Ref: Irrelevancy of martial element the main problem and the only solution is, to make human rights the martial jurisdiction.
Dear Sir
The news in media that – [“The Defense Ministry is in a fix whether to go for conscription or not, under the prevailing situation. The Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has suggested that conscription of youth ‘may be an avenue that the Government of India may have to think about in future’, in view of the falling number of aspirants wanting to join the course at the prestigious military institutions”] – constrained number of retired officers of armed forces (Generals etc) to appear in print and electronic media during last one month to offer their solution to this problem.
But except one expected and valid suggestion that service conditions of armed forces should also be at par with the much better service conditions of the civil services of Indian State, these retired Generals failed to come out with any effective solution to this problem. This failure is mainly due their failure to understand the following:
(i)- Martial element all over the world has lost its relevance in contemporary world where about 200 countries came in existence not due to martial efforts and expeditions but quite a number of them by marking their boundaries on world map by politicians of few powerful countries while sitting on the tables.
(ii)- Even in powerful countries the martial elements of State have lost their honor and a say in crucial matters of State as happened also with USA / UK and their allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here politicians of these countries first (in a grotesque manner) sent and condoned the deployment of soldiers over there where they died in great numbers and suffered but now the same politicians, of all hues, of these countries are regretting / denouncing this deployment and endeavouring/clamouring for withdrawal of these armed forces (as if the humiliation inherent in such withdrawal and killings & sufferings of armed forces have no meaning on the chess board of politicians of these countries).
(iii)- Though at first sight this seem to be a welcome development in the history of mankind where armed forces are no more required to shed human blood for deciding the territories of different countries. But people forgot that this bloodless political order has been achieved and preferred primarily due to concern about human rights which is the main driving force of all the political ideologies of contemporary world.
(iv)- But to what extent these human rights (despite various covenants of UN about human rights which are not worth the paper these are written on) have been denied to hapless majority of mankind does not require any elaboration over here. Suffice is to quote only Indian recent examples where:-
(a)- In 2002 thousands of innocent Muslims were butchered in the province of Gujarat while Indian State and UN remained passive spectators throughout this prolonged gory period.
(b)- National Rural Employment Guarantee Program, the only hope and future of India (which is going to sustain about half of poor India’s population) is almost in shambles at conceptual & implementation level but the Indian politicians and media (Indian and foreign) hardly discuss it in a worthwhile manner. So much for the basic human right of livelihood.
(c)- Despite loud noises by governments of their noble intentions, the health and education (another important human rights) of more than half of India’s people is a matter of shame to India to say the least, especially in this modern age.
Therefore if these well meaning retired officers of armed forces and others want the role of armed forces to be restored to its pristine glory (which only would attract Indian youth towards martial services) then they should realize and endeavor to do the following:-
(1)- The present practice / situation of retired officers of armed forces sitting in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies has not improved the situation for armed forces / human rights. Therefore retired officers of armed forces of India should take initiative to launch a new political party which believes in new political order i.e. the supremacy of armed forces over civilians in the crucial matters of State where apart from traditional jurisdiction of armed forces (like defense, internal security etc) the additional and most important jurisdiction of human rights will be a martial concern. A large number of Indians (with high sense of patriotism) will become the members of such new political party.
(2)- Unless the dominant power in any State has a political party which functions in the interest of this constituent power then such country is bound to face political problems, as has been experienced time and again by Pakistan.
(3)- This new political order, the diarchy, can be a Presidential system of Republic Democracy where President (directly elected by people may be like USA etc.) will take care of martial jurisdictions whereas elected (may be in a present manner) civilian Prime Minister & Chief Ministers will take care of all the civilian matters of centre and provinces respectively.
(4)- This new political party should vigorously mobilize public opinion not only in India but also internationally in order to make the human rights enforceable through an elaborate human rights enforcement mechanism not only in India but also through out the world (even by military intervention of UN in defaulting countries, if ultimately it is warranted).
(5)- This new political party should also vigorously mobilize public opinion internationally in order to canvass / propagate this new political order in other countries also.
Needless to say that in such a new political order India will not face the shortage of youth for martial services (as its martial element fired by such idealism will consider it their honor and privilege to serve) even by offering martyrdom / sacrifices and by undergoing hardships.
Even in this age of democracy and empowered civilians, if some body thinks that State can survive and a political order can have any meaning without the supremacy, in crucial matters of State, of martial element (who are prepared to lay down their lives for the protection of the State, which is law) then he is living in his own make belief world.
Yours truly
Hem Raj Jain
208, Supriya, Plot # 20, Sector – 10, Dwarka,
New Delhi -110075, INDIA.
Ph: – +91 11 32940177, Mob: 09871194983