There is no Religion in the Indian Army
Our mother country India is a country with multy Religion and multy language.If that is so ,then how can there be Religious sentiments amongst soldiers.But one may wonder on seeing an advertisement now and then for Appointment of Religious teachers in the Army.
Yes ! there are Religious teachers in the Army.The recruitments in the Army is based on technical and non technical trades.When ever the srength of soldiers of a particular religion goes above 150 the unit is authorised to have a religious teacher of that particular religion.
Take for example Madras Regiment of the Infantry or Madras Engineer group of the Engineers,they generally consist of Hindus,Muslims and christians.A Regiment strength is about 1800 and the breakdown strength in religionwise would certainlydemand a Religious teacher in each community.so generally in an Army unit consisting of south indian troops there will be riligious teachers of these three religion ie Hindu,Muslim and Christian.
What is the role of these riligious teachers ? .They are expected to help jawans of a particular religion to perform any religious act which he would have performed ,had he not joined Army.So even in border areas where troops are guarding the line of actual control these religious teachers establish a place of worship in a tent or temporary structures.
These Religious Teachers are direct recruitment based on their spiritual knowledge and education and are given Junior commissioned ranks of Naib Subedar.so basically they are direct recruited soldiers and of Trade spiritual teacher.They are issued with all military equipments that are eligible to a soldier.
Administration in the Army is a function of command. The commanding officer is fully resposible for all happenings in the unit.A hindu commanding officer is duty bound to visit and check the happenings in Masjid or Church estabilished by the religious teachers of such religion.
If the commanding officer fails in such duty the consquences will be very serious.Because the riligious teachers instead of helping the jawan to releave his religious sentiments starts preaching religion and make an ordinary jawan into a hard core religious man there by reducing his religious tolerence.
We all know that Mrs.Indira gandhi former Prime minister was shot by her own security guard.But many of the Sikh community jawans in Army units were not aware of the developments from early 1984 to "Operation Blue star " .So when many of the sikh units heard that Army entered 'Golden Temple Complex "of Amritsar they mistook that it was an assault on their religion and revolted/deserted their posts.
Colonel Ganesan was in Delhi at that time and physically seen the destruction that followed after 31 october 1984.
In March,1989 Col Ganesan returned from National mission to Antactica and was posted as Battalion Commander ,MEG &Centre and was entrusted with the reposibility of conducting Colour Presentation Parade for the President of India.It was a historic event and Ganesan took it with head and shoulder.
One of the event in the Parade is Sacrament of the Colours by Riligious Teachers of Hindu Muslim and Christian Religions.In order to work out the time scedule time for each event was noted.
A number of rehearsals were conducted and time was cut down on unnecessary things.Ganesan wanted to know from the Religious teachers ,about what they are going to say and how much time it will take.In this process the Christian Religious teacher refused to give details of what he is going to say as he should not rehearse the prayer.As Ganesan does want to hurt the religious sentiments and accepted aproximate time and Colour Presentation Parade went on well.
After cooling down from the heat of the Presidents Parade ,Ganesan called the Christian Religious teacher and wanted to know more.He came in the long white gown normally won by people in the Church.Ganesan advised him that he is a Junior commissioned officer by rank and in all places other than religious activities he should be in uniform and called him next day in unifom.
Next day he came but again in the same white gown.It was strange experience for Col Ganesan,a dis obedience of order directly on his face.Ganesan asked for reason in not wearing military uniform even though he is a junior commissioned officer.
He said that he does not have military uniforms.Col Ganesan did not understand his reply.Ganesan asked for more details.A shocking story revealed as under;
Mr.David (name changed ) was commissioned as a direct entry JCO AND WAS GIVEN THE RANK OF NAIB SUBEDAR and posted to MEG &Centre.He got all accoutrement that are eligible,allotted Govt accomodation and continued his duty.But unfortunetly he did not wear military uniform except the day he was commissioned.He had been moving arround only in the dress of a christian Religious teacher.
The worst part is that , "He had sold all military equipments that are not required by him and issued by Govt.As and when he get new military uniforms as per life cycle system he had been selling them.
Colnel Ganesan,an officer with 26 years of service,a strict disciplinerian,an all round sports man presently commanding Recruits Training Battalion was frozen by shock and un believable statements of the RT JCO.
According to indian military act sec 52 (c ) the JCO has comitted criminal breach of trust and dishonestly mis appropriated Govt property for which if convicted by court martial liable to suffer imprisonment upto 10 years in jail.
Col Ganesan explained to the JCO.There are two options .
a)Face court martial and punishment as awarded.
b)Immediate discharge from service.
The JCO prefered the second option and within two days he was released from service.It was not an act of vengence by Col Ganesan.The JCO is highly devoted to his religion and does not know about military rules and Regulations.Un fortunetly no officer had corrected him.
After the formalities were over Ganesan called him to his office and spoke to him in detail.He explained to the JCO that he should join a Church and spend his time in religious matters.He being a dedicated person the Lord will certainly help him.Ganesan wished him best of luck and bid farewell.
Things were over.After about six months or so Col Ganesan received a letter from Washinton DC,USA.Mr.David had written that he is undergoing special training in his religious matters and thanked Col Ganesan for showing the proper way .
Our mother country India is a country with multy Religion and multy language.If that is so ,then how can there be Religious sentiments amongst soldiers.But one may wonder on seeing an advertisement now and then for Appointment of Religious teachers in the Army.
Yes ! there are Religious teachers in the Army.The recruitments in the Army is based on technical and non technical trades.When ever the srength of soldiers of a particular religion goes above 150 the unit is authorised to have a religious teacher of that particular religion.
Take for example Madras Regiment of the Infantry or Madras Engineer group of the Engineers,they generally consist of Hindus,Muslims and christians.A Regiment strength is about 1800 and the breakdown strength in religionwise would certainlydemand a Religious teacher in each community.so generally in an Army unit consisting of south indian troops there will be riligious teachers of these three religion ie Hindu,Muslim and Christian.
What is the role of these riligious teachers ? .They are expected to help jawans of a particular religion to perform any religious act which he would have performed ,had he not joined Army.So even in border areas where troops are guarding the line of actual control these religious teachers establish a place of worship in a tent or temporary structures.
These Religious Teachers are direct recruitment based on their spiritual knowledge and education and are given Junior commissioned ranks of Naib Subedar.so basically they are direct recruited soldiers and of Trade spiritual teacher.They are issued with all military equipments that are eligible to a soldier.
Administration in the Army is a function of command. The commanding officer is fully resposible for all happenings in the unit.A hindu commanding officer is duty bound to visit and check the happenings in Masjid or Church estabilished by the religious teachers of such religion.
If the commanding officer fails in such duty the consquences will be very serious.Because the riligious teachers instead of helping the jawan to releave his religious sentiments starts preaching religion and make an ordinary jawan into a hard core religious man there by reducing his religious tolerence.
We all know that Mrs.Indira gandhi former Prime minister was shot by her own security guard.But many of the Sikh community jawans in Army units were not aware of the developments from early 1984 to "Operation Blue star " .So when many of the sikh units heard that Army entered 'Golden Temple Complex "of Amritsar they mistook that it was an assault on their religion and revolted/deserted their posts.
Colonel Ganesan was in Delhi at that time and physically seen the destruction that followed after 31 october 1984.
In March,1989 Col Ganesan returned from National mission to Antactica and was posted as Battalion Commander ,MEG &Centre and was entrusted with the reposibility of conducting Colour Presentation Parade for the President of India.It was a historic event and Ganesan took it with head and shoulder.
One of the event in the Parade is Sacrament of the Colours by Riligious Teachers of Hindu Muslim and Christian Religions.In order to work out the time scedule time for each event was noted.
A number of rehearsals were conducted and time was cut down on unnecessary things.Ganesan wanted to know from the Religious teachers ,about what they are going to say and how much time it will take.In this process the Christian Religious teacher refused to give details of what he is going to say as he should not rehearse the prayer.As Ganesan does want to hurt the religious sentiments and accepted aproximate time and Colour Presentation Parade went on well.
After cooling down from the heat of the Presidents Parade ,Ganesan called the Christian Religious teacher and wanted to know more.He came in the long white gown normally won by people in the Church.Ganesan advised him that he is a Junior commissioned officer by rank and in all places other than religious activities he should be in uniform and called him next day in unifom.
Next day he came but again in the same white gown.It was strange experience for Col Ganesan,a dis obedience of order directly on his face.Ganesan asked for reason in not wearing military uniform even though he is a junior commissioned officer.
He said that he does not have military uniforms.Col Ganesan did not understand his reply.Ganesan asked for more details.A shocking story revealed as under;
Mr.David (name changed ) was commissioned as a direct entry JCO AND WAS GIVEN THE RANK OF NAIB SUBEDAR and posted to MEG &Centre.He got all accoutrement that are eligible,allotted Govt accomodation and continued his duty.But unfortunetly he did not wear military uniform except the day he was commissioned.He had been moving arround only in the dress of a christian Religious teacher.
The worst part is that , "He had sold all military equipments that are not required by him and issued by Govt.As and when he get new military uniforms as per life cycle system he had been selling them.
Colnel Ganesan,an officer with 26 years of service,a strict disciplinerian,an all round sports man presently commanding Recruits Training Battalion was frozen by shock and un believable statements of the RT JCO.
According to indian military act sec 52 (c ) the JCO has comitted criminal breach of trust and dishonestly mis appropriated Govt property for which if convicted by court martial liable to suffer imprisonment upto 10 years in jail.
Col Ganesan explained to the JCO.There are two options .
a)Face court martial and punishment as awarded.
b)Immediate discharge from service.
The JCO prefered the second option and within two days he was released from service.It was not an act of vengence by Col Ganesan.The JCO is highly devoted to his religion and does not know about military rules and Regulations.Un fortunetly no officer had corrected him.
After the formalities were over Ganesan called him to his office and spoke to him in detail.He explained to the JCO that he should join a Church and spend his time in religious matters.He being a dedicated person the Lord will certainly help him.Ganesan wished him best of luck and bid farewell.
Things were over.After about six months or so Col Ganesan received a letter from Washinton DC,USA.Mr.David had written that he is undergoing special training in his religious matters and thanked Col Ganesan for showing the proper way .
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