It is only a question of time before public attention shifts from the embarrassment caused by Gen V. K. Singh's leaked letter to the Prime Minister, to the information in the letter.

For the average citizen, the contents are rather alarming, given our hostile neighbourhood, large armed forces, and sizable defence budget. Expectedly, reactions in Parliament have centred on the embarrassment, which is politically exploitable fodder. Responses in the media by retired military officers have ranged from such letters being routine but certainly classified, to it being an Army Chief's duty to inform the Prime Minister of inadequate defence-preparedness. Doubts have been cast on the timing. But that — more so our reaction to it — should be seen in the context of the last several months of General Singh's tenure. It was rocked by the date-of-birth controversy, and recently, the as-yet-unproved bribery scandal.

POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK

Once again, save the blotch on India's defence machinery that they seem to be, none of these actions are grossly unacceptable. The general approached a Court of Law to settle his date-of-birth issue; he informed the Defence Minister of a bribe offered, and he wrote to the Prime Minister of inadequate defence-preparedness. Unless the responsibility for the controversy surrounding the leaked letter is placed on him, or all that has transpired is linked to the background machinations shadowing his tenure at the army's helm, he should be spared hasty judgement by the public, media and politicians.

Further, if it is so embarrassing for India to be found at a disadvantage militarily, then the politicians baying for the general's blood should introspect if their regular political displays have been any different. Why are those embarrassing episodes less embarrassing to national image than our military's state of affairs? It won't take long for the public to speculate so, because despite the eroded image now surrounding our army, we respect the army more than we respect our politicians. The main reason for that is our style of politics is acutely self-preserving and simultaneously unruly. Our politics, unfailingly, cashes in on our insecurity and divisive feudalism.

MAN IN THE MIRROR

Rightly or not, that positions the armed forces, in our eyes, as a respectable opposite. Instances like the present mess in the army are occasions for sterling civilian leadership. But there are few politicians who have called ‘a spade a spade', and delivered something meaningful from that. Expectedly, the general's leaked letter assumes comparative high ground, however routine these letters may be. It makes no bones of India's poor defence-preparedness. Saying so puts the army in bad light. But it says what must be said bluntly if needs haven't been met. Do our politicians do that? How many times have our politicians dismissed the fallout of bandh , communal riot and regional parochialism — all actions that derail India — as collateral damage? So, who should be judging who? Yet our reaction, when confronted by the army general's leaked letter is one of a prestigious image lost, and hence, national embarrassment.

If our politicians want the general to go, let it be. But make sure you read his letter. There may have been similar letters before from previous chiefs. But you owe it attention, for the government does not need letters and reminders to dispatch soldiers to war. They obey. Why can't we listen to what they need? Why is it so difficult to have corruption-free mechanisms for defence procurement? As always, the mirror has the answer. But do we accept the reflection?

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