'India's well-timed diversification of Army helped Democracy'


Posted on 20th Mar 2015 01:27 pm by mohit kumar

New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) India's well-timed decision post independence to control and diversify its army helped preserve its democracy, or it could have ended up like Pakistan which has seen three army coups post independence.

Yale university professor Steven I. Wilkinson, in his book "Army and Nation: How India's Founders Made its Army Safe for Democracy" - writes that while the Indian Army at the time of independence was dominated by few martial groups, diversification and modifications in its structure helped the country.

"If you inherit an imbalanced army, chances of a coup are high," Wilkinson said speaking about his book at the India International Center Thursday evening.

The author said in 1929, the army had overwhelmingly warriors from Sikh and Gorkha communities, both martial groups.

"In 1947, the army was still dominated by certain martial groups who made 95 percent of the troops. It was still an imbalanced army, as the British recruited troops from martial roots. These officers were also a closely knit community creating more trouble for politicians," he said.

He however added that India was still in a better position in what it inherited, compared to Pakistan, which had 72 percent of its army from Punjab alone, while thereere only 155 officers from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

"The most represented and the least represented (in army) - Punjab and Bengal - were together in Pakistan," he said.

India on the contrary had 32 percent Sikh soldiers, 18 percent from Uttar Pradesh, and 10 percent from erstwhile Bombay province, which he said was more diversified comparatively, while still imbalanced.

The author said, however, India dealt with the issue better than Pakistan.

"India dealt with it better. Pakistan either did not try or did it too late. They could have done a lot in the 1950s," he said.

"India's political leadership felt the army needed immediate attention. (Jawaharlal) Nehru and (Vallabhbhai) Patel were thinking about it as an issue. In Pakistan there was very little thinking about it," he said.

He highlighted that at the time of independence, both Indian and Pakistani armies had a similar background, adding that the Indian Army could have reacted in a similar way as happened in Pakistan had there been political instability here.

"They were trained in the same way, and they kept ties even after partition. Had India slipped into political chaos, they (Indian Army) could have acted similar," he said.

The author also pointed out that despite of the fact that army was dominated by people from Punjab, it was not untill 1961 that the army got its first chief from the Punjab regiment - General Pran Nath Thapar.

Pakistan, since partition, has seen three military coups and several unsuccessful attempts.

It began in 1958, when the first Pakistani president, Iskander Mirza, who had retired as a major general, dismissed parliament and prime minister Feroz Khan Noon, appointing the army chief, General Ayub Khan, as the chief martial law administrator. Thirteen days later, Mirza himself was deposed by Ayub Khan, who appointed himself the president and raised himself to field marshal.

In 1977, Pakistani Army chief General Zia-ul-Haq overthrew prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was later hanged.

In 1999, General Pervez Musharraf overthrew prime minister Nawaz Sharif and and evnetually became the president.

0 Like 0 Dislike
Previous news Next news
Other news

Corona Updates: 4,000 cases for the second consecutive day, this is the highest in 3 months; Masks mandatory in Maharashtra

In the last 24 hours, 3,945 cases of the corona were reported in the country. It has remained clo

'If you are number 1 then you have to...' Suryakumar said this big thing before the Super-8 match, eager to play on the pitches of West Indies

The performance of the Indian team in the T20 World Cup 2024 has been strong so far. India topped

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina offers India to use Chittagong port, says both countries will have to increase connectivity

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Indian Foreign Minister S. During the meeting wit

Screening of 'Chhava' banned in Belgaum, Karnataka, controversy escalates over police action; what is the whole matter?

Protests continue over the screening of 'Chhava' in Belgaum, Karnataka. Tension prevailed in Belg

PAK President upset with our film: Arif Alvi said - Movies like Suryavanshi increase Islamophobia, actress Mehvish also has problems with it

Pakistan is upset with Akshay Kumar's recent release 'Sooryavanshi'. Be it President Arif Alvi or

Tytler defamation case: Delhi HC restrains trial court hearing

New Delhi, March 24 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday restrained a trial court from taking

Chinese President Xi Jinping to launch national exercise to discipline Communist Party: Report

Chinese President Xi Jinping described his term in power as a new one, in which he would launch a

Ram Mandir: Fatwa against Imam for visiting Ram Mandir, had once praised Mohan Bhagwat; Who is Umer Ahmed Ilyasi who advocates CAA?

Respected personalities from all over the country had reached Ayodhya for the consecration ceremo

MPPSC-2019 Result Ban: High Court orders to prepare results from old rules, decision came in 89 pages

Madhya Pradesh High Court has stayed the result of MPPSC-2019. Terming the amended rule 17/2/2020

After the data theft, Dr. Reddy's closed the plants all over the world, a few days ago, the trial of the Russian vaccine was approved.

After the data was stolen from the server, the pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy's Laboratories ha

Sign up to write
Sign up now if you have flare of writing..
Login   |   Register
Follow Us
Indyaspeak @ Facebook Indyaspeak @ Twitter Indyaspeak @ Pinterest RSS



Play Free Quiz and Win Cash