NO Problem

How Jugaad is used by our armed personnel.

- Savita Singh

Our Indian Army is one of the best armies in the world. The American forces may have the best and the latest armament, the Russians the latest and best missiles, and the Chinese may be greater in number. But no one can beat our army where improvisation or jugaadupan is concerned.

Some of the biggest armies of the world have been known to have come to a standstill because of the lack of some small component of their best armament which either went missing or was destroyed. It is like the Americans left their best planes, tanks and armed cars in Afganistan minus the keys to them.

The Taliban, with no knowledge about how to use or activate them, just destroyed most of arsenal. What a waste. Had it been our troops they would have probably said, 'No keys? No problem.' And they would have used some jugaad to use the treasure trove of arsenal left behind.

Our officers and men have always used their brains and improvised and done wonders. Let me tell you some of the true stories. Of course, I cannot disclose the exact location or give names for obvious reasons.

It was somewhere in the forward areas in Ladakh. The regiment had just come down from the glacier and not yet settled down properly when ADM (administrative) inspection was declared.

They had six offices but only enough furniture to furnish two. What was to be done? When the young officers came to know they said, 'No problem.'

While the ADM inspection was going on, the CO's wife noticed some jawans rushing along carrying furniture from one place to another. When she inquired what was happening they told her. 'Madam ji, poorti kar rahain hain' (we are filling in the gap).