Dear All, I had sent the following article to The Tribune, but they have not published it.

I had also sent a slightly different and shorter article to DNA Mumbai; they hav e published it. Both are appended below, but if you read the one sent to The Tribune, you need n ot read the other one! Regards. Vijay Oberoi SENT TO TRIBUNE ON 29-05-12 A NEW CHIEF TAKES OVER By Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi In a few days, the second largest army in the world will have a new Chief, as th e present incumbent, General VK Singh demits office and his successor, General B ikram Singh takes over. The change of guard of the Indian Army is a major event in the nation and it is effectively covered by the media. This time, however, so much has already been stated in both print and electronic media that there is u navoidable polarisation regarding this high office. It is time to harmonise the various views, so that the change of command is as significant as it has always been. There is all round rejoicing when a new baby is born, although in some cases it is preceded by anxiety, barbs, innuendos and at times some vitriolic assertions too. Mercifully, most of these are forgotten because of the miracle of life. Bei ng an optimist, I am sure the change of guard in the army will also be similar. It has to be so, for we are talking about the future security and well-being of the nation, as well as of the most enduring and the most respected institution o f our country. While many have given diverse opinions on the succession of the chiefs, I am fir mly of the view that the change needs to be welcomed by all. Change, irrespectiv e of the circumstances in which it takes place, always augers well for the futur e. Both the outgoing and the incoming chiefs are men of honour, who have risen t o this highest appointment by dint of hard work, immaculate character and the hi ghest level of professional acumen. There have undoubtedly been aberrations wherein petty-minded individuals, albeit holding public appointments at extremely high levels, have muddied the waters o n parochial and other grounds and have played partisan politics of the lowest va riety. They will get their retribution in due course, but it is important that w e must neither linger on nor carry the past baggage. An entirely fresh start is essential. I am convinced that those who have played dirty, as well as their loy alists and obsequies followers will think ten times before indulging in such low -level and despicable actions again. The new chief must have a free hand in commanding this great army of ours, unfet tered with obligations on the one hand and the burden of reproach on the other. The nation in general and the military, which includes both the serving personne l and the veterans in particular, have to be fully supportive and honour the new chief, for it is only then that he can act with courage and conviction. It need s to be remembered that we are talking about an organisation that is far too pre cious to be harmed in any way or its functioning diluted even by an infinitesima l degree. When the present chief had assumed the command of our army a little over two yea rs back, I had written the following in one of my articles in your paper in Marc Let me remind the new chief that even if in future he goes on to hold oth h 2010 er prestigious appointments in or outside the government, they will never be abl e to match this appointment in prestige; in satisfaction; and the affection he w ill get from his vast command and indeed from the whole country. He will also ha ve to reciprocate to the maximum extent by his deeds. Consequently, he must comm and with honour and neither let carrots being dangled in his face nor pressures and threats change or influence the decisions he takes. The present chief, in my

opinion, has done even more, although there are some who may not agree with me. I now urge the new chief to also keep this in mind and further hone this wonderf ul machine that has served the nation with distinction. In recent months, there has been some talk of polarisation within the army and o f the existence of small coteries. Such actions and even thinking needs to be di sabused and nipped in the bud with a heavy hand, as it is against the apolitical culture and ethos of the army. I have no doubt that the new chief will do so as his predecessor has done. I know General Bikram Singh, just as I knew his predecessor before he became the chief. I have great respect for both on account of their diligence, character q ualities and professionalism of the highest order. They could not have reached t his highest rank and position in the Indian Army without these sterling qualitie s. Let me cite an example that will perhaps showcase the thinking and makeup of the new chief. About a year back, I had a brief halt at Kolkata on my way back afte r visiting five states of the north eastern part of our country. Over a drink th at he had graciously organised, I asked Bikram what he was planning to do about the date of birth issue that had already started appearing in the media, but had not reached the crescendo it reached later. His spontaneous reply was - If it is my luck, I will command the army but if I am not lucky, so be it; I will not do anything that will show the army in any adverse light ! Although the outgoing chief is accused by some of rocking the boat, my take is t hat the boat needed not only to be rocked but shaken drastically. He has exposed corruption in the ministry of defence, the defence PSU s and the arms mafia that was short-charging the army and the nation; was providing shoddy weapons and eq uipment; and siphoning off the meager funds available for the modernisation of t he armed forces, which were shared by the corrupt officials and others. The mise rable state of modernization in the armed forces is testimony to this. The chief had also undertaken to improve the internal health of the army; he has done so with missionary zeal and spared no one, senior or junior. The transformation of the army is another long outstanding measure that has commenced. Constraints of space do not permit me to add many other achievements. The new chief will need t o pursue them with vigour. The bottom line is that we now have to throw away all the negatives of the past and support the new chief in taking the army to even greater heights. Knowing hi m, I am sanguine that this will happen. The army General V K Singh hands over to General Bikram Singh would be a changed and better army assertive, apolitical an d clean; an army that will continue to serve the nation loyally, professionally and without even a whiff of parochial actions or nepotism. The writer is a former Vice Chief of Army Staff. . ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY DNA MUMBAI Set aside differences and support new army chief Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi | Thursday, May 31, 2012 General Bikram Singh is slated to take over as army chief on June 1, as General VK Singh demits office. The change of guard is a major event for the nation and is comprehensively covered by the media. This time, however, so much has already been covered in the media that one wonders what is left unsaid!However, the una voidable polarisation regarding this high office needs to stop now. The change o f command must be as significant as it has always been. For, we are talking abou t the future security and well-being of the nation, as well as of the most endur ing and the most respected institution of our country.While many have given dive rse opinions on the succession of the chiefs, I am firmly of the view that the c hange needs to be welcomed by all. Being an optimist, I am of the view that chan ge, irrespective of the circumstances in which it takes place, always augers wel l for the future. Both the outgoing and the incoming chiefs are men of honour, w ho have risen to this highest appointment because of their diligence, highest ch aracter qualities and great professional acumen.There have undoubtedly been aber rations where petty-minded individuals, albeit holding public appointments at ex

tremely high levels, have muddied the waters on parochial and other grounds and have played partisan politics of the lowest variety. They will get their retribu tion in due course, but it is important that we must shed past baggage at the ea rliest, as an entirely fresh start is essential.The new chief must have a free h and in commanding this great army of ours, unfettered with obligations on the on e hand and the burden of reproach on the other. The nation in general and the mi litary, including the veterans, have to be fully supportive and honour the new c hief, for only then can he act with courage and conviction.When the present chie f assumed command a little over two years back, I had written the following: Let me remind the new chief that even if in future he goes on to hold other prestigi ous appointments in or outside the government, they will never be able to match this appointment in prestige; in satisfaction; and the affection he will get fro m his vast command and indeed from the whole country.He will also have to recipr ocate to the maximum extent by his deeds. Consequently, he must command with hon our and neither let carrots being dangled in his face nor pressures and threats change or influence the decisions he takes. The present chief, in my opinion, has done even more, although there are some who may not agree with me. I now urge th e new chief to also keep this in mind and further hone this wonderful machine th at has served the nation with distinction. In recent months, there has been some talk of polarisation within the army and of the existence of small coteries. If true, such actions and even thinking needs to be nipped in the bud with a heavy hand. I have no doubt that the new chief will do so as his predecessor has done .I have known both Generals for many years and have the greatest respect for bot h. Let me cite an example that will perhaps showcase the thinking and makeup of the new chief. About a year back, I had a brief halt at Kolkata. Over a drink th at General Bikram Singh had graciously organised, I had asked him what he was pl anning to do about the date of birth issue that had already started appearing in the media.His spontaneous reply was, If it is my luck, I will command the army b ut if I am not lucky, so be it; I will not do anything that will show the army i n any adverse light! Although the outgoing chief has been accused by some of rocki ng the boat, my firm view is that the boat needed to be rocked vigorously. He ha s exposed corruption in the defence ministry, the defence PSU s and the arms mafia that was short-charging the army and the nation.The meager funds available for modernisation of the armed forces were siphoned off and shared by corrupt offici als and others. The chief had also undertaken to improve the internal health of the army, which he has carried out with missionary zeal and spared no one, senio r or junior.The transformation of the army is another long outstanding measure t hat has commenced. The new chief will need to pursue them with vigour. The botto m line is that we now have to throw away all the negatives of the past and suppo rt the new chief in taking the army to even greater heights.The writer is a form er Vice Chief of Army Staff