It's great the India won the world cup, but frankly cricket has killed all other sports in India. The worst thing that happened to Indian sports was the 1983 world cup win. Folks who do not understand anything beyond very few basic rules of cricket act like they know it all. I would love for us Indians to show even 1/4 of the appreciation to other sports that we should to cricket. I am happy that Indian team won the world cup again after 28 years, but please don't let destroy the hopes of our youth that have aspirations for something not cricket.
Don't the IAF have more serious issues to deal with? What is the point of such useless PR campaigns by inviting sporting stars to felicitate them while their pilots crash and burn in vintage machines, scaring potential new recruits away?
Marshal Naik is great, why should he retire anti nationals are shit scared of him. As for Dhoni it must be a pride to receive a Silver Salver from ACM Naik.
What is so heroic about winning this WC and in what way is related to Airforce. When are we going to realize that a cricketer is MADE and that too a certain period in time. But, a soldier is BORN and remains so till his/her END. This means that there is a million light years gap between these two class of humanThings. ACM not just sold himself but also pride of all other soldiers for cheap PR. My taxmoney is getting wasted.
U prepar 11 sukhi for 11 playr NOT so plz not discorage other gam u shud encorage sooting,archery,wtlfting y give invitation this player 4 siting fightr and then morl is high ty proud games nt crkt.
Su-30's now turning an icon machone for IAF??? Feels so as now almost all personalities when wished for is getting a ride on it….
Instead felt IAF could have used Our Home Grown Tejas for such exercise. It would have crated a spur among next-gen Engineers of the country to join IAF, HAl & related industries & in future would have helped for total indigenousation of fighters
The yanks do it all the time,and take whatever opportunity to highlight their military services.Hollywood,sport stars,pin-up girls and what have you are regularly associated They have a very sophisticated PR arm which undertakes overt and subtle publicity campaigns all the time.Associating glamour with fores is nothing new.The movie TopGun was virtually all but made by the US Navy. Even university games and Football leagues are graced with.defense presence and Flybys by the USAF.This is true of several other countries.There is absolutely no doubt that Dhoni is highly popular and the IAF has every right to highlight itself thus.Frankly,given the dismal ignorance on Defence related matters amongst the general public,it would be foolish not to do so.
For all the whiners, there are good reasons why some people are presented honorary positions, be it honorary doctorate by a university or a rank in the military. Yes, PR is a part of it (it is an important part). But it is not just PR. These people (like MSD and Sachin) represent dedication, teamwork and leadership, initiative, and much more.. all of which are important in the military as well.
By making them a part of their organisation, the militaries aim to inspire their soldiers. And whoever said soldiers are born, not made? That is just immature! What is all the years of training for? Where do the officers learn their stategies and critical thinking?..Do you think they are a different breed and are naturally born with superior qualities?
Anon 2.09PM We now need a Dhoni or Sachin to "motivate" or teach our soldiers dedication, teamwork, leadership etc. to our soldiers? Next what Rakhi Sawant?
Anon 2.07PM How many Hollywood stars, sports stars and pin up girls have been felicitated by US army, navy, airforce? Since this a..hole became the chief, IAF has become more of Bollywoodsque tamasha.
@Anon 3:30, I have said they are 'associated' not'felicitated'.There is a difference.My point is that Armed Forces of many countries use such opportunities, be it a display at an event or felicitating a person or use, to highlight and raise the profile of their organisations.What better way can there be in a cricket mad nation like ours.What has Dhoni done that does not make him fit for such a felicitation!
IAF pilots and other Armed Force personnel are not cold hearted machines.They too can love Bollywood and cricket. Because of the stress and dangers of their duties,they look forward to the rare occasions of entertainment and relaxation which for you seems to be mere Tamasha.A lot of these guys do not have the luxury of twiddling their thumbs at work or plonking down in front of a TV with a drink or two after work.Lets not begrudge them their moments of relaxation.
Anon 5.05, 5.28 and 7.20, All these outfits that you have mentioned provide moral support to the troops and not the other way round which is what our armed forces r doing, particularly IAF after this m0#on became ACM. Playboy bunnies and WWE help boost the morale of the troops,but, in our case it seems our armed forces r boosting the morale of public entertainers. So, a movie crazy country like ours should felicitate movie stars thru our armed forces? We have not fought any war for the last 40 years.What stress and danger are they facing during peacetime? Girth of ACM speaks volumes about his level of stress. You get paid to only twiddle your thumbs? Lucky you.
An unnecessary ceremony. If IAF is equally biased for all other sports and falicitates top notchers, then considerable time and resources of IAF/ACM are NOT available for the military exercises or practices!
@Anon 12:20, 'We have not fought a war for 40 years' so what stress are they under. This is exactly the ignorance and attitude I was bemoaning about. Remember, honor and justify forces only if there is a war on, otherwise they are a bunch of lazy asses whiling their time away.I doubt if you have ever seen a Forward op air-base,the conditions of deployment and training that goes on year round.The thousands of sorties to service high altitude posts and remote areas in Arunachal Pradesh,Siachen,Kashmir,the north-east in weather conditions that defy belief.The support flights from helping in state elections to disaster relief,anti-naxal operations.Many parts of the state of Arunachal,civilians included would starve if there were no IAF supplies to them.The support in CI ops operations in Kashmir, North-East is something that is a random news clip for you.On the ground Its is a deadly serious and dirty war.You seem to have no idea of the covert war being waged by Pakistan and china against us.I hope you do realize we are fighting a war in Kashmir against the jehadis. Or perhaps for you since there is no declared war,Pakistan is not expected to walk across our borders and do another Kargil!
The IAF is the lifeline for the wounded soldiers serving in difficult areas.For you the soldier deployed in the jungle of North east or freezing posts of Siachen or the LOC is obviously on a picnic,since there is no war being fought!And the IAF men who fly to these posts,the airmen who maintain them at the freezing heights of Ladakh or the heat and rains of North east or in the 50 degree heat of the Thar with food,ammunition,letters and pretty much everything are on a joy-ride for their own amusements.Just because we civvies sit on our asses in our offices or while way our time gossiping in A/C offices or bunk our classes does not mean everybody else is doing it.
The IAF is not the sports ministry to decide what games are to be popular or promoted .They have every right to felicitate whom they want.And if you start linking 'girth' with the responsibilities the Air-Chief or lack of stress,than your level of ignorance can only be called below abysmal and have not the faintest idea of Command resposibilty.
@Anon 12:20, There is no war because these guys are keeping the peace.
There is peace not because you say so or due to any generosity of the Pakis or Chinese.
It prevails because there are still some people(fools for you)who stand out there for us(including sorry -asses like you) and for whom patriotism,professionalism,dedication and comradeship are not mere words of convenience.
Anon 10.21 IAF forward op bases are full of jhuggis and jhopdis where our defense personnel do not get any food or shelter? Flying a helicopter or transport aircraft is like pulling a rickshaw? Who are these so called "insurgents" and why are they fighting against "India"? Are "they" the only ones to be blamed or we have gone wrong somewhere and our netas are using strongarm methods to suppress the voice of the masses? How come more than 80% of the country is witnessing serious insurgencies? Fighting 80% of your own people is "war"? Are you one of those 20% who think rest 80% are anti "Indian"? Stop blaming China and Pakistan. It's high time we looked at Delhi for the mess India is in. Of course, it is a joyride, as they like this kind of life of action and adventure.This is the reason why they joined the armed forces in the first place and not to save your or mine sorry a$$es. I envy you, for your company paying you a salary to just sit in an AC office to gossip and twiddle your thumbs. Just compare the physiques of our chiefs of armed forces with that of Chiefs of US or Israeli armed forces and u will know what I mean. And I agree with you that IAF is not the sports ministry. So what are they doing with Dhoni and Sachin?
Anon12.20 Who asked those 'fools' to stand like 'fools' near the border for sorry asses like us? Why are they standing there? Will they still stand there if they get better jobs? Recent conduct of top brass has literally given a new definition to patriotism, dedication and comradeship. If India was like Somalia and Pakistan like Ethiopia, then we would be fighting wars every month. Something that is happening in Afghanistan. Fact is, there is no war bcoz we can't afford it. Mobilization of our troops, after 2001 parliament attack cost India 1 billion $s. Pakistan also incurred similar expenditure due to mobilization of it's troops. If it escalated to war, then it would cost several billions of $s to both nations. Pakistan lost 1971 war as it never recovered from the effects 1965 war with India. So pls stop posting trite saccharine dripping comments.
[email protected] and 6:07 LOL!Anybody who writes jhuggi jhopdis along with a FOB and Rickshaws and HELOS in the same breath or who wonders who these insurgents are need not be explained anything further!
No point!
Though i do wonder what you are doing on this Indian defence related blog!!
Never seen any visitor yet with your kind of delusions errr thinking!!!
Anon 8.55 PM Yea, after you have been decimated in this silly debate, you have to take recourse to personal attacks. Fyi, my father was a war hero….that will explain u my interest in "Indian" defense and my other "delusions". He was an IAF pilot, so don't give me those "FOB" BS.
@Anon 8.55 SO,after delusions self-congratulations seem to be in order! Decimated in the debate?????? You seem to be adopting the Paki style of self-awarded victories!!!!! You are deprecating the forces and the IAF and then you have the gumption to claim that your father is a war hero and an IAF pilot.
With your rantings against the forces it it least likely that the above is a fact.
How easy for these sportsperson gets into IAF or Army, Naik is shit. Cricket is very much different from Defence. People in IAF, IA and IN work hard day and night to reach those position, When died , they receive nothing but scam. Dhoni and Co live luxury life not like an Army. Dhoni is an icon but not for defence. Why these people always given pride when they are zero in front of our armies who are actually are real heroes. Corruption is spreading in all fields in India. Army chief should be sacked.
Anon 9.55PM, Where have I denigrated the forces or IAF??? On the contrary it's you who is adopting mullah style of muffling dissent by not entertaining anyone to question something that is openly against the glorious traditions of our armed forces. Your harangue smacks of someone paid by "powers that be" to check online criticism of such people.And u r doing a very poor job. It is bcoz of people like you that such stupid acts like felicitation of public entertainers/sportsmen by armed forces or massive corruption is entertained or has become a part of our system and way of life. It is sad to see where our armed forces have fallen from such stratospheric heights.
For people like you, heroism means bollywood style tamasha and making money thru dubious means which has become a part of our culture and lifestyle. You have no idea what our armed forces were like a couple of decades ago. Your comments speaks volumes about quality of genes you have inherited.
Anon@5:43, LOL,just go back and read what you have written.You question their commitment,pass snide remarks on physical appearances, trivialize their duties as a pastime and then you wonder where you have denigrated them! A debate or a point of view is expressed with a modicum of rationality and sense.Fist you say there is no war for 40 years now,then you go on to claim yourself as the son of a war hero! Then you state they are only 'standing there' since they did not get a better job.All this while you claim to be son of an IAF officer!Such generalized tripe is not a debate or expression of idea that requires to be stifled!!Nobody is stifling anyone here.But,do listen and try to make sense of what you say.
Anon 5.43, It's people like you who result in collapse of mighty civilizations because you applaud the King's clothes when he is stark naked. Look at his physique and that of Air Marshall Arjan Singh or Air Chief Marshal DA La Fontaine, and you will know where we are heading. Are you ignorant about a senior officer asking paltry 20,000 Rs as bribe for prime location in an air show from an MNC firm? Are u ignorant about IN shelling out 2.3 billion for a boat that is several decades old due to one of it's officers having a fling with an old Russian whore? Are u aware IA tried to sabotage Arjun tank so that kickbacks kept flowing? Are u aware that senior officers purchased flats and properties for a song mean't for war widows? Coffin scam, land scam, death threats scam etc etc…are you ignorant about all these scams involving the armed forces in the recent past? Just look at the people who led our armed forces in 70s and earlier and the ones who are leading today. Their body language and physique speaks volumes about the decline in the std of armed forces. Is it any mystery, that armed forces are no longer able to attract talent in the numbers they require? Why will you join the armed forces? To "serve your country"? If you give this answer in CDS interview, chances are pretty high u wont be selected. LOL!
Anon 2.53PM When my dad joined IAF, the armed forces used to be the 1st choice for the best and the brightest. Several people from royal families considered career in armed forces as a must. Can we say the same today? You are trying to cover up something which is glaringly evident. The best and brightest do not consider armed forces as an career option. I was also surprised at the large number of officers who are opting for VRS or early retirement.
@Anon 5:43 and 8:57 Indian polity and bureaucracy is primarily civil driven with supremacy in policy and decision making. Corruption is not an isolated instance either in India or abroad,especially in the lucrative field of Arms business.Bribes in the arms trade is almost as old as the arms trade itself. Notwithstanding the above,instances of corruption in the forces is far less than the civil side and punishment to wrong doers,unlike in the civil side,is actually delivered in the forces.Every older generation feels that the values of their day are no longer there today.Its a common feeling.Societal attitudes and priorities change.The issue of alternative careers as a country advances is always there.These are matters accompanying any societal change.BUT,none of these is so overwhelming to the extent you seem to think.The 'best and brightest' is what? Who decides what is best and brightest.A person at IIM or IIT or an MBA?A person who would be a top Financial honcho or a banker or a marketing exec is he the best and brightest?Why? So,by that token,every body else in other jobs is not the best and brightest in what they do? Do officers have to be from elite classes or public schools.The armed forces are not an easy career and it takes a toll on personal and family life.That is why unlike you,one has a greater respect for all those who continue to serve.
Yeh kab retire karega?
It's great the India won the world cup, but frankly cricket has killed all other sports in India. The worst thing that happened to Indian sports was the 1983 world cup win. Folks who do not understand anything beyond very few basic rules of cricket act like they know it all. I would love for us Indians to show even 1/4 of the appreciation to other sports that we should to cricket. I am happy that Indian team won the world cup again after 28 years, but please don't let destroy the hopes of our youth that have aspirations for something not cricket.
Ahem… jeans ! and that rustic. Complete sartorial ineptitude there.
Again, there go the nonsensical comments on ACM PVN's burly looks!
Don't the IAF have more serious issues to deal with? What is the point of such useless PR campaigns by inviting sporting stars to felicitate them while their pilots crash and burn in vintage machines, scaring potential new recruits away?
Marshal Naik is great, why should he retire anti nationals are shit scared of him. As for Dhoni it must be a pride to receive a Silver Salver from ACM Naik.
Dhoni shaved his head ?
What is so heroic about winning this WC and in what way is related to Airforce. When are we going to realize that a cricketer is MADE and that too a certain period in time. But, a soldier is BORN and remains so till his/her END. This means that there is a million light years gap between these two class of humanThings. ACM not just sold himself but also pride of all other soldiers for cheap PR.
My taxmoney is getting wasted.
U prepar 11 sukhi for 11 playr NOT so plz not discorage other gam u shud encorage sooting,archery,wtlfting y give invitation this player 4 siting fightr and then morl is high ty proud games nt crkt.
Just bcoz he gives joy rides to Sachin and Pratibha , that makes him great? Tell me, what has been his achievements till date?
This just shows how "professional" IAF really is. Next are they going to felicitate those Slumdog Millionaire kids for winning Oscars for India?
Anon 6.06 AM
Do you know the difference between "burly" and "portly"? Who has mentioned anything about ACM being "burly"?
Su-30's now turning an icon machone for IAF??? Feels so as now almost all personalities when wished for is getting a ride on it….
Instead felt IAF could have used Our Home Grown Tejas for such exercise. It would have crated a spur among next-gen Engineers of the country to join IAF, HAl & related industries & in future would have helped for total indigenousation of fighters
Absolutely nothing wrong with it!
The yanks do it all the time,and take whatever opportunity to highlight their military services.Hollywood,sport stars,pin-up girls and what have you are regularly associated They have a very sophisticated PR arm which undertakes overt and subtle publicity campaigns all the time.Associating glamour with fores is nothing new.The movie TopGun was virtually all but made by the US Navy. Even university games and Football leagues are graced with.defense presence and Flybys by the USAF.This is true of several other countries.There is absolutely no doubt that Dhoni is highly popular and the IAF has every right to highlight itself thus.Frankly,given the dismal ignorance on Defence related matters amongst the general public,it would be foolish not to do so.
For all the whiners, there are good reasons why some people are presented honorary positions, be it honorary doctorate by a university or a rank in the military. Yes, PR is a part of it (it is an important part). But it is not just PR. These people (like MSD and Sachin) represent dedication, teamwork and leadership, initiative, and much more.. all of which are important in the military as well.
By making them a part of their organisation, the militaries aim to inspire their soldiers. And whoever said soldiers are born, not made? That is just immature! What is all the years of training for? Where do the officers learn their stategies and critical thinking?..Do you think they are a different breed and are naturally born with superior qualities?
Anon 2.09PM
We now need a Dhoni or Sachin to "motivate" or teach our soldiers dedication, teamwork, leadership etc. to our soldiers? Next what Rakhi Sawant?
Anon 2.07PM
How many Hollywood stars, sports stars and pin up girls have been felicitated by US army, navy, airforce? Since this a..hole became the chief, IAF has become more of Bollywoodsque tamasha.
@Anon 3:30,
I have said they are 'associated' not'felicitated'.There is a difference.My point is that Armed Forces of many countries use such opportunities, be it a display at an event or felicitating a person or use, to highlight and raise the profile of their organisations.What better way can there be in a cricket mad nation like ours.What has Dhoni done that does not make him fit for such a felicitation!
@Anon 3:30,
There is a huge private organisation doing just that.
United Service Organizations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Service_Organizations
IAF pilots and other Armed Force personnel are not cold hearted machines.They too can love Bollywood and cricket. Because of the stress and dangers of their duties,they look forward to the rare occasions of entertainment and relaxation which for you seems to be mere Tamasha.A lot of these guys do not have the luxury of twiddling their thumbs at work or plonking down in front of a TV with a drink or two after work.Lets not begrudge them their moments of relaxation.
@Anon 3:30
How many Hollywood stars, sports stars and pin up girls have been felicitated by US army, navy, airforce?
Read this !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Tribute_to_the_Troops
Anon 5.05, 5.28 and 7.20,
All these outfits that you have mentioned provide moral support to the troops and not the other way round which is what our armed forces r doing, particularly IAF after this m0#on became ACM. Playboy bunnies and WWE help boost the morale of the troops,but, in our case it seems our armed forces r boosting the morale of public entertainers.
So, a movie crazy country like ours should felicitate movie stars thru our armed forces?
We have not fought any war for the last 40 years.What stress and danger are they facing during peacetime? Girth of ACM speaks volumes about his level of stress. You get paid to only twiddle your thumbs? Lucky you.
This is just PR for IAF…so they fly him around once…and then they get to use that photo for the next couple of years…
Is it sad that the IAF needs cricketers to do PR??a related debate..
An unnecessary ceremony. If IAF is equally biased for all other sports and falicitates top notchers, then considerable time and resources of IAF/ACM are NOT available for the military exercises or practices!
@Anon 12:20,
'We have not fought a war for 40 years' so what stress are they under. This is exactly the ignorance and attitude I was bemoaning about. Remember, honor and justify forces only if there is a war on, otherwise they are a bunch of lazy asses whiling their time away.I doubt if you have ever seen a Forward op air-base,the conditions of deployment and training that goes on year round.The thousands of sorties to service high altitude posts and remote areas in Arunachal Pradesh,Siachen,Kashmir,the north-east in weather conditions that defy belief.The support flights from helping in state elections to disaster relief,anti-naxal operations.Many parts of the state of Arunachal,civilians included would starve if there were no IAF supplies to them.The support in CI ops operations in Kashmir, North-East is something that is a random news clip for you.On the ground Its is a deadly serious and dirty war.You seem to have no idea of the covert war being waged by Pakistan and china against us.I hope you do realize we are fighting a war in Kashmir against the jehadis. Or perhaps for you since there is no declared war,Pakistan is not expected to walk across our borders and do another Kargil!
The IAF is the lifeline for the wounded soldiers serving in difficult areas.For you the soldier deployed in the jungle of North east or freezing posts of Siachen or the LOC is obviously on a picnic,since there is no war being fought!And the IAF men who fly to these posts,the airmen who maintain them at the freezing heights of Ladakh or the heat and rains of North east or in the 50 degree heat of the Thar with food,ammunition,letters and pretty much everything are on a joy-ride for their own amusements.Just because we civvies sit on our asses in our offices or while way our time gossiping in A/C offices or bunk our classes does not mean everybody else is doing it.
The IAF is not the sports ministry to decide what games are to be popular or promoted .They have every right to felicitate whom they want.And if you start linking 'girth' with the responsibilities the Air-Chief or lack of stress,than your level of ignorance can only be called below abysmal and have not the faintest idea of Command resposibilty.
@Anon 12:20,
There is no war because these guys are keeping the peace.
There is peace not because you say so or due to any generosity of the Pakis or Chinese.
It prevails because there are still some people(fools for you)who stand out there for us(including sorry -asses like you) and for whom patriotism,professionalism,dedication and comradeship are not mere words of convenience.
We focus on cricket yet pay no attention to Anna Bhai….what a joke
Anon 10.21
IAF forward op bases are full of jhuggis and jhopdis where our defense personnel do not get any food or shelter? Flying a helicopter or transport aircraft is like pulling a rickshaw? Who are these so called "insurgents" and why are they fighting against "India"? Are "they" the only ones to be blamed or we have gone wrong somewhere and our netas are using strongarm methods to suppress the voice of the masses? How come more than 80% of the country is witnessing serious insurgencies? Fighting 80% of your own people is "war"? Are you one of those 20% who think rest 80% are anti "Indian"? Stop blaming China and Pakistan. It's high time we looked at Delhi for the mess India is in.
Of course, it is a joyride, as they like this kind of life of action and adventure.This is the reason why they joined the armed forces in the first place and not to save your or mine sorry a$$es.
I envy you, for your company paying you a salary to just sit in an AC office to gossip and twiddle your thumbs.
Just compare the physiques of our chiefs of armed forces with that of Chiefs of US or Israeli armed forces and u will know what I mean. And I agree with you that IAF is not the sports ministry. So what are they doing with Dhoni and Sachin?
Anon12.20
Who asked those 'fools' to stand like 'fools' near the border for sorry asses like us? Why are they standing there? Will they still stand there if they get better jobs?
Recent conduct of top brass has literally given a new definition to patriotism, dedication and comradeship.
If India was like Somalia and Pakistan like Ethiopia, then we would be fighting wars every month. Something that is happening in Afghanistan. Fact is, there is no war bcoz we can't afford it. Mobilization of our troops, after 2001 parliament attack cost India 1 billion $s. Pakistan also incurred similar expenditure due to mobilization of it's troops. If it escalated to war, then it would cost several billions of $s to both nations. Pakistan lost 1971 war as it never recovered from the effects 1965 war with India.
So pls stop posting trite saccharine dripping comments.
[email protected] and 6:07
LOL!Anybody who writes jhuggi jhopdis along with a FOB and Rickshaws and HELOS in the same breath or who wonders who these insurgents are need not be explained anything further!
No point!
Though i do wonder what you are doing on this Indian defence related blog!!
Never seen any visitor yet with your kind of delusions errr thinking!!!
Anon 8.55 PM
Yea, after you have been decimated in this silly debate, you have to take recourse to personal attacks. Fyi, my father was a war hero….that will explain u my interest in "Indian" defense and my other "delusions". He was an IAF pilot, so don't give me those "FOB" BS.
@Anon 8.55
SO,after delusions self-congratulations seem to be in order!
Decimated in the debate??????
You seem to be adopting the Paki style of self-awarded victories!!!!!
You are deprecating the forces and the IAF and then you have the gumption to claim that your father is a war hero and an IAF pilot.
With your rantings against the forces it it least likely that the above is a fact.
How easy for these sportsperson gets into IAF or Army, Naik is shit. Cricket is very much different from Defence. People in IAF, IA and IN work hard day and night to reach those position, When died , they receive nothing but scam. Dhoni and Co live luxury life not like an Army. Dhoni is an icon but not for defence. Why these people always given pride when they are zero in front of our armies who are actually are real heroes. Corruption is spreading in all fields in India. Army chief should be sacked.
Anon 9.55PM,
Where have I denigrated the forces or IAF??? On the contrary it's you who is adopting mullah style of muffling dissent by not entertaining anyone to question something that is openly against the glorious traditions of our armed forces.
Your harangue smacks of someone paid by "powers that be" to check online criticism of such people.And u r doing a very poor job.
It is bcoz of people like you that such stupid acts like felicitation of public entertainers/sportsmen by armed forces or massive corruption is entertained or has become a part of our system and way of life. It is sad to see where our armed forces have fallen from such stratospheric heights.
Anon@ 1:43. All I can say is, its a pity his genes didnt make it to you.
aNON 10.30 AM,
For people like you, heroism means bollywood style tamasha and making money thru dubious means which has become a part of our culture and lifestyle. You have no idea what our armed forces were like a couple of decades ago. Your comments speaks volumes about quality of genes you have inherited.
Anon@5:43,
LOL,just go back and read what you have written.You question their commitment,pass snide remarks on physical appearances, trivialize their duties as a pastime and then you wonder where you have denigrated them!
A debate or a point of view is expressed with a modicum of rationality and sense.Fist you say there is no war for 40 years now,then you go on to claim yourself as the son of a war hero!
Then you state they are only 'standing there' since they did not get a better job.All this while you claim to be son of an IAF officer!Such generalized tripe is not a debate or expression of idea that requires to be stifled!!Nobody is stifling anyone here.But,do listen and try to make sense of what you say.
Anon 5.43,
It's people like you who result in collapse of mighty civilizations because you applaud the King's clothes when he is stark naked.
Look at his physique and that of Air Marshall Arjan Singh or Air Chief Marshal DA La Fontaine, and you will know where we are heading. Are you ignorant about a senior officer asking paltry 20,000 Rs as bribe for prime location in an air show from an MNC firm? Are u ignorant about IN shelling out 2.3 billion for a boat that is several decades old due to one of it's officers having a fling with an old Russian whore? Are u aware IA tried to sabotage Arjun tank so that kickbacks kept flowing? Are u aware that senior officers purchased flats and properties for a song mean't for war widows? Coffin scam, land scam, death threats scam etc etc…are you ignorant about all these scams involving the armed forces in the recent past? Just look at the people who led our armed forces in 70s and earlier and the ones who are leading today. Their body language and physique speaks volumes about the decline in the std of armed forces. Is it any mystery, that armed forces are no longer able to attract talent in the numbers they require? Why will you join the armed forces? To "serve your country"? If you give this answer in CDS interview, chances are pretty high u wont be selected. LOL!
Anon 2.53PM
When my dad joined IAF, the armed forces used to be the 1st choice for the best and the brightest. Several people from royal families considered career in armed forces as a must. Can we say the same today?
You are trying to cover up something which is glaringly evident.
The best and brightest do not consider armed forces as an career option. I was also surprised at the large number of officers who are opting for VRS or early retirement.
@Anon 5:43 and 8:57
Indian polity and bureaucracy is primarily civil driven with supremacy in policy and decision making. Corruption is not an isolated instance either in India or abroad,especially in the lucrative field of Arms business.Bribes in the arms trade is almost as old as the arms trade itself. Notwithstanding the above,instances of corruption in the forces is far less than the civil side and punishment to wrong doers,unlike in the civil side,is actually delivered in the forces.Every older generation feels that the values of their day are no longer there today.Its a common feeling.Societal attitudes and priorities change.The issue of alternative careers as a country advances is always there.These are matters accompanying any societal change.BUT,none of these is so overwhelming to the extent you seem to think.The 'best and brightest' is what? Who decides what is best and brightest.A person at IIM or IIT or an MBA?A person who would be a top Financial honcho or a banker or a marketing exec is he the best and brightest?Why?
So,by that token,every body else in other jobs is not the best and brightest in what they do?
Do officers have to be from elite classes or public schools.The armed forces are not an easy career and it takes a toll on personal and family life.That is why unlike you,one has a greater respect for all those who continue to serve.