Need to free ourselves from war phobia

Need to free ourselves from war phobia


Ever since Army chief’s letter created doubts about our un-preparedness in the matter of war ammunition, there is news that defence department is going overdrive in placing orders for equipments and ammunition.

I really wonder why we can’t see the new emerging geo-political scenario. First, after the Second World War and especially with the birth of UNO in 1945 the definition of a strong and great nation has changed completely. Invading other countries usurping their land and enslaving other people, no more goes with the definition of a great & strong country and nor is it feasible any more. Only that country is mighty and qualifies to be a power house which can provide good standard of living-food, education, clothing & shelter, opportunities of socio economic and cultural development to its people - like USA, Japan, Singapore, Australia and even China now. In the face of this if we continue to live by creating war phobia in the minds of our people, we are only harming our own interest. Let us accept that none of our neighbours including China can attack us as we can’t attack any of the countries like Bangledesh or Nepal. Every one has its own basket of problems to handle. Moreover people everywhere want development and growth and are not prepared to accept animal living even if the size of the country becomes larger after the war victories. Keeping refugees and prisoners is not an easy for any country, any more.

Second, India being the largest importer of war equipments looks to be most vulgar and dehumanizing reality when we look at these facts- one third of the people who suffer from hunger live in India, we are far behind the average world literacy rate of 84% and India currently has the largest illiterate population in the world. 60% of India women and 47% children suffer from malnutrition. Other parameters like child and women mortality, Human development growth are equally agonizing.

Let us first understand that this creation of war phobia is by the selfish interests who make huge wealth in the import of war equipments and it includes our top army brass also. Again army like any other department or segment will not be comfortable if one talks of pruning the budget or down sizing because we fail to integrate country’s interest with our own interest.

What needs to be done--- Free our selves from this war phobia created by vested interests, cut down the defence budget by minimum 30%, down size our forces by 30% and make these efficient, reduce corruption level by bringing transparency in army purchases and recruitments and last indigenize production of army equipments otherwise of what good are these hundreds of Ordinance factories.


Bhartendu Sood