Page 18 - Leadership in the Indian Army

several decades and it is difficult to vouch for their veracity. Wherever the
subjects are still alive, it was possible to get such accounts authenticated.
Otherwise, an attempt was made to cross-check with those who have served

with them or know them well. However, there may be inaccuracies for
which I alone am responsible, and for these I offer my sincere apologies.
Though this may appear strange, another reason for relying on personal
accounts rather than written records is veracity. Most regimental histories
tend to glorify the actions of battalions as well as individuals. Hence
successes are highlighted but failures rarely mentioned. In battle, cases of
units fighting to the last man are matched by instances of units breaking up

and of brilliant generalship by incompetent leadership. Not surprisingly,
some earn medals and promotions while others are sacked. Like in any two-
sided match, the odds of winning and losing in battle are equal and one
would expect that the performance of units and commanders would
conform to this pattern. The military profession has always placed a greater
premium on valour, rather than on victory. This is especially true in India,

where the most famous military leaders—Porus, Prithvi Raj Chauhan, Rana
Pratap, and Rani Laxmi Bai—lost their battles. Yet, their stories are part of
legend and have acted as an inspiration to generations of Indians.
Unfortunately, military historians today have different views and failure in
battle seems to carry with it a stigma and guilt, which is totally
unwarranted. Today, a misplaced sense of honour and izzat impels units to
hide mistakes and failures, and magnify achievements. In several cases,

when I interviewed the superior formation commanders or staff officers, I
found that their accounts were at variance with those recorded in regimental
histories. Perhaps there is a need for the Colonels of Regiments to have a
closer look at this aspect. If not corrected, this may seriously impinge on the
integrity of the post-Independence military history of India.
The leaders selected represent a cross-section of the Indian Army. Of the

12, nine are from the Infantry and one each from the Cavalry, Engineers and
Signals. There are three Chiefs (Cariappa, Thimayya and Manekshaw); four
Army Commanders (Nathu Singh, Thorat, Bhagat and Sinha); three Corps
Commanders (Sagat, Bakshi and Hanut); one Head of Arm (Batra); and one
Brigade Commander (Usman). If one were to go by valour, there were
seven who were decorated for gallantry. There was one VC (Bhagat); three
MVCs (Bakshi, Hanut and Usman); two DSOs (Thimayya and Thorat); one

VrC (Bakshi); and one MC (Manekshaw).