A Legend Passes Away..

India needs to wake up!

A Field Marshal, A war legend who scrpited the nation`s victory over Pakistan in 1971 and the birth of Bangladesh, An iconic soldier who never retired - passes away into eternity, and the Home and Defence Ministry squabble over the warrant of precedence?

What warrant of precedence?

Who other than stodgy government types care what the warrant says?

The custodians of the warrant are supposed to be the crème de la crème,disgusting as that is -

The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry that takes decisions on amendments to be made to the list(warrant of precedence) and notifies whether the National Flag will fly at half mast in the event of a dignitary`s death. A proposal for making changes or additions to the list are considered by the 'warrant of precedence committee' that is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the secretaries of Home, Defence, and External Affairs minitries as its members.

One of the reasons for the poor turnout at the funeral of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw supposedly, was the confusion about his rank in the warrant of precedence issued by theGovernment of India. It was mentioned that while the three Chiefs had a warrant of precedence, a Field Marshall does not have one, other than when he was in service. Hence the confusion as to what kind of a funeral should be given to him and who should be present at the final farewell. The Government had to take a special decision that Sam Manekshaw should have a state funeral.

It is still not understood though(May be I am psychotic to be expecting such basic etiquettes), as to why The Honorable Chiefs of Staffs of the three forces as well as the Honorable Defence Minister- all found it beneathe their lofty egos or dignity to pay their last respects to the man they can never, ever dream of emulating - let alone come anywhere close to being.

It makes my blood boil. Literally.

We Indians have yet to learn how to honour the Brave.

Ironically, U.S Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama has offered his condolences and acknowledged the greatness of a man, which his own country did not deem fit to do

If the legendary Marshal did not straightaway warrant an amazingly respectful state funeral then who really does? And on what credentials? It is disgusting and deeply disturbing to me that the so-called leaders of my country do not have the ability to comprehend, acknowledge and salute genuine worthiness and unprecedented acts of patriotism and bestow all that is due,upon them who have rightly won this honor.

For those who are not familiar with the technicalities, Mind you, a Field Marshal never retires. So alright, it is an honorary distinction, But it is a rank that is for life and it is the superlative military rank, besides of course the President of India, who continues to be the Supreme Commander.

I have of course,never had the priviledge of meeting The Legend. But I do recall the stories I heard from an old retired general back at Mendhar,Poonch. Sam Manekshaw was his contemporary and colleague.

The General fondly recalled a day when Marshal Manekshaw, then the Army Chief in service was to visit Dalhousie. All officers were smartly lined up in their best uniforms, shining stars, gleaming boots, chests out, stomachs in, waiting for the Marshal to turn up and get to greet him one by one( in the Army terminology, it is called an introduction parade).

Soon the gleaming black staff car swooped in, Regimental Police snapped to attention, the ever smiling Marshal (then a full General), with his ever twinkling eyes, stepped down, and without a single glance towards the lined up officers made straight for the big mustachioed Karnataka native Regimental Police man.

"Kaisa Hai?" his voice boomed.

"Theek hai? Family Kaisa Hai?" he continued as he bent inside the car and pulled out a bottle of water,handing it down to the Havaldar.

“Kitni garmi hai bhai”, said the Marshal, knowing fully well the protocol(read drama/drill) that must have been followed for hours in the blazing sun, before his arrival.

After chatting for a good two minutes with the Havaldar (sergeant), He walked across the parade of men all standing in a corner to run errands at the Commanding Officer`s beck and call(Like fetch water or tea) and spent a good 15 minutes chatting up with them, asking them about their lives in the unit and if the Unit and its Officers were treating them well. Finally Sam made his way back to warmly greet the officers. However, in those 15 minutes he sent out a powerful message, reminding the officers of what they had read on their way to becoming officers at Chetwode Hall in the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun.

'The safety, honour & welfare of your country comes first, always & every time.
The honour, welfare & comfort of the men you command come next.
Your own ease, comfort & safety come last, always & every time.
.'

The Army is peppered with anecdotes of the Marshal, his style, his verve, his panache, his guts, his glory, his personality, his aura, his warmth. Surely, we could have bid him a better goodbye.

An old military saying goes 'Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.'

And whether the top bosses controlling the reigns of our 'great' nation like to agree or not, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw won't fade away in a hurry.