Comments on: By Invitation: They didn’t make it to Sam’s funeral

By: Dipack Hattengdi

Dipack Hattengdi — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:29:42 +0000

The Service Chiefs & other military functionaries did not attend F.Marshal Sam’s funeral not because they did not want to, but would have been ‘diplomatically’ encouraged not to by the ‘civilian’ bureaucrats/authorities. This is reminiscent of another reported quarrel between the then President Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Prime Minster Nehru. President Dr. Rajendra Prasad wanted to attend the funeral of the then late Home Minister – Sardar V Patel. Inspite of Nehru’s opposition President Dr. Rajendra Prasad attended. Since 1947, the complete apathy of the civilian bureaucracy towards the Armed Forces, (reducing their comparative rank status in the ‘ warrant of precedence’, compared to that prior to 1947), a total lack of comprehension of matters ‘militaire’ have led to the present morass. The recent ‘6th Pay Commission’ which caused so much justifiably raised the ire of the Armed Forces, must have had a lot of bureaucrats rubbing their hands in glee and quoting section and clause from some decrepit rule book or other. The Indian Armed Forces represent the last outpost of an independent and strong India.

By: Older Crow

Older Crow — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:25:18 +0000

I respect and share the emotions of Cmde Bhaskar, an old and respected colleague. He has, as usual, put forth his views in a pithy and clear manner. I on the other hand think that the plight of the Indian Armed Forces is largely due to the selfishness of the brass. The bureaucrats and politicians know it rather well. Unless the writing on the Chetwode hall is actually implemented in true spirit by the leaders, things would only get worse. What happened to the Field Marshall is an extension to what happens to all our gallantry award winners. I need not labour the point because the media keeps on coming out with stories about the plight of these gentlemen regularly.

The latest example of policies of the bureaucrats and politicians is the 6th CPC award. Where care has been taken to look after the top few and to sacrifice the rest, particularly the middle, sure in the knowledge that like in the experience of the past. The only mistake in the calculation was in underestimating the impact of the internet and the free, burgeoning and competing media.

The rot got arrested in the aftermath of 1962 and has got accelerated after 1971. So it appears that the country needs a clear defeat/loss to wake up again. Until that happens, our uniformed desk warriors are not likely to do anything that affects their promotion/post-retirement prospects.

By: A Tribute to Sam Manekshaw | DesiPundit

A Tribute to Sam Manekshaw | DesiPundit — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:17:16 +0000

[...] on the passing of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, but the political establishment of a grateful nation could not find time to make it to the funeral. Chandra pays tribute to this great soldier. Imagine when was the last [...]

By: Sepia Mutiny

Sepia Mutiny — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:31:58 +0000

Sam Manekshaw and Obama…

On June 27th, India’s Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji “Sam Bahadur” Jamshedji Manekshaw died at age 94. Manekshaw was one of the heros of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, and an extremely popular figure in India: Sam Manekshaw, who has …

By: Pragmatic Euphony » Blog Archive » The public apathy…

Pragmatic Euphony » Blog Archive » The public apathy… — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:08:09 +0000

[...] this blogger has said on comments elsewhere, an army which depicts sportpersons as heroes rather than its gallantry award winners and which [...]

By: Dhananjay Mhatre

Dhananjay Mhatre — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:17:48 +0000

It is good that no politician attended the funeral. At least the focus of attention was not diverted to them and their Z plus security.
However the question arises as to why the three military chiefs did not attend.

By: Vikraal

Vikraal — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:15:08 +0000

Just compare with the Majestic (tax payers money) wasted State funeral given to Missionary Angels of Hell fame Theresa, in which the entire Christianic mafia of UPA was present like slaves

By: Vikraal

Vikraal — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:26:46 +0000

Comm Uday Bhaskar is right. Offcourse it is good that MAHAMANAV like Sam Manekshaw farewell did not have any representative from the ranks of these traitors slaves, the insects, who make a spectacle of themselves dancing when Italy wins the World Cup and licking the boots of foreign italian signiorita,. Offcourse if Sam had been an Italian/christian the full paraphenalia of italian empress and chaprasis would have been there. In fact, these same gutter swill did not even celeberate the 100 birthday of Shaheed Bhagat Singh or the 150th anniversay of 1857 rebellion ( as it was against White european rule), maybe offcourse India would have to celeberate the Mussolini’s b’day as national day.
Acorn we expect better responses (if offcourse your national interest is not aka Commies nationalism and patriotism), than some opiniated, self important punies who would themselves never dare to serve in the forces calling it rant

By: Manu

Manu — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:18:39 +0000

Sam Bahadur is getting a terrific send away from his nation, even if the politicians were missing. Let’s not lose perspective of that.

Commodore Bhaskar – making an issue of absence of politicians you so despise does not make sense. Extending it into a complain about historical treatment of armed services is pushing it a bit too far. Ironically, your rant is so unlike Sam Bahadur. He commanded respect and did not demand it.

Nitin – I think I speak for most readers of Acorn that we expect higher quality opinion from The Acorn.

By: Ashutosh

Ashutosh — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:40:20 +0000

Given the way they treated Manekshaw, no wonder they treat “ordinary” soldiers who have given up their life as garbage.

By: Kalpana Gandhi

Kalpana Gandhi — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:49:50 +0000

I had the opportunity to know and meet the great Field Marshal during our frequent visits to Kodai Canal where my daughter was studying along with Field Marshall Manikshaw’s grandson. He was a down to earth, polite and humble man full of kindness and humor. I am sad to hear about his passing.
It is simply appalling that all these “political midgets” in New Delhi and all these mediocre political non entities, bloating in their self importance, failed miserably to attend and to pay tribute to this GREAT INDIAN NATIONAL HERO……………
I guess if Field Marshall Manikshaw would have been Italian, Sonia’s cronies and minions would have been falling over each other to pay tribute……….
I hope India remembers this blatant disregard and disrespect to our National Hero at the next elections………..and sweep this trash out of office!

By: R Sampath Kumar

R Sampath Kumar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:35:15 +0000

Sam Manekshaw was a giant in a land of lilliputs and at the present time a uncluttered, straightforward hero amongst self serving,ignorant,cowardly self serving political leaders.What will they know of ” facing the enemy ” nor the sacrifices Sam and others made for the country.For them war and governance are all about getting the maximum mileage.So what if a few lives are lost or a hero is ignored !!! The coffers are all that matter not the body bags nor the coffins.Cry ” beloved country “.

By: Pankaj

Pankaj — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:33:39 +0000

Krishna Menon was a more diabolical bastard than what we have previously known. This quizling Karat is a fitting successor to that vile traitor.

By: Pragmatic

Pragmatic — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:39:20 +0000

How can Commodore Uday Bhaskar dismiss the apathy of the services in a single line and direct the rant towards the politico-bureaucratic setup only? If the services have no respect or concern for their own greatest hero, what better can you expect from the civil society?

Have the services tried to even follow a single idea that he enunciated? Externalities like attending funerals don’t matter in the long run, following his ideas do. Do we want to create another Gandhi here by allowing him to be appropriated by the establishment?

An army that places sportspersons on posters in cantonments rather than decorated war heroes has got its priorities all mixed up. It is time the services are put under the scanner as much as the politicians and bureaucrats are done by our venerated defence experts.

Sam Manekshaw was not a product of the politicians or the bureaucrats, and not solely of the services. He was much bigger then all the three institutions put together. He doesn’t need the validation of establishment to be recognised as one of India’s greatest hero since independence.

Commodore Bhaskar, its nice for many to hear such a rant and turn cynical. But what one is looking for someone like you is a perspective, not a harangue? Why the lack of similar focus on the services themselves? Maybe, the treatment being meted out to the Marshal of the IAF, Arjan Singh and his ideas in today’s IAF would be a huge pointer to the way the current top brass perceives the Marshals– a pain in the a**.