Not Enough to Die For

Lack of opportunities and an adequate redress mechanism system have led to 50,000 men quitting the paramilitary forces in the last five years, says Mayank Singh

In the winter session of the Parliament, minister of state for home RPN Singh had some startling figures to disclose. He told the house that more than 9,000 personnel from India’s elite paramilitary forces had quit their jobs even in the uncertainity of severe economic recession. Singh was merely touching the tip of an iceberg. In the last five years more than 50,000 men have quit the paramilitary forces in India.

While the number may not seem too big as compared to the overall strength of 10 lakh paramilitary forces, it does point to an extremely disturbing trend. Lack of promotions, a flawed grievance redressal system and utter apathy of policy makers are going to severely hamper the trajectory of the forces that are the main up keepers of law and order and internal security inside the country.

A Man No Cliff Can Stop

This isn’t exactly a rags-to-riches story, but is every inch as exciting. Major Ranveer Singh Jamwal did not start life in penury, nor is he rolling in wealth. But what he possesses in abundance is grit, an attribute that has propelled him to the summit of Mount Everest twice in a span of less than 12 months.

Needless to say, Jamwal is no ordinary climber. He has not only led a record number of 20 climbers to the summit in a single expedition, but also masterminded a successful campaign to clean up the mountain that he has scaled. 

A matter of honour

Lanky Peer Mohammed Ummer from Anantnag has succeeded in fulfilling his father’s ultimate dream. He has joined Indian Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment (JAK LI), a unit his father served with distinction for 26 years.

Soldier Ummer is the only brother among five sisters and despite his father’s death in 2000, the family was very keen he takes over the mantle of warrior. So when Ummer recently marched at the attestation parade at Srinagar’s JAK LI parade ground, his family including two sisters - one a teacher and the other pursuing a Master of Arts degree – were in attendance, proud of their ward.

The other side of the Dragon - Mayank Singh

In historic archival documents, two researchers have found evidence of strong Sino-Indian cooperation in the fight against colonialism in the early decades of the 20th century, reports Mayank Singh

Most contemporary research on China and India is focused on the 1962 conflict and its aftermath, or on the strategic and foreign policy issues in Sino-Indian relations. Few are aware of the substantial late 19th and early 20th century interactions between the two nations.

Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh and later Subhash Chandra Bose had the support of the Chinese government during the 1930s and early 1940s. This support was not just moral in nature. There was a full-fledged armed training institute for Indians in Shanghai.It was from the early decades of the 29th century, individual Indians began to travel to China, and some Indian groups and associations like the Hindustani Ghadar Party, the Indian National Congress and the Indian National Army established their presence there.

From boys to men

The Garhwal Regiment, raised in 1887, is 125 years old. Mayank Singh records his impressions as he watches a new batch of 150 recruits take oath to further the glorious tradition of valour of the regiment headquartered in the cantonment town of lansdowne

For 19-year-old Surendra Singh, this day is very special. The Garhwal Regiment recruit is one of 150 boys who are all set to join military duty. Not only that, he is, sword in hand, also leading the contingent of young soldiers as it marches to the rhythm of rousing martial music.

Rookies earning their wings

October 8 is celebrated as air force day by the indian air force. we therefore, thought it fit to give you a glimpse of an average day of some very extraordinary people, fighter pilots. Mayank Singh spent some time with pilots of a sukhoi squadron. here’s his report.

‘HJ’, as he is known to his colleagues, looks like any other young man his age. But see him in his green overalls, and it is a different story. HJ is a fighter pilot in the making; which is to say he isn’t operational yet. But it’s only a matter of time. 

Being trained to fly the Indian Air Force’s most advanced deep penetration strike aircraft,

The Making Of The Scholar Warrior

It has produced some of India’s best known heroes, And continues to maintain the same high standards it set when it first opened. Mayank Singh spends a day at the IMA, Dehradun to get to grips with how boys transform into men entrusted with protecting the nation’s sovereignty. 

The red and white facade of a timeless colonial building with long corridors greets me as I enter through the main gate. This is Chetwode Building; the heart of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun and it sits in the midst of green salubrious surroundings.

But a sudden shout of “Saavdhan Chal” from behind me, pierces the moment and I am passed by a group of young boys on cycles wearing colourful t-shirts. I say boys. The IMA calls them GCs or Gentlemen Cadets. Why? Because an officer or an officer in the making, is a gentleman, always. 

Three GCs stand out. GC Shiladitya Singh Ranawat, GC Abhishek Chandra and GC Abhay Sharma. With their uniform crew cuts and similar t-shirts, they look the same. But their backgrounds and their place here at the academy couldn’t be more different.

Internal security too complex

What is the significance of para-military forces in the national security apparatus?

The internal security problem has become far too complex. The involvement of external forces has made it dangerous in the sense that while Pakistan is helping terrorists in Kashmir, Chinese equipment and arms, which it denies, have been found with insurgents working in north east India. The state police force is not able to control situations like these and it is here that central assistance is need. Thus, the role of the paramilitary forces becomes very important. These forces are also involved in securing and guarding our borders. They are made to switch roles such as disaster relief, holding mega events, law and order and VIP security.

What does modernization mean for para-military and are they getting adequate support?