An avoidable controversy

  THIS refers to Hari Jaisingh’s article, “An avoidable controversy: Armed forces are not plaything” (March 26). The present government is working in a manner that might temporarily allow it to go on existing as an oasis in an opposition desert. It is working to save its neck while simultaneously finding ways of saving its freedom. We are not generating the dynamic faith and the ideas needed to touch the spirits and to arouse the hopes of the people of the country who are a prey to the unholy nexus of a few corrupt politicians. It is the transparency in the system which would break the ever-tightening noose and give public opinion an influence of greater scope. We have been concentrating almost exclusively on preparation for a hot war which may never come. Top policy decisions have been influenced too much by the military side in the present government policies, whose duty it is primarily in terms of shooting war. Meanwhile, we might lose the internal war. We have loopholes in the form of corrupt people in our system. There is imperative need for an overall strategy that takes account of all the realities, and keeps checks on all military as well as non-military policies.

No one should be allowed to hinder from within the internal citadel of our defence policies which are strengthened by the concept of “Unity in diversity”. We are now a nuclear country. In a very real sense, we do not today live alone. Our policy is not just Indian policy but a policy of many neighbouring nations and many peoples. Therefore, we cannot play with it as with something that is dependable and something that is consistent, for the fortunes and the lives of many people depend on it. Such people have the full right to know about the operations of the government and the accountability of the system we are living in, which is possible only through transparency of the system as much as it remains within the ambit of national interests. Of course, the normal role of a opposition party should be to oppose. But these are not normal times. Our nation is in a position where, if we calculate on the basis of cold reason, time may well be on the side of those hostile to us, with the balance of power shifting in their favour. Indeed, two wrongs do not make one right and thereby people and the government have to act in coordination by reducing the in-between differences through operational transparency. All I want to convey is

“It is fine to dream that life is beauty;
To make it real we have to lead life as a duty”.

VIVEK SINH MAR GIRAN
Kurukshetra

II

The article has not come a day too soon. “Over to Prime Minister” should start from the days of his as Foreign Minister, to disclose disposal of “Churchill tanks” and lakhs of 303 rifles discarded by India falling in the hands of Afghans fighting Russia, the best friend of India. Loyalty and discipline kept the forces away from politicians and bureaucrats, master of their fate. Krishna Menon encouraged sycophancy resulting in the debacle of 1962. The Thimayya episode and the gain in war loss at Simla are not forgotten. A Defence Minister ordered traditional classes to be recruited as soldiers instead of NCEs, resulting in Brahmins and Jats recruited as Topas and Cooks. Illiterate unemployed youth did not know the words “Topas” and “CK”. Results and effects are not unknown. A senior Captain on a warship cooked his goose as he could not import a car for a particular Defence Secretary in his ship, whose son-in-law, mostly on foreign assignments, failed as field commander but got a few senior officers sacked in East. A discarded Major was elevated as Brigadier in the last week of his service and pensioned off when his brilliant doctor son got into matrimony in a Prime Minister’s family. A former Prime Minister became a technical expert on tanks after demitting office.

Sophisticated sensitive war material becomes outdated in no time due to rapid technical advancement. Thus sensitivity and secrecy make scandals and scams easy.

Brilliant and upright Generals like Sinha and Kulwant are discarded and discipline keeps them quiet. The wife of the seniormost Indian flier, one of the most decorated, died last year leaving her writ for pension pending. Recommendations of Army Commanders are turned down by Under Secretaries as the Government leaves widows of those who died on duty at the mercy of courts. Dues sanctioned by the Government are objected to by CDA and if cleared delay is inordinate at Records and PAO causing miseries and frustration.

Admiral Bhagwat survived three bad patches due to the help by the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and bureaucrats. But he could not chew the last bite. Exposure of prevailing corruption of politicians and bureaucrats was too much to be tolerated, even if made by an upright honest-to-hilt patriotic Chief.

India has the best Defence Minister in Mr Fernanades, who is sincere, means business, though odds are heavy. But the sacrifice of Admiral Bhagwat for the cause of country and services is exemplary to be emulated by self-seekers for future of India. Criminal and corrupt politicians and bureaucrats may become cautious. Why blame Mulayam alone?

S.S. JOHAL
Chandigarh

III

George Fernandes has been rightly appreciated for his professional approach in dealing with the sensitive defence affairs, in contrast to Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was very casual in his dealings.

Mr Fernandes was forthright in punishing Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, who refused to obey the government’s orders. This avoidable controversy has been invented by the Opposition, which was in search of some topic for discussion. It would be an insult to the Armed Forces of India to say that their morale has been affected by the dismissal of Vishnu Bhagwat, as it would mean that they fight for the sake of individuals like Mr Bhagwat. They fight for the protection of the country and the nation. Bhagwats may come and go, but the Armed Forces would remain. Therefore, once he has been dismissed for indiscipline – a serious crime — he is simply Mr Vishnu Bhagwat and does not deserve to be given any importance and political colour.

The Opposition has not shown maturity in its behaviour on this issue. The media too has raised too much dust. General public is simply unconcerned about it, and the armed forces personnel are also least concerned about it because they serve the country and not Mr Bhagwat.

ANAND PRAKASH
Chandigarh

Preventive medicine

I have no bias for or against any “pathy” but am sensitive to the cause of ailing humanity with an open scientific approach. Dr S.K. Jindal has rightly outlined some limitations of allopathy in his article “Try to accept disease and incurability” (March 17). These, in my view, arise due to allopathy’s operative ‘Principle of Opposites”. But high potency homoeodrugs can cross water and lipid channels in biological barrier membranes to act deeply and cure, according to the “Law of Similars”, some of even those cases which for allopathy are incurable, difficult to cure or require surgery, and so on.

Since their modes and planes of action differ the allopathic and homoeopathic drugs can go together with advantage to patient. Newly proposed “Navayurved”, first published in the Hahnemannian Gleanings Vol. 46, 1979, envisages judicious combination of homoeopathy, allopathy and yoga (pranayam and dhyan) etc. With progressing basic homoeocure the allopathic drug, given to keep the symptoms within tolerable limits, is tapered off. Yoga helps attenuate psychological components of disease. When clinical labs report NAD (no abnormality detected) but patient suffers subjective and physical symptoms on which homoeodrug can be given to abort diseases in the pre-or sub-clinical stage.

So Navayurved is the best yet cheapest “Curative & Preventive Medicine” to minimise the needs for bypass surgery and organ transplant besides improving general quality of community health. With it can be provided “Health (care) for all” even within developing countries with limited resources. But medical education needs to be improved to provide for all necessary knowledge in the same mind with CME (continued medical education) programmes to facilitate registrations in more than one system of medicine.

RATI RAM SHARMA
Panchkula