Building ramrod-straight career soldiers

I WASN’T 16 when I joined the National Defence Academy (NDA); this month, I will turn 80. Of my four brothers who joined the Army, three came in through the NDA; the fourth became an officer-instructor at the academy, followed by my NDA-trained son, who commanded the regiment I was commissioned into: 63 Cavalry. Five of my kin, four brothers and my NDA brother-in-law, saw active duty in the 1971 war.

Shaping minds that remain disciplined even in the face of the greatest temptation is no easy task and it is in this endeavour that the NDA has succeeded.

This is a fireside recall of an innings in and out of uniform. Early-age entry through the portals of the NDA provides a carefree atmosphere and lays a platform for camaraderie, discipline, teamwork, strategic thinking, effective communication and resilience. What results is a never-say-die attitude, the essence of ‘Unity in diversity’ and the ethic of ‘Service before self’. ‘My nation first, always and every time’ follows in its wake.

The NDA entry is but one wing. There are nearly a dozen others which provide a diverse composition. This diversity champions adaptability and overall effectiveness as members of each entry institution bring unique skills, experiences and perspectives to the leadership and the calling of soldiering.

A military nursery being hailed for the democratic ethos that it nurtures might sound like an oxymoron, but that is the truth about the NDA. As it completes 75 years of its founding, what strikes an alumnus most is the path that those who passed out of this institution have followed — the straight and narrow road of military leadership that does not allow its alumni to stray from the oath of allegiance to the Constitution.

There was a period in the 1970s and 1980s when India was sandwiched between military dictatorships on its borders in the east and the west. In fact, while the military schools of our western neighbour brought up future dictators, the NDA built ramrod-straight career soldiers who would put themselves on the line for their men and the nation in the truest translation into action of the NDA motto ‘Seva Parmo Dharma’ or ‘Service above self’. One of the profound reasons for India’s success as a democratic nation was the complete absence from the minds and deeds of our military leaders of the greed for power that got emblazoned on the olive-green uniform of so many of the post-colonial militaries across the world.

The Services are a living example of the institutions that were shaped by the ideals of the founding fathers of the nation. Only an idealist can be ready to die for the nation, yet willing to hang up his boots when the time comes to go home and tell stories to the grandchildren. This idealism enshrined in the immortal values and traditions of our freedom movement is the hallmark of the Services. This has made NDA and its sister entry institutions among the greatest defence academies in the world that produce professional soldiers without exception. And, of course, some of them have distinguished themselves as world-class military leaders and thinkers.

The conduct of the armed forces in all the wars India has fought is the best tribute to their alma mater. If the Indian Army walked out of Bangladesh soon after the hard-fought liberation war without hanging on to ‘help’ govern the newly independent country, it had a lot to do with the leadership of Gen (later Field Marshal) Sam Manekshaw; but it is also a lesson that the cadets and alumni of the NDA cherish. The events of 1971 are often considered a ‘just war’ by those who firmly believe that it was a response to genocide and institutionalised rape committed by the Pakistani military. It achieved the liberation of Bangladesh and prevention of further violence against its population. According to Michael Walzer, the author of the seminal book Just and Unjust Wars, it was the 20th century’s only real humanitarian intervention. And the NDA built the moral spine of those officers who, along with others, fought this ‘just war’.

It is difficult to be kind to a vicious and barbaric enemy with whom you have just fought a war, and more so to be unhesitant in showing your genuine concern for his wellbeing while he is under your custody. The management of over 90,000 POWs, who surrendered after the 1971 war, was a gargantuan task.

The unstated message to every POW was that it was a victory of democracy over military rule and humanism over barbarism, with signature thoroughness in adhering to the Geneva Convention for POWs. As matters unfolded thereafter in Kargil and other battlefields, it would seem that this approach was to no avail. Alas, view this now against the current scenes of horror around the world.

Even when the Indian Peace-Keeping Force suffered severe fatalities in Sri Lanka, it did not open fire at groups of civilians among whom the LTTE terrorists were hiding. The Vietnam war is known for the My Lai massacre and other atrocities that were committed on innocent villagers, but the Indian story from similar war fronts has been to the contrary — an officer corps that is ready to inflict great pain on itself to ensure minimum civilian casualties. If this tradition carries on year after year in every battle with foreign aggressors and home-grown insurgents, it could only continue because of what our officers are taught about humanity and humanism at the academies.

The Indian soldier has consistently demonstrated resilience, courage and dedication. The Kargil war in 1999 showcased the Indian soldiers’ valour in high-altitude warfare against all odds and within the political writ to expel the aggressor without crossing the demarcated line. I am not aware of any other example in modern history where such daring and obedience were displayed in equal measure to ensure a hasty retreat and ignominious defeat of the adversary.

No wonder our institutions have produced leaders who refuse to sniff around in the corridors of power, awaiting their turn for crumbs. Shaping minds that remain disciplined even in the face of the greatest temptation — the lure of unquestioned authority — is no easy task and it is in this endeavour that the NDA has succeeded, thus becoming the gold standard for defence academies across the world.

As the NDA celebrates its 75 years, it is only appropriate that we salute our comrades-in-arms from other entry institutions. It is the wealth of a cumulative mix from all streams that makes us a formidable force and the cynosure of all eyes worldwide.

Born again, I would rewind at 16.

The author was commissioned on December 11, 1962 (22 NDA Course)