flames or the Punjabi Sweet shop. At the tender age of ten, I did not quite understand the hatred. I could not figure out why our downstairs Sikh neighbours were fraught with worry. A widow, the aunty lived with her two sons in the ground floor house. Not the safest house in our building if any attackers decided to enter our relatively quiet colony.

Just a day ago I had been crying for Indira Gandhi. She had been my hero. I had wanted to be as charismatic as her. My world seemed to be in a chaos.

The rampage went on the entire day and well into the night. Finally army was called in to control the situation. Sec 144 (curfew) was declared all over the city – even in our calm colony that had thankfully been unaffected by the rioting. We came to know what it was like being cooped inside the house day in and day out. Those days we had no TV either!

Army men were posted in most corners of the colony. Our building was on the main crossroads with a small security checkpost. A single army man was dropped off there.

I remember hiding behind our balcony wall and watching him. Green army fatigues, boots, a cap and a machine gun. He looked a bit scary infact. While my brother and I just watched, other kids, boys, started playing with their toy machine guns. Aiming it at the man and going rut tut tut, the fake sound the toys make. Yet the man did not even flinch from his place. His stood there quietly, alone in the sun, always watchful always alert, always the gun on his shoulder within reach.

But something bothered our parents. The man had been there since before we woke up and now it was well into the afternoon. He hadn’t had anything to eat or drink. Out of humanity or respect, my mother put some tea in a flask and sent the tea and some biscuits with me and my brother.

Still somewhat scared I hid behind the bushes and called out, “Uncle”

I tried to give him the goods but he ardently refused and warned us to go back inside. When even at night there was no sign of food for him, we were sent again. This time I felt bolder and insisted a little. His face didn’t look as scary as his uniform. He was like any other uncle. This time I think he accepted the flask, but no biscuits.

Slowly he became a friend to us kids. He even allowed us to play outside, but behind the building.

“But if you see the truck coming, hide yourselves,” he told us benevolently.The curfew lifted in some days and the man was gone. I never saw him again. But that image of him guarding us day and night while we slept peacefully is stuck in my mind. For me he had restored peace in my little world. It turned into a respect that I cherish within my heart everyday. Every army man reminds me of his dedication and strength.

Let us not be so insensitive. Yes, things keep happening and soldiers keep dying at the border – but do we think the same when civilians are killed in terrorist attacks all over the country? No we remember dates 9/11, 26/11, we hold candle marches, we make human chains! For an army man or woman each day is a date. Let us learn to atleast respect that commitment they take just for us to live on our daily lives.

Courtesy;shwetasheel.

WHEN DOES IT CHANGE

The story of #Anamika, #Nirbhaya - 23-year old student who died due to injuries suffered when she was raped in a private bus and then thrown out of it in Delhi has opened a pandoras box of such incidents all over the country.... it is not that such incidents have increased, but just that for a change the media has found it an important issue to increase their ratings. It sure had outraged most concerned citizens though today stays as only a small memory. Incidentally, among the 53 cities in India with a population of over 1 million, Delhi recorded the highest number of rape cases in 2011. The state with that dubious #honour was Madhya Pradesh.

 The most common response to any report of such a crime is to call for harsher punishments for rapists. Some want capital punishment, others want the rapists to be castrated. Among the countries that have chemical castration as punishment for rapists is South Korea, a country ranked just ahead of most Islamic countries in gender equality.  Considering the reprehensible nature of crime, the emotional response of the people — demand for sterner punishment — is understandable. But i believe that the first step is a higher rate of conviction by our judicial system than  harsher punishment. More police, better trained police, police free of political control, professional investigations, quick convictions, early disposal of appeals, prompt justice — the wishlist is already known to be repeated. Also the creation of a system, wherein the dignity of the victim and psychological stresses are given due cognisance, is put in place.

The only way to revive the horse is to reform the system. Police reforms and judicial reforms are the answer. There are many reports laying out the roadmap of these reforms.  You need to take out the existing reports and start implementing them. But there is no political incentive for such reforms. Law and order being a state subject further complicates the process. The judiciary also seems bereft of introspection. The benefits of the current stakeholders and decision-makers are aligned with maintaining the status quo.

So we will have #Veeranganas on the street (Guwahati follows this model), or helplines for women’s crime, or women-only police stations, public-police partnerships, government-funded public campaigns against #rape, a call for CCTV cameras in buses, or some other such suggestions. 

But I  guess none of this will happen. We will end up with some cosmetic steps to satisfy the outraged public and keep the media at bay. The media will probably move to the next story. And we will wait for the next "BIG" rape — one of the 24,000 rape cases reported every year from India – to start all over again.

Wandering Butterflies

Like the wind drifts and takes a butterfly to places unknown in a journey of serendipity, so does my thought float around and muse on flowers of topics which influence my mind..... freely I roam and freely I sketch the world as i see it in this blog.