Page 375 - Leadership in the Indian Army

encouraged his subordinates to do so as well. He was upright, truthful, and
knowledgeable, and had a mind of his own. He did not hesitate to express
his views, even when he knew they would not be accepted. However, he

never became argumentative, or forced his ideas on his subordinates. This
personality was later used by his detractors to brand him as anti-
establishment.
A lot has been said about Hanut’s religious beliefs. Religion and the
military profession appear to be a contradiction in terms, but Hanut did not
see it that way. Religion has always formed an integral part of Rajput
culture and ethos. Hanut believed that religion gave soldiers the inner

strength to rise above the mundane and achieve self-actualisation. In fact,
Hanut found religion a great motivating factor. He did not practise religion
in the traditional manner of rituals and fasts, but as an intellectual who had
explored and found a new dimension to it. His wide reading enabled him to
grasp its true meaning, and he abided by the tenet of the Bhagwad Gita,
which equates Dharma or religion with Karma or righteous living. Hanut

realised that for a soldier, the two are synonymous, and this became the
basic philosophy of his life.
Hanut’s attitude towards his profession was a subject of intense debate.
His dedication to the profession of arms was so complete that he never
married, as he felt that this would compromise it. He made it a subject of
deep study, research and experimentation in order to become perfect. In the
process he developed professional acumen of unmatched brilliance in all

military matters. When he spoke, it was with an authority born out of years
of experience and study. His inner strength and conviction were transparent,
and had a hypnotic effect on his subordinates, who were ever ready to
follow him, regardless of the consequences. He had an intense desire to
teach whatever he knew to anybody who cared to learn. In the process, he
got so involved that he would not spare himself or the student until he was

satisfied that the learning process was complete.
Many of Hanut’s contemporaries felt that he was eccentric and on a
perpetual collision course with his superiors. Hanut knew this, but felt that
since he always acted in the interests of the service and the men under his
command, he was justified. Some of his superiors understood this and
tolerated his idiosyncracies, and a few even appreciated it. However, the
larger majority could not stomach it and reacted adversely. Hanut was rarely