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--- Begin Message ---
*Last week Maj Gen Joshi called on me. He was an esteemed instructor during
our Degree Course days, and EME officers would remember him as one of
our finest engineers. Indeed, he spent most of his time with the DRDO. He
was commissioned in Jun 1960 and was in the Eastern sector during the 1962
debacle. He has analyzed the event very systematically, and his study
reveals the following :*
- *Pt Nehru, the architect of modern India suffered a severe stroke of
depression from which he never quite recovered. He died in May 1964 at the
comparatively young age of 73.*
- *VK Krishna Menon was removed from the post of Raksha Mantri for his
incorrect assessment of the situation.*
- *Gen Thapar, the COAS was sacked. The careers of Lt Gen Kaul and scores
of other military officers took a "U" turn.*
- *A few thousand soldiers died; many more were wounded and some were
taken prisoners.*
- *The psyche of the country received a severe blow. It was considered a
'National Shame'*
*The question he asked me was, "Who was the Defence Secretary? And what was
the punishment meted out to him?" *
*I have asked several friends and also surfed the Internet but I am unable
to find an answer. In all probability nothing was done to him, because he
had no role in this!*
**
*Gen Joshi then took this discussion a step further. He observed that during
the recent attack on Mumbai, dozens of soldiers and policemen have been
killed. The whole nation is shaken. Mr Shivraj Patil has lost his
prestigious job. The CM of Maharashtra has been axed and several heads
in the government are likely to roll. Can some one tell us as to what action
has been taken against the Union Home Secretary or the Chief Secretary of
Maharashtra? (Thomas tells me that they will all be "promoted" soon though
he does not know why).*
**
*Having spent many years in and around the South Block, I marvel at the way
our government has been structured. The Civil Servants rule the roost. In
terms of promotions and status they are ahead of every one else by miles.
They are central in the Pay Commission and the Cabinet Secretary is involved
in every major decision making process. Yet, when things go wrong, they wash
their hands off so clean that one wonders how!*
**
*A slightly closer examination reveals the secret. I have figured it out
this way:*
- *They never do anything themselves. They always find some one else to
be the head, and they know how to reduce him to be a 'figure head'. (In the
Pay Commissions, they have a retired Judge). However they place themselves
in a spot which has the maximum opportunity to influence matters.*
- *After the event, they never face the Press or the Media. Their role is
amorphous.*
- *The senior amongst them rarely sign a letter or order. Our pension
letter is signed by a Director, who is not directly recruited IAS
officer. Only rarely do you find a paper signed by a Joint
Secretary. Officers
above that level do not sign any document.*
- *They have a strong association. It protects the interests of its
members dutifully and diligently.*
*So we have our Defence headquarters in which the postings, promotions,
rewards and punishments of all senior officers are controlled by the civil
servants; and they also have the final say in the process of procurement of
weapons and eqpt, but they are not "responsible" if things go wrong! It is
authority without responsibility. (For those who may not know, a lowly
officer in the MoD can have a Deputy Chief posted out, but a Service Chief
can not get even a Desk Officer moved)*
**
*When Gen Joshi left, I found myself perplexed. What sort of system have we
evolved? And how has it survived all these years? It is a bit like a unit in
which the clerks are running the unit and the CO is so dependent on the Head
Clerk that he can not move without their help!"*
**
**
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It is a cricketing clash meant for the Gods! Be there when we track the T-20
Champions League this December Try it now! <http://sports.in.msn.com/>
--- End Message ---
