Generalship in the Kargil war
24 Mar, 2000 · 342
S. S. Chandel reckons that Generalship is surely not only about writings or briefings
One questions begins to form in one's mind almost imperceptibly Was there any generalship in the Kargil War? Either on the Indian or the Pakistani side. True enough that there has not been enough scope in space and time to exercise this art. True enough that both sides had their fields of action severely circumscribed by the terms of reference of line of control so that no maneuvers were possible for 'baited offensive' or 'lurning defensive.' True enough that the modern telecommunications further kept the generals on a tight leash. Yet some facts keep nagging one's mind. For instance except for one colonel not other general, brigadier or colonel was killed or wounded. "All the officers killed or wounded were of the rank of Major (of 5 or 6 years service) captains or keutenants of 2 to 4 years of service. What were the general's and brigadiers' doing? They seem to have been flitting about in their helicopters or sitting in their cozy operation rooms looking at their maps and organising logistics for the combatants.
From Muskoh in the south to Turtok in the north, the three 'frontline' generals (the corps commander, his two divisional commanders and six or eight brigade commanders) seem to have ear-marked the 'objectives' which were the places occupied by the Pakistanis and then ordered the troops to capture these by direct assaults. These were duly supported by great concentration of artillery and some air power and were duly assaulted by troops led by young men and taken. It all seemed to have been a slugging out to death between two pugilist with the senior officers dutifully cheering the warring men on ration telephones or by signals. No general is reported to have climbed a hill to be near the men to show himself as would a Rommel or a Mac Arthur or for that matter a Sagat Singh (1971) or Thimayya (1948). I am reminded of a narration of John Masters in his book "road Past Mandlay, when he was posted as GSO 1 Of 19 Infantry Division. The general officers commanding of 19. Division was Pete Rees (DSO, Distinguished Service Order, MC, Military Cross and bar). Masters reported for duty at the HQs and asked about the whereabout of his boss he was informed by his HQ, he will be with the forward platoon. And if he was in his he would be with the forward section. Sure enough, Masters found the general watching a platoon level combat action from near his jeep dressed in his full regalia of red band on his gorkha hat, red tabs on his collar and a red scarf sound his neck! His casual remark to Masters who wondered if it was really necessary for the general to so expose himself, was, "A dead general is a great morale booster." Or for that matter Rommel sitting atop his caravan on the afternoon of the battle of Tobruk exhorting his troops to come close to him. He was bullet proof. Or a Shivaji who would risk his life to personally claw out the guts of his towering Afghan enemy Afjal Khan accompanied by only two men to ultimately rout the Bijaipur Army of nearly 50000 personnel. Or the great Maharana Pratap who had to be forcibly removed from the battle field when serious wounded, so that, the Rajputs would not lose a leader of his caliber to carry on the war in future. Have our generals decided to become bureaucrats in uniform mainly following and issuing orders?
Fortunately for us Pakistanis are no better. But that is scarcely a solace. Generalship is surely not only about writings (such as it is) or briefings. Have we missed the track somewhere?
POPULAR COMMENTARIES
