- >>
- OPINION
Major General S.G.VOMBATKERE (Retd) writes of the Indian Army’s role in the liberation of Bangladesh, regretting the removal of the iconic photograph recording the event from the COAS office:
Highlight-
Every year since 1971, we have observed December 16 as the anniversary of Pakistan’s Lt Gen A.A.K.Niazi signing the Instrument of Surrender of all Pakistan’s Eastern Command combatant troops to the Indian Armed Forces, at Dhaka.
The unconditional military surrender included India taking 93,000 Pakistan Army officers and soldiers as prisoners of war, following 15,000 Indian soldiers losing their lives and limbs in this epic war. Many Indian officers and soldiers won gallantry awards, many posthumously.
A new nation, Bangladesh, was born out of this war. India’s decisive victory over Pakistan has remained a matter of pride for our nation, our Armed Forces and every Indian citizen.
Iconic photographs or paintings of Lt Gen Niazi signing the surrender, witnessed by India’s Lt Gen J.S.Aurora (GOC-in-C Eastern Command), Lt Gen Sagat Singh (GOC 4 Corps), Lt Gen J.F.R.Jacob (Chief of Staff, Eastern Command), Vice Admiral N.Krishnan (FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command), and Air Marshal H.C.Dewan (AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command), are displayed in many of India’s Armed Forces installations. It was also displayed in the office of India’s Army Chief (COAS).
Today, one day before Vijay Diwas 2024, Indian Armed Forces Veterans note with dismay, that the iconic picture has been removed from the COAS’s office. It has reportedly been replaced by a painting depicting Pangong Tso (Eastern Ladakh) with infantry soldiers, armoured vehicles, and helicopters, along with figures of Chanakya and Garuda, and Arjuna with his charioteer Krishna in the Mahabharata Kurukshetra war.
Also reportedly removed from Army Headquarters, is the Chetwode credo of “Always and every time”, keeping the Country First, the Men under Command Next, and Oneself Last. This has creditably and successfully guided generations of Indian Armed Forces personnel in war, in their internal security role and in peace, in the execution of their duties.
This was the mature advice given by Field Marshal Philip Chetwode to the first batch of Indian officer cadets, when he inaugurated the Indian Military Academy at DehraDun in 1932. It is unexceptionable because Chetwode also advised the Indian Cadets thus: “The young Indian man of education seems very attracted by politics. May I urge you to remember that politics do not and cannot find any place in army life. An army can have no place in politics. It is the paid servant of the people and is at the disposal of the Government of the day, whatever may be the political complexion of that Government. Once there is any suspicion that an Army, or any part of it, is biased politically, from that moment that Army has lost the confidence of the nation that pays for it. It is no longer impartial, and that way lies chaos and civil war”.
It is understanding and observance of this credo and advice which has kept India’s Armed Forces apolitical since Independence. It is noteworthy that officers of the pre-Partition Indian Army who went to Pakistan in 1947, did not heed this advice. Pakistan has been ruined by military rule starting in 1958, for over half its years since 1947, while India’s Armed Forces under civilian control as required by the Constitution of India – and part of the Indian soldiers’ solemn oath – have faithfully and consistently served and saved our nation.
Removing the Vijay Diwas picture and the Indian soldiers’ credo, have been criticised by some Veterans. This view fears that the new portrayal paints the Army with “the political complexion of the government of the day”, that therefore the Army may “no longer be impartial”, and that it points the “way to chaos and civil war”.
Army sources state that, the new painting by Lt Col Thomas Jacob, titled “Karam Kshetra – Field of Deeds”, portrays the Army as “guardian of Dharma, fighting not merely as a defender of the nation but to uphold justice and protect the nation’s values”, with the strategic and philosophical wisdom of Chanakya, whose principles guide the Army’s approach to leadership, diplomacy, and warfare.
However, this portrayal is not compatible with the celebrated core values and secular character of India’s Armed Forces, which places a soldier’s duty to the country before his religious belief or affiliation.
The new painting depicts a questionable narrative of “victory” over China in the limited geopolitical context of Eastern Ladakh. Removing the 1971 picture depicting India’s unquestioned 1971 victory involving entire East Pakistan, and substituting it with the “Karam Kshetra” painting, trivialises the sacrifices of our Armed Forces. It is very difficult to justify this, even if the 1971 surrender picture is relocated.
Removal of the apolitical credo of the Indian soldier’s duty, is a body blow to the military command and control structure, which is required to place country first, men under command next and oneself last. Its removal is unjustifiable. MoD and COAS will do well to restore it at the earliest.
Major General S.G.Vombatkere (Retd) was Additional DG (Discipline & Vigilance) at the Army HQ, New Delhi.
