Involve them

 

 

This is with respect to your highly thought provoking cover article “General Atrophy” (TSI, August 2-8). The article definitely brought to light the government’s reluctance and disinclination towards involving the retired top brass of the armed forces in military strategy and policy formulation. As a proud member of the defence fraternity, I can vouch first hand for the brave officers. These highly erudite gentlemen are repositories of knowledge, acumen and experience. The insights and inputs they can potentially bring to the table, can be of extremely high value. But as your esteemed magazine has rightly pointed out that in the era of coalition governments, crucial matters like the security of the nation are often subjugated to the politics of convenience. The prevalent practice of picking politicians and power hungry, self-serving bureaucrats to handle sensitive defence matters does not augur well for the country. The Centre ought to take note of this glaring anomaly and perhaps take a leaf out of the books of the US and the UK. India does not have the luxury of continuing to embrace its laid back approach towards matters of national security. Picking the brains of the retired top brass on a regular basis would only prove beneficial, not detrimental.

Pradyut Hande

Mumbai