The Indian Army After Independance

India was freed from British rule in 1947. This was a momentus moment when the Hindus after 1000 years became masters of their own land. Over the past centuries they had been ruled by the Moslems and for the last two centuries by the British.

Gandhi who led the Indian freedom movement was a pacifist and believer in non voilence and the Army was far from his mental horizon.The Congress party itself led by Nehru had no notion of power politics and again failed to realise that a nations standing in the world polity of nations depends on their armed might. In fact one president Dr. Rajender Prasad even suggested that India disband the Army and keep only a police force,

These misplaced notions had their effect and the Armed forces became a neglected lot.This had disasterous consequences as the two states inimical to India -China and Pakistan quickly set about to weaken India, China occupied Ladakh and made incursions in the Eastern part of India. They supressed Tibet and Pakistan also did its bit by formenting an insurrection in the Indian State of Kashmir as well as terrorist activities in the rest of India.

The neglect of the Armed forces allowed the finest fighting machine in Asia to just wither away.. Even the euridite Nehru had no comprehension of power politics and followed the policy of neglect of the Armed forces.He talked of civil supremacy over the army and ended up playing into the hands of the ICS/IAS lobby. The result is there for all to see. Successive governments over the decades have reduced the efficacy of the Army.Clausewits dictum that the best form of defence is offence is sadly forgotten.

The Army has been at the recieving end in a lot many other matters.An example is a pay commission appointed to examine the pay and perks pf the soldiers did not have a single service member. Also the One rank one pension(OROP) demand of the Armed forces is making no headway.The status of the Armed forces personnel has been down graded every year and the order of precedance for officers vis a vis their civil counterparts revised downwards every year.

The Iindian government even now has not realised the significance of the Army even when the Indian state is facing a seige from within with a China inspired Maoist movement.To play a role as a world power six decades of neglect has to be rectified.The Indian armed forces must be made the wagon that can propel the Hindu nation forward as a world power.