I don't know how many individual Olympic medals has India won, but I suspect that there are many individuals alive who alone exceed that number each by a comfortable margin. I also don't know how much money has been spent on the Olympic quest since Freedom, but I suspect that it is more than the current annual budget of some small medal winning nations.
If the ratio of Olympic medals won to the money spent in India is considered, I am sure it would be the most expensive piece of metal by weight ever.
In this backdrop we hear our top medal winner threatening to leave his employer, the Indian Army, if he is not promoted to a Commissioned Officer. Army officers, serving and retired, lost no time in pulling up our hapless protagonist for his insubordinate behaviour and pontificate that ranks have to be earned and rewards are to be given and not asked for. Most people found this expression quite perplexing, patronizing and maybe even distasteful. And they are saying so freely in national media. Welcome to the age of instant judgement.
For an organisation which prides itself for it's man-management expertise, this incident is a reminder that all is not well with it's human resource policies. However what is more confounding is the near total absence of planning to deal with such situations and total lack of credible and decisive response when the reports started filtering in. The authorities did NOT have a plan of action in place. They still have not given any credible information or reaction to the people through the media. One wonders who is in charge?
Our protagonist asked for something do-able and probably promised by someone at some level - the President's Commission. It may not amount to a lot financially compared to offers from the private sector, but in terms of honour it is unparalleled. Rubbing shoulders with fellow competitors, it would be very satisfying to be aware that one has been rewarded by the nation with something which cannot be compared with monetary rewards - the nation acknowledged that he carried the honour of his people with great sense of responsibility and did them proud.
Our 26 year old protagonist is not trained in politically correct public speaking and so his simple rustic utterances have been interpreted in every possible manner with some even suggesting his dismissal (as if all these people were flawless Gods in their military careers). The older generation cannot be faulted as the social and value systems of the armed forces were different in their unit service days. The present aspirational generation of soldiers is the product of present value system and information society. They don't accept things at face value and won't follow blindly. This has to be accepted and factored in man management techniques. Outrage is merely a sign of 'Generation Gap'.
Since the achievement of the young marksman is singularly exceptional, it does cross my mind that we could possibly acknowledge his contribution better by nominating him to the Rajya Sabha. That may not happen immediately , but when the time does eventually come, would the Indian society support his nomination as it supports his demand for the President's Commission? In terms of achievement alone, this boy from a village in Himachal deserves to be a visible symbol of aspirational India even though he would not have the exposure or audacity to even think about it in his present position. This should legitimately be given impetus by our political leadership. They would get to prove that it is not only the elite and rich sportspersons who get nominated to the parliament, but an ordinary Indian who did something extraordinary for his nation could also hope to be honoured in the inclusive spirit of our great Constitution.
I hope this message of mine is heard STRENGTH FIVE by our decision takers.
Jai Hind.
How do you see it?
4 comments:
Why not?
“ Vijender, Sunil, Aklesh appointed as Supreintendent Of Police by Haryana Govt as a reward for their performance in Bejing Olympics”
Or
“ Gagan Narang appointed as IAS officer by home minister as a reward for his bronze medal in London Olympics”
Or
“ Dhayan Chand , the hockey wizard promoted from Lance Naik to Major by British Indian Army for his spectular performance in hockey”
When you read headlines like these, how do you feel?
What difference does these news headlines make to the individual, the country, the future prospects of that game or sports and future generation of sportsmen ?
I think a lot in terms of motivation, public recognition, prestige.. Or else we would be calling Lance Naik Dhayan Chand as Hockey Ka Jaduger and not Major Dhayan Chand…hope you appriciate the difference?
With these questions in mind, let us look at the incentives given by Indian Army to promote sports in India.
For many years after independence Indian Army was the only service which could hunt talent, support the expenditure, provide facilities and give out of turn promotions to outstanding sportsmen to promote sports and motivate others to excel. Till 1990’s, even a Commanding Officer could promote a sportsman on the spot upto the rank of Havaldar i.e Constable and thereafter a sportsman could be promoted upto the rank of Subedar i.e Inspector, as per his performance in services/ national and international championship.
When these rules were framed, no Indian could think of winning an individual medal in Olymics and hence, these rules don’t mention anything beyond rank of Subedar.
However, that spell has been broken by Subedar Vijay Singh by winning the Silver Medal in London Olymics.
Sub Vijay Singh who joined Indian Army in 2001 has already been permoted to the rank of Subedar within last 11 years due to his consistent outstanding performance in various national and international games as per the existing rules, now what…..?
Are there no more promotion avenues left for him in Indian Army? That means he has to leave Indian Army and will surely be appointed as SP Police in Himachal Pradesh Police or a higher rank in Indian Railways or a Comdt in BSF / CRPF or even an IAS officer…?
He is young and has abundant potential for similar or better performance in years ahead. Is Indian Army prepared to lose him to other services because of old rules or should it amend rules to promote sportsmen winning individual olymic medals to the rank of Major as Dhayan Chand, the hockey wizard was promoted from Lance Naik to Officers rank by British Indian Army for his spectular performance and later to the rank of Major by Indian Army, so why not now that too after almost 80 years.
All indians are commissioned into Indian Defence Forces at the pleasure of the President Of India and he as Supreme Commander can commission a exceptional soldier by publishing a special gazzette of India. Why are the COAS, Defence Minister and the President waiting for a controversy to arise and why are they missing out on an opportunity to motivate the young soldiers to perform beyond expectations.
Another issue which comes to mind is giving officer rank to sportsman who have nothing to do with defence forces like Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Dhoni ?? Why ?? To promote youth to join Indian Army / Navy / IAF ??
When that same youth sees that the same services are not looking after their own …will they be motivated ??
I think it is high time that Army takes the initiative and throws the ball in the court of Defence Minister , Supreme Commander to make new rules. It is also high time that Army learns to read the feeling of countrymen….it is after all man management, human resource development, motivation …and we all know that army has been pioneer in all these aspects.
The army and its chief must not lose this golden opportunity and allow some babu/politician to take all the credit of all the good work done by army.
In a country where even the highest national awards have lost their credibility it is good to see that the young man has asked for something which still has some credibility and why not he deserves it, he belongs to this organisation and granting an officers rank is an established form of reward in this organisation.
If we could grant even select grade rk to Sachin then why not to one of our own exceptional sportsman who has done the nation proud of the exceptional order.
I agree with you 100%. The comments above me have said everything. I feel ashamed the way Indian Army officers are behaving and reacting to Vijay Kumar's rustic utterance, I am sure media has overplayed as always to prick the Indian army top brass.
Vijay Kumar's achievement is no less, he can be made a Colonel, in my views. On hearing these words of me, almost 90% army officer would go thirsty for my blood. We do not like to face the truth and we do not like to treat our own people well. We are behaving like `burraa sahab' of British era in India. What he has done, all Indian army officers could not, except Col Rathore. In reality, we have done nothing for him as well, I am sure. We are screaming that he has pooped off ammo worth a crore and so much spent on his training as a shooter, who asked you to do? He did not impose on anyone. Let us rise above the petty and grace the hero. He is our own !
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