Scholar Warrior Ethos Of Indian Army — Morals, Ethics And Values

The future battlefield scenarios require that we be competent warfighters, but we cannot be competent fighters unless we are as intelligent and mentally tough as we are aggressive and physically rugged

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MAJOR GENERAL YASH MOR (RETD)

“The man who enjoys marching in line and file by the strains of music falls below my contempt; he received the great brain by mistake; the spinal cord would be amply sufficient.” —Norman Dixon, (Psychology of Military Incompetence)

WHILE VARIOUS TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES are intended to transit the Indian Army into a modern force that is prepared to fight and win wars of the future, the greatest challenge will be to transform existing mindsets to adapt to this transition. The change must reflect a professional mindset that is in tune and evolving with the times.

The Indian Army has a long and illustrious record; it has excelled both in war and peace; combating and ensuring security against internal and external threats. While we have an enviable record; the future will demand increasingly higher levels of professionalism. In essence, a professional Army should either be at war or preparing for one. This focus must not be diluted and diffusion avoided. Our functioning should be professional, ethical, and transparent. Organizational goals should take precedence over personal ambitions.

While there is much that is good, there is a need to curb the increasing tendency to take refuge behind age-old traditions and customs, to resist change. The inertia of the status quo attitude needs to be overcome, so as to adopt modern best practices for a transformed Indian Army.

Morals, Ethics, and Values