Professional Documents
Culture Documents
GROUP NO. 7
S.Y.B.Com b/i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This is what Indian Army is all about. “Supreme Heroism” and “Unconditional
Love” for India defines our Indian Army. Our soldiers are meant to be gallant,
fierce and ever-ready to sacrifice their lives to protect our Mother India.
Who are the Soldiers?
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear
the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
British rule over India came to an end on 14 August 1947 and with it also ended
the old institution of British honours and awards. The new Indian awards could
come into being only with the dawn of the Republic on 26 January 1950.
But on the basis of proposals already by early May 1948, the new awards, known
as Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, were finally selected in
June 1948.
The first batch of decorations introduced on 26 January 1950 was thus made
effective with retrospective effect from 15 August 1947. The Vir Chakra and
Ashoka Chakra series became important institutions of this batch.
The second installment came in March 1953 in the form of the Meritorious
Service Medal and Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Territorial Army
Decoration and territorial Army Medal. Then followed the highest award of the
land-the Bharat Ratna-and Padma series in 1954. On 26 January 1960, some
more medals were instituted and these included the Vishisht Seva Medal (in the
classes), Sainya Seva Medal, Videsh Seva Medal and Sena, Nao Sena and
Vayu Sena Medals.
As a result of the Indo-Pak conflict of 1965, the Raksha Medal, Samar Seva Star
and some others were introduced. Then came the 1971 war and it led to the
institution of the Sangram Medal, Poorvi Star and Paschimi Star.
In India there also exists the custom of granting 'Battle Honours', 'Theatre
Honours', and 'Honour titles' to various Army units for distinguished performance
on the battlefield. In India, the practice came into vogue in the nineteenth
century. The recipient regiments display a selected number of battle honours on
their colours, standards and kettle drums. These emblazoned battle honours
present an epitome of the history of the regiment.
For the purpose of classification, Indian honours and awards can be divided into two
categories :
1. Ashoka Chakra *
2. Kirti Chakra *
3. Shaurya Chakra *
* These were originally named Ashoka Chakra Class I, Class II, Class III
1. Bharat Ratna
2. Padma Vibhushan
3. Padma Bhushan
4. Param Vishisht Seva Medal
5. Padma Shri
6. Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal
7. Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
8. Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
9. Yudh Seva Medal
10. Vishisht Seva Medal
11. 30 Years Long Seva Medal
12. 20 Years Long Service Medal
13. 9 Years Long Service Medal
14. Meritorious Service Medal
15. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
16. General Service Medal - 1947
17. Samar Seva Medal
18. Sainya Seva Medal
19. Videsh Seva Medal
20. Commendation Card
21. Raksha Medal
22. Poorvi Star
23. Paschimi Star
24. Sangram Medal
25. Wound Medal
26. 25th Independence Anniversary Medal
Attached to a colorful ribbon, a medal, short of the symbol or motif it bears, is a piece of
metal. Due thought seems to have been given to this aspect when the gallantry awards
were instituted. The superb choice of Vajra (thunderbolt) to serve as the motif for the
Param Vir Chakra amply proves this. Great mythology surrounds this mysterious
weapon of Vedic origin. It was the Amogha Astra (unfailing weapon) used by Indra to
kill vitra, the demon of drought, to release lifegiving waters for the benefit of mankind.
In Puranic literature it is said that this Vajra was made out the the Asthis (bones) of
Dadhici, a sage of high attainments, for the benefit of the word.
The choice of star as a symbol for the Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra as also for
Vishisht Seva Medal series is again meaningful. The star, a heavenly body known for
its firm, steady and fixed position, symbolically denotes everlasting glory. In Indian
mythology, Dhruva, the son of King Uttanapada and Queen Suniti, was given a place in
northern horizon by Lord Vishnu in appreciation of his firm determination and supreme
effort. The polar star is therefore, called Dhruva Tara in Indian mythology.
Another widely used motif on Indian medals is the Ashoka Chakra. This is a twenty-
four-spoked wheel occurring on the National Flag and the Ashoka Chakra series of
medals. This wheel generally symbolised a sense of activity and forward movement. In
4th century BC, the Buddhists adopted this symbol in the service of religion, calling it the
Dharma Chakra. The preaching of the gospel by Lord Buddha was denoted with the
Chakra (wheel) symbol and the act was called Dharma Chakra Parvartana.
The Ashokan Lions form the obverse or the reverse device in most of the medals. This
motif when represented along with the motto 'Satyameva Jayate' represents the National
Emblem. Three lions facing the four directions are again Buddhist in significance. They
symbolise the universal application of the Dharma comprehending all the four directions
i.e. east, west, north and south. In respect of medals, the symbol represents service of a
very high order.
Ribbons are integral to the scheme of medals and decorations. In fact, ribbons when
worn on the chest by a soldier adequately convey stories of heroism associated with him.
It is notable that all ribbons are intended to convey some motif or symbol by means of
colours.
A ribbon, generally speaking, is a combination of meaningful colour imprinted on silk,
Saffron, green, blue, red and white are the most commonly used colours in the Indian
ribbons. Of these red stands for courage and bravery, saffron for self-effacement and
dedicated service; green for growth and auspiciousness; white for glory and purity and
blue for devotion and sacrifice. Occasionally red symbolises the Indian Army, dark blue
the Indian Navy and sky blue the Indian Air Force. Stripes on ribbons generally denote
the class of the award. The ribbons are worn by the awardees on their left breast in a
specified sequence, the position and priority being the centre of the chest.
Awards
Battle Honour
(b) Artillery & Air Defence Artillery: A unit will consist of one complete
regiment or one or more Batteries integral to that regiment of the Regular Army or
embodied Regiment of the Territorial Army.
(d) Infantry: A unit will consist of Battalion of the Regular Army or embodied
Battalion of Territorial Army.
(e) Army Aviation Corps: A unit will consist of a Squadron or one or more Flights
when not forming part of a squadron.
(f) Signals: A unit will consist of a Regiment or one or more companies when not
forming part of a Regiment.
4. Battle/Theatre Honours and Honour Titles so awarded will be included in the title
of a unit. Details of the award will be published at the appropriate place in the Army List
from time to time.
(a) The Units must have been committed to battle, action or engagement listed in the
tabulated list which will be issued separately by Army Headquarters within the time limit
laid down therein, and have been actively engaged with enemy troops.
(b) There is no question of an honour being awarded merely because a unit was
present at a battle. It must have taken active part in it and fought creditably with
distinction in the operation. It is emphasized that heavy casualties, although they may
indicate heavy fighting, will not be considered as the sole reason for award of this
honour.
(c) As a general rule, the Headquarters and 50 percent of an unit must have been
present in the battle. Three particular extensions of this general rule will, however, be
permitted : -
(ii) Where for operational reasons, a part of one unit was combined with another unit
to continue the fight as one unit, the claims may be submitted by both units as under:
(bb) by the unit combining with the above provided its strength was minimum
of 50 percent.
10. Honour Titles. Artillery, Air Defence Artillery and Army Aviation Corps
units which have distinguished themselves in a battle by rendering creditable service will
be entitled to The Honour Titles in commemoration of that service, provided that a
minimum of the Headquarters and 50 percent of the unit was present in the battle.
Batteries may submit claims only where they did not form an integral part of an Artillery
Regiment. However, in respect of Air Defence Artillery Units Honour Titles may be
awarded for creditable and distinguished service in defence of VAs/VPs; for this purpose
the stipulation of 50 % of unit strength will not apply. Units of Artillery, Air Defence
Artillery and Army Aviation Corps granted The Honour Titles will be entitled to write it
with their names.
Why and how is motivation required?
In spite of these awards and felicitation there is still further more need for
motivation.
Today’s knowledge-based youth seeks not just superior salaries, but the freedom
to retain mobility in the career market. Its marriage dynamic demands an
environment for husband–wife working opportunities. It also seeks a corporate
culture which values people and does not treat them as disposable inventory or
cannon fodder.
• The challenge of the military is not of marketing with high pay scales, nor
in selling adventure and excitement like tourism ads.
• Army as an institution does not treat the women officers at par with their
male counterparts. Notwithstanding the validity of the reasons for this
differential treatment, it enhances the unattractiveness of a military career
for working couples. Constant relocation for the officers also ensures that
the spouses cannot afford to pursue successful civil careers, while
balancing it with a healthy family life.
How do we motivate our soldiers?
To motivate our army, their needs should be well taken care of; i.e.,
• Physiological needs
• Social needs
• Spiritual needs
Facilities like housing and medical needs should be taken care of.
Every one involved with the army should have a proper incentive
and goal to work towards.
Then the cadets should soon be motivated to achieve their goals and rise
in their paths. For this their emotional needs, physiological needs, etc
should be fulfilled.
Officer disgruntlement and, indirectly, shortage also feeds off the stifling
organisational culture of the military whose ethos, to a large extent, curbs
initiative and discourages self-criticism. The Indian army’s institutional
culture is traditionally risk averse, top-down and discourages initiative in
junior ranks. This ‘passing the buck’ culture is harmful to the development
of junior officers and has completely destroyed any independent,
leadership roles for JCOs and NCOs. This problem is compounded by the
manner in which self-critical analysis is sacrificed for the sake of career
advancement. Changing this organisational DNA is undoubtedly a long
drawn out process but it requires urgent attention from the current
generation of senior officers, if they wish to attract idealistic and
enterprising youth.
• Secondly, the army never forces any one to fight for the country. The
soldiers are explained a very important thing:
• Each and every soldier needs a break from the rigorous routine. They,
being human have many personal responsibilities to take care of. Hence
the Army cannot bind a soldier when he wants to take leave. Hence the
Army follows this motto:
“Give the soldier leave when HE wants and not just when the
Army wants”
• During a war the fresh Jawans are never sent to fight from the frontline.
Instead the senior officers are the ones who lead them. They are the ones
to fight first and die if necessary and then do they allow the Jawans to go
ahead in the danger zone. Personal examples of Leaders inspire the
Jawans.
• The recruits sent there are not raw recruits. They are well-
trained officers who have a higher morale and
acceptability.
• The soldiers are paid an extra pay of Rs. 8,000.
• Food, clothes and amenities are supplied by the helicopter
regularly.
• Satellite telephone is provided free of cost for them to
contact their families.
• No recruit is allowed to stay there for more than 89 days.
Higher officers can stay for maximum 3yrs.
• 1 Doctor and medical staff are available 24hrsx7 for each
unit of 25 soldiers to take care of any health hazards.
• All types of entertainment possible are provided. Dish TV
and free liquor are given to the soldiers.
• Daily newspaper satisfies their intellectual need.
One problem that Govt. has not yet been successful in solving is that lesser and
lesser number of young generations is joining the army. Hence there is a huge
gap of vacancies forming. Once Shri Abdul Kalam had once said in his speech
“There should be compulsory training of NCC for each boy and girl in the
school level in India.”
The Govt. in an attempt to solve this problem has introduced the 6th Pay
Commission wherein the salary has had an approximately 1.5 times increase.
Still it needs a 10 times increment to lure the youngsters. The Govt. is still trying
to find a solution through better recognition, honour, salary, etc.
In this manner if one after the other all the
needs of a soldier has been taken care of,
then no-one can ever stop him from going
to the borders n fighting for the country’s
security with a brave heart.
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