ARROGANCE OF SENIORITY; Major General Mrinal Suman, AVSM, VSM, PhD

[Veterans India]

Search for recognition is one of the pursuits which all human beings
indulge in and continuously strive for.For professionals, promotions
and advancement in career are important aspects of their aspirations.
In the services, rank achieved is a conspicuous and well-recognised
measure of a soldier’s professional competence and an indicator of his
progression. As rank fixes one’s place in the services hierarchy,
senior officers have every reason to be proud of their achievement.
They are justified in deriving a sense of justification from the heavy
brass they carry on their shoulders. In a steep pyramid-like
organisation, promotions do not come easily.

However, it is equally important that they carry their rank with due
dignity and composure. They should neither carry them to ridiculous
limits nor flaunt them in an unbecoming manner. Increasing arrogance
of seniority is clearly discernible in stratification of social events
and indiscriminate flaunting of flags and stars, as discussed below.
Social Discrimination

There was a time when senior officers and their wives made use of
social occasions to interact with junior officers and their wives to
get a feel of their morale and establish informal rapport with them.
On the other hand, junior officers and their wives learnt a great deal
by watching the way the senior officers and their wives conducted
themselves. Thus, social functions were considered to be excellent
occasions to build cohesion in an informal manner. Additionally,
military norms, ethics and values were passed on to the new-inductees.

Unfortunately, social functions have become highly stratified events.
There is no interaction between the seniors and the juniors. Separate
areas are earmarked for them. Exclusive seating for VIPs has become a
standard practice. Senior commanders and their wives remain surrounded
by their staff officers and cronies. They make no effort to walk up to
the juniors to exchange pleasantries. At times one gets an impression
that the senior brass considers it below their dignity to mix with
subordinate officers.

There are three reasons for this obsession for exclusivity. One,
senior officers get special treatment in terms of quality of liquor
and food. Two, they get hospitality free whereas they should be paying
for their drinks and food like the other officers. Finally, the
current top brass is so self-seeking that it has no concern for
others’ sensitivities and social niceties.

Earlier, all guests were treated at par and served the same food and
drinks, irrespective of their rank. The only privilege that a senior
officer enjoyed was that he was served his drink by the waiter and did
not have to walk up to the bar like others. Today, not only the type
of whisky but also the goblet – crystal for seniors and Borosil for
others – are rank based.

A few months ago, an Air Force Station had organised a social evening
after an event and invited a large number of officers from the
services. Prior to the serving of dinner, an announcement was made
requesting all officers of one-star rank and above and their wives to
have dinner in the hall while the others were asked to move to the
tents on the side. It was such an insulting move that many officers
and their wives walked out without dinner. One fails to understand how
such petty mindedness has crept in the services’ culture. If a
Brigadier or a General has dinner along with others, will it lower his
dignity?

At a post-tournament dinner at an officers’ institute, the Army
Commander, after showing his face for a few minutes, withdrew to an
exclusive chamber along with his ‘Nav Ratnas’(Major Generals) to enjoy
the evening and exclusive hospitality. Others were left outside to
interact with each other – a reminder of the grand old Mughal
tradition of ‘Diwane Khaas’ and ‘Diwane Aam’.

Protocol golf is another innovative measure that displays haughtiness
of seniority. In case senior commanders want to play golf after a
conference, the golf course is declared off limits for others. It is a
disgraceful sight to see 4 to 5 commanders playing golf on an 18-hole
golf course with staff officers who are detailed to accompany them. It
shows arrogance of the poorest order. Do the senior commanders find it
demeaning if Colonels and Majors are also playing at the same time?
Arrogance of rank cannot be carried to such limits.
Flaunting of Ranks

It must never be forgotten that badges of ranks worn by the soldiers
represent national symbols – the Ashoka Lion and the five-pointed
Indian Star. The nation has bestowed its greatest honour on its
soldiers. Every officer understandably takes pride in his rank by
displaying the stars and flying the flag that he is entitled to.
However, it must be done with due decorum and as per the laid down
norms. Their sanctity should never be demeaned. Of late, a tendency
has been discernible amongst the senior officers to flaunt their stars
and flags in most unbecoming manner.

Although display of star plates and flags on private cars is
forbidden, many officers feel insecure without their use and openly
flout the orders. There are many commanders who insist that the mules
that they ride in mountainous terrain must be duly embellished with
stars and flags – a ridiculous sight indeed.Similarly, it was a
shocking sight to see a Chief flying his flag and displaying four
stars on his golf cart in New Delhi.

Recently, a photograph was circulated on the internet that showed golf
caddies wearing jackets with stars prominently displayed on their
backs to indicate ranks of the players they were assisting. Can there
be a more ludicrous demonstration of disgraceful obsession with ranks?

Illustration 1: Starrred Golf - Caddie on the Left is Displaying Three
Stars while the Middle One Shows Two Stars

Another absurd practice that has gained currency in the recent past is
to present golf caps and tee-shirts to all participants with their
ranks duly indicated through embossed/embroidered stars. It is a
comical sight to see officers playing golf with their ranks duly
advertised. It appears that senior officers are unable to swing their
clubs unless adequately supported by the trappings of their ranks.

Illustration 2: Golf Cap with Stars Indicating Rank of the Player

In another case, a garden umbrella at a divisional tennis court had
two stars prominently displayed on it to indicate that it was
exclusively reserved for the Divisional Commander and his wife. As
human ingenuity has no limits, there are numerous such examples
wherein display of rank has been carried to preposterous extent.

Many senior officers complain that they never demand such displays and
that some over-enthusiastic juniors take initiative of their own
accord. This explanation holds no water at all. Unless the junior
officers are convinced that their initiative would fetch them a pat,
they would never take the risk. Additionally, senior commanders can
always order stoppage of such practices if they so desire. The fact is
that they relish such treatment as it boosts their ego, gives them a
‘kick’ and makes them feel special.
Finally
Informal interaction between officers of different ranks should always
be governed by the dictum that ‘a good senior does not flaunt his
seniority all the time while a good junior does not forget his
juniority at any time’.

That should be the basis of healthy social equilibrium.

[Asha Uberoy]

we attended the kirya...last rites...of a senior officer recently.
there were special enclosures
for higher ranks etc etc.even in death the difference was maintained.

[Narendra Behl]

Sir,

Wonderfully said.

This is the real sad part of our service!

Rgds

NB

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[kpj...@gmail.com]

"Power Corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely"! This article reminds me of Mohammed Bin Taqhluk, a slave, who floated leather coins when he was made the king for a day. 

Misuse of and inability to handle power is ingrained in our character, possibly due to living under a feudalistic system from time immemorial and in slavery for more than 900 years. This is seen at all levels - Ministerial, Bureaucratic, Technocratic and social. Unless we are trained and convinced at grass root level, into believing that we are independent in the true sense, we will not give up the crutches of ranks and position to prove our superiority.

Unless the value system of one whole generation is not changed, we will have to do with corrupt leaders and subservient and sycophant juniors.

Cdr. K.P. Jani, I.N. (Retd.)

On Tuesday, August 7, 2012 6:33:06 PM UTC+5:30, Veterans India wrote:

[vikra...@gmail.com]

This is as fwd from an another gp i am a member of. Cannot vouch for originators id.
"It amazes me how the jr offrs of today think that they can run down Gen offrs on the social media. I have discussed this with Rakesh and a few others and I feel its time that a concerted effort be made to make the jr offrs realise that just being an offr does not give them the same perks, privileges and status as Gen Offrs. The only way to stymie this malaise is to now have three distinct categories in the offr lot ie a cols and below a brigs only and a gen offrs cat. I spoke to some of our AF coursemates and he gave me a good example of the separation within the IAF NCOs wherein h senior NCOs have a SNCOs cat and are not cat just as NCOs. Too much of mollycoddling has got these immature jr lot to think of themselves as achievers from day one just because they are in the offr class. Cols and below constitute 97 % of the offr lot and there is no way the 3% of achievers can be equated to the bal 97%. This pt needs to be driven home in all forums. In order to get a particular spl status first a person must be an achiever and not a loser. No org in the world cat losers with achievers. Class separation is a must and it must be officially done. Success must have its rewards. I will be speaking to a lot of sr offrs over the next few weeks to obtain their views but I feel an institutionalised separation into separate cat will go a long way in dispelling the wrong notion that that a Lt is in the same cat as a gen offr just because it’s a common offr class. It’s time to catch the bull by the tull as they say and take this propaganda head on. Too much of freedom on the social media is hurting the Gen Offrs too much and we need to hit back. I welcome views but some ideas generated already are to have a separate Sr Offrs Mess, Sr Offrs accn, Sr Offrs Clubs and a common Sr Offrs Lanyard and insignia separate from regtl affiliations. That way we will look different and not be bound by a Regt type or a weak hearted affiliation to a Lt or a Capt. Lots of suggestions have come to me and I propose to formalise a paper on this shortly. Balli is already on the job regarding the study of foreign armies and his prelim analysis is encouraging. More to follow. Lets hit back hard and feel confident. Get all on the gp to go after these two bit pieces of s**t and drive home the pt that we will not take it lying down. Its now or never before the disgruntled lot thinks we will become like the aam aadmi party. Regarding Mrinal Sumans articles I will e-mail you my response strat separately. He needs to be kicked hard as all he writes for is cheap popularity."HIS IS THE REPLY OF SOME GENERAL......i got it on whtsaap

[vikra...@gmail.com]

[amat...@gmail.com]

Perhaps the Officer Cadre of the Services has been swayed or skewed by the idea of privileges of rank. General Cariappa the first Army Chief said that the Indian Army has one officer cadre - ranks are an administrative convenience. Perhaps our babus have imbibed this better than the Army's rank and status strapped Army. An IAS officer is proud be belong to the service i.e. IAS. That is what General Cariappa meant. 

In real combat it is the Majors and Captains that will do the actual fighting not the Brigadiers and Generals. Therefore there needs to one service so that there is enough rapport between those that plan and those that execute. 

Should senior officers have more privileges - absolutely. But these must stem from a genuine respect for the service rendered or leadership ability it cannot be coerced based on a vulgar display of stars and golden unauthorized embellishments on cars and umbrellas or clothing  and a feudal display of unauthorized status. If there is no trust between Senior Officers and the Junior captains - the service is doomed. 

Some senior officers are not recognizing the change in a modern and fast developing India. The closer they get to their officer cadre and the closer officers get to the rank and file the better it would be for all and the service. 

I served for 20 years and quit. I can assure you there is no point of ostentation, unauthorized privilege if your officers spit at you behind your back. In actual hot war situation, they might do more than spit. The idea that Senior officers should have exclusive clubs, distinguishing umbrellas and accoutrements is a narrow view to divide the officer cadre. Besides clubs, golf, mess (maintain equal social status) are an insignificant part of actual combat service. How is it that these institutions meant to socially converge the officer cadres should now be used to divide it?

I see two anomalies here - one - we need to be cognizant of the modernization of the country. Its no longer a British colony and the colonial practices of the British will have to die, no matter how much we try to "keep up the tradition". Secondly - there is bureaucratization of the Army. We like to ape the Babudom, which is corrupt and inefficient. Despite the brilliance that the bureaucrats apportion to themselves,  in a recent UN study our bureaucracy was ranked at the bottom of all democracies. Basically its the worst bureaucracy in the world. There are other causes also, such as a proliferation of ranks. Whereas the duties have not changed but the rank of the officer has gone up 3 fold. Perhaps to keep parity with the civil services, but it has resulted in privilege mongering among the large number of brigadiers and generals. The sheer number of generals has caused a loss in their uniqueness.

Perhaps the Generals and Captains should remember, that all things in the Service stem from Combat duty. Each institution is created to inculcate team spirit and camaraderie, clubs, messes, social functions, golf courses, houses, whatever theres is. These are not meant to create privilege but to engender espirit de corps and a sense of belonging which would come in handy in hot war. Any general or captain who thinks that these are a "privilege" does not understand the conceptual idea of recreational assets of the service and is perhaps too insecure to command officers and men.