Common Uniform for the higher ranks of the Indian Army: A Few Thoughts.

Dear Readers,

Many people, mainly my civilian friends, expressed that I should write something on the latest news which has hit army groups and even print media. I found myself least competent to write on the subject for the reasons I explain in the first para. Also, not much is available in terms of information about how and why the decision was taken. In due course may be, some of it might get released. Please take the article as my personal views based on my service experience. Readers could contribute should they have superior information. Also, the photos of dresses below are a reproduction of what has been depicted in Today’s Indian Express Chandigarh Online edition. Their Authencity cannot be guaranteed.

Common Uniform for the higher ranks of the Indian Army: A Few Thoughts.

By reading the title, readers would expect me to take sides and either defend or oppose the move. I may not be competent to do either—the reasons: One, it is now a fait accompli. Second, I have no idea what arguments ensued in favour and against the proposal in the Army Commander’s conference held in April this year when this decision was taken. Given that the quorum of army commanders has a mix of officers from all arms, Infantry, Armour corps, AD corps, and the Army chief is from the Engineers, they must have debated the pros and cons of the issue in threadbare. The decision made in the army commander’s conference must have moved on paper, and the views of all the stakeholders also be on file. At the end of this exercise, if the august body has seen some merit in the decision, it is hard to argue against it. This argument does not mean that all is good, and there are no points against it.

Let me enunciate the rationale stated in the press in favour of the decision. Since the decision will affect only the senior ranks, that is, brigadiers and above, the regimental spirit, camaraderie and traditions would continue to flourish at the unit or a subunit level, where the cutting edge for battle lies. The red beret would continue to be worn by the Paras in Para units or SF (Special Forces). An armoured corps officer and soldier would continue to wear his black beret. Thus, a brigadier promoted from a colonel’s rank is expected to leave his battalion and regimental affiliations for the larger good of the service. The change envisages that senior ranks should treat all the ranks and file as one, making no room for regimental and lanyard biases. It aligns with the utopian concept ‘Vasudhiava Kutumbakam’, a Sanskrit saying: ‘The world is one family.’

Does the above mean that currently, it is not true? This is an important question; its answer depends on individual experiences. Being human, all individuals are fallible. There is a natural tendency to support your kith and kin. The lanyard and regimental affiliations could lead to such follies. All who have been in the service have gone through the feeling irrespective of which arm or service they have belonged to. If merit gets promoted over regimental affiliations in the larger interest of the service, the Indian army is to gain. And it would have sent a great message to the nation. The political class continues to divide the people on caste and religion and promote their kith and kin. If this experiment undertaken by the Indian army proves successful, it will be a great example to emulate.

What would change?

All the officers of the rank of Brigadiers and above would now adorn a common uniform. They would also have similar berets (Dark Green) and the same belt with an Indian army crest. Even the rank badges for everyone would be golden. All regiments which wear a lanyard will shelve it. The colour and the cloth for the shirt and trousers would be the same. Even scarf and shoes would be similar for all. Commonality would be at par with some of the foreign armies. While doing so, the army would continue the same Uniform for colonels and below. Also, the combat uniform, now the new disruptive type, would be similar for all in the ranks of brigadier and above. It is still unknown what the fate of the ceremonial dresses like the Blue Patrols and white Patrols or the more often worn dress of the SD would be. But it would be fair to assume that these would change, bringing in an element of commonality in every Uniform.

Has History Repeated Itself?

Yes, history is repeating itself. The Indian army, forty years back, was on a common uniform for the ranks of full colonels and above. In those days, the battalions and regiments were commanded by Lieutenant Colonels. Keeping in line with the same rationale as is being propagated today. Big question? Why did it Change then? No one knows the true reason, but it is not hard to guess.

Who all are aggrieved? A lot many serving officers mostly and a few veterans too. Pride for your beret or lanyard is natural, and living within a smaller family is always easier than living in an extended one. It would not have been easy to push through this decision; one can be sure of that. A parachute regiment officer, who has, since he was born, looked at his maroon beret as his ultimate achievement, being asked to barter it for a green beret? It is a grudge few might carry to the grave. It’s like telling a fighter pilot not to wear his wings to support his ground role brethren. The simile might seem exaggerated, but it has some truth in the explanation. There would not be any change in wearing the para wings on the chest. Its removal would constitute an ultimate sin. Or the case of an armour corps officer who prides himself on being different because of his black beret. Why would blue beret guys not feel the pinch? Maybe because the two colours would look the same at night, that was on a lighter note. Because there is very little to choose between blue and dark green. Does pride in your arm/ service makes a difference in how this issue is viewed in the army? The answer has to be ‘No’. If at all the notion exists, it exists in the mind and not on the ground. The nature of the task in the army defines the degree of risk you take at any point in time. By the nature of the role, infantry has more exposure to front lines like the LC, LAC and IB. Infantry operates as a combined arms team, so lurking nearby are the elements of artillery, engineers, signals, the ASC, AOC in the mountains, and the Armoured Corps in the flat terrain, including the high altitude. Similarly, the special forces and the Paras have a more specialised role, so their tasks are in smaller groups. But these specialised missions ask for more significant risks to human life. If that is more valued, it should speak volumes about the understanding shown by all the men and officers of the Indian Army. When officers reach a higher rank, they are expected to value each individual on the same scale; every cog in the ship has to work for it to sail efficiently.

What About Foreign Armies?

The British army, from where the Indian army draws its traditions, has a different uniform for colonels and above, and they call them staff uniforms. The wearing of any regimental insignia with the staff uniform is not permitted. What is suggested is, in principle, they wear different uniforms when the officers reach the rank of colonels and above. Unlike the Indian army, the British army is commanded by Lieutenant Colonels. The Pakistani army also follows the pattern adopted by the British army. It’s hard to ascertain, but even in China, the PLAA has a similar uniform for all General officers. These similarities exist in the US Army, which has three common patterns of uniforms for their general officers. Such similarities exist in the French and German armies too.

Conclusion

It is unnecessary to quote the examples of foreign armies to advance or weaken our case. The concept of regimentation and cultural ethos in the Indian Army is unique, unlike any other army, and it has served us well. Has parochialism been our bane? Not everyone will agree. It is challenging to be regimented for the better part of your service career and then switch off. The idea is utopian but sends an excellent message to the rank and file. The big question is, would a change in uniform lead to a change in hearts? Very unlikely, not in the immediate future, but one cannot shed hope. In the times to come, something good might come out of it.