भारतीय सैन्य आणि प्रांतिक सीमेचे शिक्के ...

बापू उत्तर देतीलच

ते पूर्वीच्या काळी ब्र्टिशानी निर्माण केले. अगदी पूर्वी त्या त्या जातीच्या गटात तेच लोक असत. आजकाल असे बंधन नाही. पण ती नावे परंपरेने असल्याने व त्या त्या जातीला अभिमानास्पद वाटत असल्याने ती तशीच आहेत. त्यात काही गैरही नाही. आता काही जातीच्या लोकाना उदा. समजा ब्राह्मण .. हे चुकीचे वाटते. तर त्यानीही सरकारला विनंती करुन ब्राह्मण बटालियन काढावी व सुरुवातीला काही वर्षे आपल्या जातीचेच लोक त्यात भरुन शौर्य गाजवावे. मग कालांतराने नाव तसेच ठेवून सर्व जातीधर्माचे लोक त्यात भरावेत. .... प्रत्येक गावात ब्राह्मणपुरी असते... पूर्वी त्यात फक्त ब्राह्मणच रहायचे ... आजकाल ब्राह्मण परगावी परदेशी उडाल्याने व त्या जागा बाकीच्यानीही विकत घेतल्याने सर्वच लोक त्यात रहातात. पण गल्लीचे नाव मात्र ... आजही ब्राह्मणपुरीच असते. ... तसेच हेही.

मा. प. सर, मला खरंतर ह्या विषयावर एक लेखच लिहायचा होता, पण वेळ साधेना, तरीही आता आपण विषय काढलाच आहेत तर एकाच मेगाबायटी प्रतिसादात जितके सांगता येईल तितके सांगतो. प्रथमतः रेजिमेंट्सची नावे कशी पडली किंवा त्याला जाती कश्या संलग्न झाल्या? तर इथे हे लक्षात घ्यायला हवे की ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनीचं शासन होतं तेव्हा रेजिमेंट्सची नावे अशी जात आधारित नव्हती, तर प्रांतिक होती, उदाहरणार्थ बंगाल नेटिव्ह इनफंट्री, बॉम्बे नेटिव्ह इनफंट्री "काली पांचवी" (काळ्या/एतद्देशीय सैनिकांची पाचवी बटालियन) जाती आधारित रेजिमेंट्स आल्या 1871 नंतर त्याकाळी अपराधी , लढाऊ, वगैरे विभागात भारतीय जाती वाटल्या गेल्या होत्या, त्याकाळी अपराधी जमाती म्हणून नोंदवल्या गेलेल्या पारधी वगैरे जाती आजची तो शिक्का डोक्यावर घेऊन जगतात, तो भाग वेगळा, तर अश्या लिस्टस मध्ये एक भारतातल्या लढाऊ जमातींची लिस्ट सुद्धा तयार झाली होती, त्यात जाट, मराठा, शीख, राजपूत इत्यादी जमातींचा समावेश होता,पुढे त्या रेजिमेंट्स ची नावे जी पडली ती तशीच राहिली कारण भारतीय सेना आपल्या ट्रेडिशन खूप प्रेमाने जतन करते, गम्मत म्हणजे नव्या परंपरा आत्मसात सुद्धा करते, आज आपल्या वापरात असलेल्या दहीने मूड, पीछे मूड वगैरे कमांड पैकी बहुतेक सगळ्या इंडियन नॅशनल आर्मी ने डिझाईन केलेल्या कमांड मधून प्रेरित आहेत. हा झाला थोडा इतिहास, आता थोडे सध्याच्या स्थिती बद्दल, सध्या रेजिमेंट्सची नावे जरी तीच असली तरी त्यांचे composition प्रांतिक नसते, मुळात जीसी (जेन्टलमन कॅडेट्स) जेव्हा आयएमए मधून पास होत असतात तेव्हा त्यांना चॉईस विचारतात पण पेरेंटल क्लेम नसेल तर सहसा रेजिमेंट अलोकेशन हे रँडोम असते, म्हणजे जसवंतसिंह ओबेरॉय नामक शीख अधिकारी मराठा लाईट इनफंट्रीला येतो तर विशाल हनुमंतराव देशमुख नामे पोरगा ग्रेनेडीयर्सला येतो, हे झाले अधिकाऱ्यांचे , रिक्रुट जवानांचे बोलायचे झाले तर नाव मराठा लाईट इनफंट्री आहे म्हणून फक्त मराठी जवान असतील असे नसते , गंमत म्हणजे ह्या "मराठा लाईट इनफंट्री" चे मुख्यालय विवावस्पद अश्या बेळगावी मध्ये आहे. मराठा लाईट इनफंट्रीची भरती जाहिरात निघते तेव्हा त्यात वेगवेगळ्या गावी भरती कॅम्प/मेळावे भरवले जातात, ते फक्त महाराष्ट्रात नसते तर जाहिरात नीट वाचल्यास ती भरती महाराष्ट्र, कर्नाटक, अन केरळचा काही भाग इतक्या ठिकाणच्या वेगवेगळ्या गावात होते, त्याचे कारण म्हणजे प्रत्येक ठिकाणच्या लोकांची फिजिकल बिल्डप वेगळी असते, तुम्ही गोरख्यांना लावत असलेले नियम पंजाबी लोकांस लावू शकत नाही, माझा एक जवळचा मित्र अधिकारी आहे आर्मी मध्ये पंजाब रेजिमेंटला टिपिकल सावळा असा पवित्रन नायर, केरळी, पण तो जितका अस्खलित पंजाबी बोलतो तितकी कोणी इतर बोलताना आजवर पाहिलेले नाही, शेवटी कसंय हो की रेजिमेंट्सच्या नावात प्रांतिकवाद आपण सामान्य लोक पाहतो, आर्मी मध्ये त्याला cultural exchange चे एक माध्यम म्हणून ट्रीट केले जाते, अन मुळात इंडॉक्टरीनेशन असले कडक असते की तुम्ही कोणीही असा एकदा रेजिमेंट धरली की त्या रेजिमेंटची आन बान शान हे तुमचे सर्वस्व असते, ह्या निष्ठा इतक्या पक्क्या असतात की 'मेजर. परमानंद सदाशिव कुलकर्णी' हा इसम आपली 85 सेमी छाती 90 सेमी पर्यंत फुगवून म्हणतो की "मी एक प्राऊडेस्ट महार आहे, माझ्या रेजिमेंट सारखी रेजिमेंट नाही अन सिक्कीम बॉर्डरची रखवाली फक्त आम्ही काटक महारच करू शकतो" , "वैभव सुखीप्रसाद तिवारी" नामक एखादा कॅप्टन आपल्या सातारी जवानाला पोरगे झाल्याचे ऐकून अस्सल सातारी टोन मध्ये "रम पाज समद्यास्नी अन घरला बी ने थोडी भाड्या" असे सांगतो , तिथे फक्त अन फक्त रेजिमेंटच असते, बुंदेलखंडी मुसलमान ग्रेनेडियर्स मध्ये भरपूर असतात पण अतिशय मानाने ते ग्रेनेडियर्सचा युद्धघोष म्हणजेच "राजा रामचंद्र की जय" करतात, तेव्हा, रेजिमेंटच्या नावात प्रांत वगैरे आपण लोक शोधतो ते लोक फक्त ते नाव प्रचंड मोठे करायला सतत धडपडत असतात, त्यात मद्रासी, मराठी, भैय्या, पंजाबी असे नसते, हेच भारतीय थलसेनेचे सर्वोत्तम सौंदर्य आहे असे मला वाटते. काही राहिले असल्यास किंवा चुकले असल्यास कर्नल चितळे सर ते नीट दुरुस्त करतील तर इट वूड बी एन ऑनर

सैन्यातील इंग्रजी सक्तीच्या मागे असलेला हा इतका तर्कशुद्ध आणि सखोल विचार तुमच्यामुळे मला प्रथमच समजतोय. सुंदर आणि मुद्देसुद उत्तराबदद्ल धन्यवाद बापु.

@सोन्याबापू : तुमच्या चपखल व मुद्देसूद प्रतिसादांमुळे भारतिय सैन्यासंबंधीचे सर्वसामान्यांच्या मनातले बरेच गैरसमज दूर होतील. "काहीवेळेस धाग्यापेक्षा प्रतिसाद उजवे असतात" हे तत्व या ठिकाणी परत एकदा अधोरेखित झाले आहे ! :)

श्री सोन्याबापू यांच्या प्रतिसादात काही दुरुस्ती सुचवू इच्छितो. भूदल सैन्यातील राजपत्रित अधिकारी हे अखिल भारतीय स्तरावर स्पर्धा परीक्षांमधून गुणवत्ता तत्त्वावर निवडले जातात. त्यांचे प्रशिक्षणही एकत्र होते. त्यानंतर त्यांना सैन्याच्या विविध विभागांत, जाति-धर्म-प्रांत-भाषा हे विचारात न घेता नियुक्त केले जाते. अर्थात सोन्याबापू यांनी म्हटल्याप्रमाणे मुलगा हा वडिलांची पलटण हक्काने मागून घेऊ शकतो. जवांनांची भरती हा संपूर्ण वेगळा प्रकार आहे आणि माझ्यामते पंखासाहेबांचा लेख त्या संदर्भातला आहे. इंग्रजांनी भारतीय (यात पाकिस्तानीही आले) समाजाचे लढाऊ आणि गैरलढाऊ जाती असे अधिकृत वर्गीकरण केले होते. त्यानुसार जाट, शीख, मराठा, राजपूत, डोगरा, बलोच, मुस्लिम, महार, गोरखा वगैरे "लढाऊ" जातींच्या नावावर रेजिमेंट निर्माण केल्या. याला तत्कालीन व्यापक राजकीय संदर्भही आहेत पण माझे ज्ञान तोकडे पडत असल्यामुळे लिहू शकत नाही. सगळी इंग्रजी सेना अशीच उभी राहिली असे काही नाही. काही रेजिमेंट या खालसा केलेल्या राज्यांचे सैनिक इंग्रजी सेनेला जोडून बनवल्या गेल्या. (मला वाटतं, पंजाब रेजिमेंट, शिंदे Horse, इत्यादि. चू.भू.द्या.घ्या). 1857 मध्ये बंडखोर शिपायांनी वेढलेली दिल्ली पुन्हा काबीज करून घेण्यासाठी 'Hodson's Horse' ही रेजिमेंट अंबाल्याला उभी करून दिल्लीवर उत्तरेकडून हल्ला चढवला गेला. William Hodson याने पंजाबमधील शीख तरुणांची भरती करून ही रेजिमेंट उभी केली. ही रेजिमेंट अजून भारतीय सैन्यात आहे. स्वातंत्र्योत्तर काळात जातिनिहाय भरतीची ही पद्धत तशीच ठेवली गेली. (योग्य कीअयोग्य हा वेगळा मुद्दा). पण सैन्याला प्रातिनिधीक स्वरूप यावे यासाठी काही बदल करण्यात आले. ग्रेनेडिअर, गार्डस, महार अशा काही रेजिमेंट अखिल भारतीय करण्यात आल्या. राजपुताना रायफल्ससारख्या काही रेजिमेंटसाठी जाति-गुणोत्तर ठरवून दिले गेले. जम्मू-काश्मीर रायफल्स, नागा, बिहार अशा नव्या रेजिमेंटचीही निर्मिती केली गेली. सर्वात मोठा बदल म्हणजे सैन्यभरतीच्या जागांचे वाटप हे आता जनगणनेच्या आधारे करण्यात येते. जनगणनेदरम्यान संकलित केलेल्या माहितीमधून R.M.P. म्हणजे Recruitable Male Population असा एक घटक अगदी जिल्हानिहाय मोजला जाऊन त्यानुसार रंगरूट भरतीच्या जागा वाटल्या जातात. भारतात झपाट्याने झालेल्या आर्थिक, राजकीय आणि सामाजिक बदलांचा प्रभावही या प्रक्रियेवर पडला आहे. मराठा रेजिमेंटच्या जागा महाराष्ट्रातून पूर्णपणे भरल्या जात नसल्यामुळे त्यांना आपल्या जाती-भाषेच्या अटी शिथिल करणे भाग पडले. आता या रेजिमेंटमध्ये दक्षिणेतील जवानही दिसून येतात. दिल्ली व आसपासच्या भागात जमिनींचे भाव गेल्या दोन दशकांत गगनाला भिडल्यामुळे येथील जाट-राजपूत समाजातील युवकांचा सैन्याकडे ओढा कमी झाला. परिणामी, त्या रेजिमेंट आता पार बिहार ते उत्तराखंडपर्यंत सर्व भागातील जवान स्वीकारतात. सुवर्ण मंदिरावरील लष्करी कारवाईनंतर काही शीख जवानांनी सशस्त्र उठाव केला होता. त्यानंतर एखाद्या रेजिमेंटमध्ये त्याच समाजाचे किती अधिकारी असावेत यावर अतिशय सक्त नियंत्रण ठेवले जाते. मुलायम सिंह यादव हे संरक्षण मंत्री असताना त्यांनी, यादव रेजिमेंट बनवा असा हट्ट धरला होता. तत्कालीन सेनापतींनी तो हाणून पाडला. वरील सर्व मुद्दे हे पायदळ सेनेबद्दल होते. त्यापलिकडे सैन्यात अनेक विभाग आहेत. तोफखाना, रणगाडा, यंत्रयुक्त पायदळ,  अभियांत्रिकी या "लढाऊ" विभागांत काही रेजिमेंट जातिनिहाय तर काही अखिल भारतीय आहेत. दळणवळण, रसदपुरवठा, विद्युत अभियांत्रिकी, कारकून, खानसामे वगैरे तांत्रिक विभागातील भरती मात्र पूर्णपणे अखिल भारतीय असते. हवाईदल व नौदल यांची संपूर्ण भरती ही अखिल भारतीय असते. वर दिले आहे त्याशिवाय इतर कोणत्याही राखीव जागा, माझ्या माहितीनुसार सैन्यात नसतात.

बेष्ट धागा, सुपरबेष्ट प्रतिसाद. वाचतोय. बाप्पुअण्णासाब, know your forces बद्दल नक्की च लिहा

सोन्याबापू जमलच तर गोरखा बटालियन बद्दल लिहा

बापू आणि चलत मुसाफिर, ह्यांचे प्रतिसाद एकदम मस्त.. अतिशय मुद्देसुद माहिती. धन्यवाद...

बापू, आज रेजिमेंट ही काय संकल्पना आहे? कारण प्लॅटून,कंपनी, बटालियन, ब्रिगेड, डिव्हिजन या संकल्पना माहित आहेत. रेजिमेंट ही संकल्पना आज कशा प्रकारे वापरतात?

सेक्शन | प्लॅटून | कंपनी | बटालियन | रेजिमेंट | ब्रिगेड | डिव्हिजन | कोर | कमांड

धागाकर्ता मापं यांचे जाहीर आभार. त्याखेरीज असे "वाचनखूणा" प्रतिसाद मिळालेच नसते.. बाप्पू स्वतंत्र लेखमाला लिहायचं मनावर घ्याच जरा. बानकशी प्रतिसाद माहीतीने आनंदीत नाखु

बापूसाहेबांच्या ताजमहालाला आमची एक वीट THE WORD Regiment is derived from Latin word ‘regimen’ which means a rule or system of order, and describes the Regiment’s functions of raising, equipping and training of troops. Every Regiment has its own characteristic colours, uniform and insignia, and accomplishments in combat zone. They become a fundamental object of allegiance, pride and esprit de corps of its soldiers. In the Indian Army Regiments are of two kinds - battalion-sized units of arms like the Armoured Corps, Artillery, Engineers, and Signals, or a specific mixture of Infantry battalions. In Artillery, the complete Artillery mass in the order of battle is known as the Regiment of Artillery. The Infantry Regiments are identified by their distinctive individual names; they have a Regimental Centre for training and equipping of the staff for the infantry battalions of the Regiment. The Centre maintains records of each soldier till he retires and is out of service. The Record office and the Pay and Accounts offices perform these functions. These Regimental Centres send qualified soldiers to infantry battalions which are assigned to tactical units - Brigades and Divisions. The infantry battalions known by their individual Regimental number and name are active units fit to fight and carry out desired duties in the battle. The Regiments are headed by a Colonel, who is a high-ranking officer. The Colonel of the Regiment is the head of the family and is responsible for the protection of the best interests of the Regiment. He is almost always an officer of General rank who at one time served in the Regiment. The idea is that such a person would take personal interest in the well-being of the Regiment, its troops and its widows. The way the wounded and dead are handled in a battle is a powerful example of Regimental spirit. In the Regiments of Indian Army it is a matter of honour not to let a wounded comrade fall into enemy hands. Many a time special operations have been carried out to recover wounded soldiers. A major feature of the Regimental system has been to train young officers to ‘know their men better than their mothers do and care even more.’ Practically it requires officers to learn the Regimental language in the shortest possible time; not to eat till their men are fed; excel their men in physical fitness and handling of weapons; become epitomes of military disciplines in punctuality, turnout, and thoroughness; play games with their men, spend time in their langars and dining rooms, coach them to be the best in the unit in all soldierly activities, sports and behaviour. They are guided by just one ideal that is, their performance and that of their men must be worthy of the good name of the Regiment. This system gives them a sense of belonging and a cause bigger than themselves and acts as a crucible for promoting espirit-de-corps. Regiments provide a living example of how Indians, without abandoning their religious belief or ethnic pride can whole heartedly work together for the good of the country. It is a brotherhood in which Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians try to excel in their service for the good name of their Regiment, Indian Army and the Country. Battle Honour days have been devised to remind all ranks of a Regiment of the achievements and sacrifices of their predecessors. There is nothing better than the study of Regimental history to understand these traditions and inculcate pride in them. Every opportunity is taken to remind the members of those achievements and traditions so that a high standard of behaviour, courage and comradeship is set. This is done through the Part-I orders, evening roll call time, lectures, unit Darbars and Mandir, Masjid, Gurudwara, Church parades. It is with this repeated treatment that a soldier learns to practice unselfishness and find roots and pride in the traditions of a Regiment. Hence, we can say that the Regiment becomes the religion of those who have the honour to serve in it.

रेजिमेंटेशन चे फायदे आणि आवश्यकता यावर एक नजर कोअर कमांडर १५ कोअर श्रीनगर, लेफ्ट जनरल आटा हस्नेन यांच्या ब्लॉग वरून साभार A commentary on Indian society and the Indian Army's Regimentation; why this support system for soldiers is still the best The trigger for this piece is a question from a Facebook friend, to whom I am most thankful. The question alluded to reasons why Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is so rampant in the US and indeed other Armies operating in areas such as Afghanistan and Iraq and in the same light what is the experience of the Indian Army with PTSD in our operational areas. This is as good a question as any and why it never struck me to write on this earlier beats me. Perhaps I am just presumptuous and I take our Army for granted just as so many others among my countrymen do. A saving grace is that in 2011 while in command of 15 Corps in Kashmir I instituted a study to examine stress levels in my Corps which undoubtedly has the highest level of operational engagements anywhere in the Army. 7000 officers and men were given an instrument by my outstanding medical staff, whose contributions remain a little unsung in the world of machismo and a bit of 'ramboism'. The reason for this was the run of suicides we were hit with. The study did help the Army’s outstanding doctors to arrive at various reasons for suicides but that is not the subject of this essay although I do not wish to underplay the findings. The study helped me as an individual to arrive at my own reasons for the levels of stress or lack of it in operational areas all over the Army's vast deployment. Let me describe three scenarios from my own operational experience. The first is from Op Pawan, the IPKF's long drawn deployment in India’s first out of area operation (OOAP). The second is from the LoC where I take the case of a unit deployed in a mode to ensure the sanctity of the LoC (which essentially means, no change to its current status, which in turn means that not an inch of the territory in our control should change ownership) and prevent any infiltration of terrorists from POK. And, the third is of an RR unit deployed in depth but close to a forested area with population centres nearby in Kashmir. These are classic examples of the way Infantry and some other Arms function in operational areas. new_img After the blood and gore of the intense phase of operations in the Jaffna Peninsula in Oct-Jan 1987 the IPKF settled to more routine counter insurgency (CI) operations. There was really nothing routine about them because the LTTE's well-trained cadres fought almost like regulars and less like militants. Units were deployed in company groups at operating bases (COBs) with an area of responsibility. The LTTE could muster as many as 100-200 men at a given point and if ambushed could actually conduct counter ambush drills to break the ambush, quite unlike militants. Their own ambushes were well sited, in large numbers and almost always accompanied by IEDs. Patrols which went out could not let down their guard even within hundred meters from the gate of their posts. Units which remained inside posts without dominating their periphery suffered because the approaches were mined by daring young tigers that crept up as close as ten meters from posts. Trees were booby trapped as were bushes. On the coastline near the town of Mullaitivu an attempt to occupy posts with 20 men or so met with response from 50 or more militants, leading to the Army suffering heavy casualties. Leave parties left and arrived once in three weeks when the road was opened and there was no certainty about reaching destinations without an engagement. As a company commander, if I went on an operation with two platoons I always remained worried about the state of security at my COB where only 20 men were left. Equally when I was at the COB I was always ready to rush for reinforcement of any other company or my own men out on operations. So what can be expected in such an environment except a severe state of tension especially since failure meant loss of quite a few lives. The Indian Army takes casualties with much concern and a high loss of lives without commensurate infliction of higher losses on the adversary is hugely frowned upon, leading to even accusations of inaction and cowardice on part of officers. An entry such as this in your CR means the end of career. neww_imgt The LoC deployment is in posts and picquets and in some places can be as low as eight men. In the Uri sector is a high altitude area of height 14000 feet and more where snow levels top 35 feet and the area of approximately a company plus (functionally 120 men) is cut off for six months. Extremely difficult evacuation of sick soldiers or casualties by helicopter is possible only with severe risk. The evacuation of small posts to reach the mother post before heavy snow sets in is always fraught with danger and is a unit commander’s nightmare. That leaves routes open which terrorists could sneak through with risk only terrorists can take. Every year a few frozen bodies of dead terrorists are found. In summer, isolated posts can be attacked by Pakistan regulars mixed with terrorists (BAT teams). So can our logistics parties which carry out advance winter stocking for almost six months and move on predictable routes every day, be ambushed en route by shallow raiding Pakistan elements. By day it is essential to carry out snow clearance in winter. In summer there is the challenge of carrying water from sources which keep receding to a far distance (there is no system of bottled water in the Army). Then comes night and four to six man ambushes have to be deployed along the LoC fence from last light to well after first light. To ensure the right density a major part of the sub unit remains deployed along the LoC Fence and the remaining personnel ensure the security of the post. A brief description of the functioning of RR units on the CT grid is outlined. Every RR unit has its peculiar area of operations. The threat is of standoff fire by terrorists or sneak attacks on posts and not large scale attacks of the LTTE kind. In today’s environment the RR unit’s source of tension is more from bandhs and stone throwing mobs which target their vehicles or patrols. Quick thinking independent decisions are required from junior leaders keeping propriety in mind and degree of response. Small vehicle convoys have been targeted by mobs leaving soldiers in quandary over the need to fire or not to save themselves and Government property. The pressure for results in urban areas and nearby forests is ever present and unit commanders drive their troops to ensure domination and control, gain intelligence and execute innovative operations while seeking contact. I would classify tension here as high but lower than the LoC where threat to life and possibility of adverse contact is far higher. The tour of duty for Indian soldiers is usually two to three years; that of troops of western armies is six months. Despite terrain constraints the western armies depend far more on helicopter support for logistics and even for bail outs in adverse tactical situations; not so in the Indian Army except for casualty evacuation. The Indian soldier as much as the western one does not fear for his life, but prevailing uncertainty and lack of rest are two major factors for stress. Climatic conditions in high altitude areas can be a major source of tension and if soldiers fear anything it is the effects of climate. Avalanches top the list. In Sri Lanka where operational conditions were far more life threatening I used to look into the eyes of my soldiers and draw solace from that; hardly ever did I find fear writ on their faces. If there was it was due to the possibility of being isolated or detached from the subunit. The necessity of buddy contact was essential. One does not fear for life but of being detached from the subunit or being taken prisoner. What is remarkable is the complete lack of emotions to losses of even close buddies in operations. Our soldiers take the disorder of battle extremely well as well as deprivation of comforts. I always emphasized on the need for ‘sleep/rest management’ of the soldiers because that is an area which is usually neglected by the leadership. Soldiers cannot be expected to function 24x7 but the demands of their responsibility expect exactly that. On the LoC night and day is the same in terms of alert. There are cases of suicides but hardly ever is this work related. The availability of the mobile phone acts as the biggest threat. In the tense environment of the LoC or RR related operations bad news from home can act as a trigger. In many such instances it is young soldiers unable to bear the additional tension of problems at home; problems as seemingly irrelevant as a newlywed wife unable to get along with the mother in law. Sitting far away on a remote post the immediate world around the soldier may be perceived by him to be within his control but not the world around his home where the problems affect him much more. In his post or on patrol he can still share his immediate concern about safety with his buddy or his superior but sharing home based problems is a greater challenge. Marital problems are one dimension, property problems in rural areas and absence at crucial moments when something legal is involved can be extremely stressful. While leave policy of units is always liberal and the government has sanctioned two free trips home with other trips at concessional rates it is a question of timing. Everyone cannot be away from duty at harvest time or during festivals and that is a problem which the units minimize through whatever they can do to compensate. The experience of western armies has been the inability of returning soldiers to merge in society; that is a form of PTSD or an effect. Loss of partners while they were away, inability to concentrate on jobs, fits of anger and regret due to unpalatable actions in dealing with aliens and innocents in way off lands, etc; all add to the terrible isolation that individual citizens feel in developed societies. That is the saving grace of Indian society where despite prickly problems of farmer suicides or rural poverty there is family and societal support for those who are away serving the nation. It may all disappear in due course and the mishandling of OROP may very well contribute to the soldier’s dwindling confidence in the support system which Indian society and family system continues to provide. More than anything else the psychological well-being of soldiers is contingent upon the efficient functioning of the Regimental system of the Indian Army. To a visiting DG of a CAPF(/CentralArmed Police Forces) I strongly recommended a day be spent with an RR unit. This was in response to his query as to what makes an RR unit tick and achieve so much. He was kind to take my advice, spent a day at Baramula and then rang me up to say that he had got the answer. Bonding of the cap badge and the lanyard has been taken by the Indian Army to such a high level that camaraderie is natural; a soldier’s problems, from womb to tomb (notwithstanding stray cases of neglect of widows reported once in a while) are the unit’s problems. There has been much talk of diluting the Regimental system; the British could not help it and had to compromise with theirs due to downsizing. They taught us what Regimentation means; today the Indian Army can teach them a few lessons in psychological strengthening of soldiers through the Regimental system.

खरंच वाखु साठवून ठेवण्यासारखा हा धागा आहे. सगळेच प्रतिसाद केवळ अप्रतिम. सोन्याबापु, चलत मुसाफिर, सुबोध खरे आणि इतर, कृपया या विषयावर सविस्तर माहिती द्या हि नम्र विनंती. सैनिक आणि डॉक्टर या लोकांपध्दल मला कायम अतिशय भितीयुक्त आदर आहे. एक आपल्या सीमेचे रक्षण करतो आणि एक आपल्या शरीराचे. फक्त हेच दोन लोक '२४ तास कामावर' असतात.

धागा, वाचते आहे. वाखुसा स्वाती

खूप छान आणि मोलाची माहीती.

वा.खु. साठवण्यासारखा धागा आणि विशेषतः काही प्रतिसाद. तसेच विनाकारण जातीय पिंक टाकण्याचा प्रयत्न, वाद न घालता, अभ्यासपूर्ण प्रतिसादांनी कसा झाकला गेला, याचे हा धागा हे उत्तम उदाहरण.

सोन्याबापू, गुरखा रेजिमेंट आणि पर्यायाने गुरखा ह्या समूह बद्दल माहिती देऊ शकलात तर उत्तम. हा समूह अतिशय कडवा असतो असे वाचले आहे. तसेच प्रचंड चिकाटी आणि शौर्य ह्याबद्दल कथा ऐकल्या आहेत. हे सैनिक परदेशातील (नेपाळ) येथील असू शकतात का ? तसे असल्यास भारतीय सैन्यात त्यांना कसे सामावले जाते ?