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About Author
Colonel Ajai Shukla (Retired) is a columnist, commentator and journalist who covers regional security issues in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, military technology and India’s defence economy. Read More
Blog archive
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2013
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April
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- Which of the three services looks fittest and most...
- Postcard to Mr Khurshid
- Video of F-35B Lightening II deck operations on US...
- The president awards soldiers for gallantry and se...
- The road forward with China
- China’s third confrontation with India’s border bu...
- Concern over Army transfers amid border stand-off
- Indian Army matches China man-for-man on the border
- The defence ministry comes to life
- New procurement policy to boost India's self-relia...
- Top Gun footage of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft...
- AgustaWestland initiates “dispute resolution” with...
- Indo-UK joint exercise, Ex Ajeya Warrior: official...
- DRDO chief wants 7% of defence budget for R&D
- Broadsword Quiz: Whither Agni-6?
- How weakness buys strength
- HAL’s trainer pitted as Rs 4,500 crore cheaper tha...
- Defence ministry's initiative to push indigenous d...
- MoD’s massive Rs 15,000 cr upgrade for ordnance fa...
- Strategic Forces Command "successfully flight test...
- RTI reveals MoD largesse to Armed Forces Tribunal
- MoD courts trouble
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April
(22)
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Despite the bonhomie between the US and India, New Delhi's geopolitical constraints remain visible By Ajai Shukla Business Standard,... -
Business Standard calls for increasing the intake of officers, without compromising standards By Ajai Shukla Unsigned editorial, 26th July 2... -
Indian-American lawmakers warn ed of “significant damage” to the US–India partnership if New Delhi does not act directly and quickly Ajai ... -
The Tejas (above) is an essential stepping stone towards building the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (Part 4 of a four-part series on the T... -
A key challenge in developing the Tejas Mark 2 fighter is increasing the capacity of its mission computer and flight software (Part III of...
ofcourse... the Admiral...
ReplyDeleteNone...
ReplyDeleteIndian Navy, and thats only due to its attitude of accepting and promoting indigenous content.
ReplyDeleteLOL!! Biting sarcasm sir, it seems Navy with both AF and IA running neck to neck or belly 2 belly.
ReplyDeleteCoast guard!!!
ReplyDeleteIndian Navy
ReplyDeleteIAF followed by the IN followed by the IA. The face look seems to be equally proportional to the man & material each force is equipped with. The MoD is equally to be blamed for this !!!
ReplyDeleteThe Indian Navy :)
ReplyDeleteAdmiral > Air Marshall > General.
ReplyDeletethe good admiral of course. I have seen from the last 20 years that in general the Admirals and the Marshals are the fittest compared to the Generals. I think it has to do with the culture of these institutions.
ReplyDeleteA.K.Browne. IAF Chief.
ReplyDeleteNone of them.
ReplyDeleteGood Joke they will not be required for the actual fight its their desision that will make the difference.
ReplyDeletenavy
ReplyDeleteFittest would be the Naval chief.
ReplyDeleteI imagine all three of them are ready for war regardless of their individual physical fitness. But they need to be in MUCH MUCH better physical condition.
An excellent Ted Talk by Gen. Mark Hertling, Commander of US Seventh Army in Europe about obesity in the US Army and the "costs" of a fast food/technologically dependent society.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWN13pKVp9s
Going by words.....the Navy (prepared to defend our interest in Vietnam), going by dedication to the nation (indiginus efforts)....the Navy, going by the looks of the chiefs ...,the Navy.
ReplyDeleteTime to do more then talk you three, time to start getting more aggressive and ready to flash some steel....as u say "we are prepared for all contingencies"
Thxs Pritesh from Sydney
navy
ReplyDeleteCertainly the navy. It needs to speed up the IAC and Arihant programs.
ReplyDeleteno prizes ???????
ReplyDeleteNavy......Army..............and, the guy we need the most.....airforce..........is last.....
This you can make out from these snaps? How? Enlighten please . Or is this jlt.
ReplyDeleteINDIAN MEDIA!
ReplyDeletei can think of no other service that can be more fit and ready for war other than our MEDIA and super cool 'JOURNALISTS'.
The Indian Navy, without any doubt.
ReplyDeleteShameful heading. The depths of yellow journalism. Not at all the standard of an ex-army man.
ReplyDelete@ Col Ashwani
ReplyDeleteYou don't think the country needs an explanation when its fighting men start looking unfit and overweight?
Actually, would love to see a photo of yours. Side profile preferably.
Got to say that I agree with the majority opinion. If I were to be joined by these three gents for a jog in the morning, I'd be really surprised if anyone except for Admiral Joshi would be able to keep up... :-(
ReplyDeletei am sure all three service can able to well protect our boundaries and interest if war broken out. Incursions should be deal through diplomatic move rather than military one. Since strong diplomatic move only can bring mutual trust and permanent peace along the border than any other force. This the lesson historic and two world wars taught to us.
ReplyDeleteTheres always room for humor...
ReplyDeleteWhat a joke? I bet they're fit enough to run for their plate of ladoods,pakoras &samosa,nothing else. It show that spending nations meagre money on defence of the mother land and it's founding wanting. Chinese ,Pakistanis and other minor countries are taking bites out of the country!
ReplyDeletei think unfit & fat capts , majors & colonels are a more reason for more worry than unfit generals or admirals..the way indian officers look once they hit the rank of major..is really shamefull..
ReplyDelete& sir , now that u have diverted our attentions to such a topic..i'll like to ask u the reason for this..do these officers not exercise in their units ??
what is the daily PT routine in an IA unit..how can so many of them start to slack of..is this because of a loose grip from the CO ??
I really find it immature of you to say that only one of them can defeat me. Be a bit modest and if you are such a fine athlete try and run against Lt Gen Panag.
ReplyDeleteAlso every1 questioning their fitness, chiefs are meant to plan and direct not fight try and google Leon Panetta the former CIA chief who helped nab Osama and you will get my point.
At their seniority level a slight bulge in belly is acceptable. They are not expected to be as fit as a young Captain or Major. At their level it is the fitness of mind which matters.
ReplyDeleteSchool Girls from Indian Scouts will do the job better than these morons.
ReplyDelete@ Broadsword
ReplyDeleteWould love to send you my photograph - side or whatever profile you prefer, but am still under orders and as if now can't.
As regards my own fitness levels, ran the last PPT and BPET in the month of Jan 13 in 'Ex'. So shut up in this case.
The nation also needs an explanation for your atrocious ideas on the fighting capability of the three services, are you going to oblige us? And if you are so concerned, why the hell did you quit? Coward!
Doesn't matter Ajai who looks the fittest....All three of them will have to act as one and throw these garbages out of our territory....
ReplyDeleteBeing a layman, I have never heard of a General leading a platoon in war. So this question is pointless. As far as their mental preparedness is concerned, only the time will tell. If at all physical fitness is concerned one need to check the Cap, Maj and Col's fitness.
ReplyDelete@AjaiShukla.. this being your blog you can mock me if I am at odds
The cavalry cad at it again...conceited about ur own "superfitness" ? Look towards Bhopal and ask hu is fit ? HAHHAHAHAHHA
ReplyDeleteI used to cringe when my father used to point out pot bellied officers & men outside the Sena Bhavan/ South block.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely mostly unfit....
OH, I understood the PJ after reading comments of the Broadsword Shukla...
ReplyDeleteNavy
ReplyDeleteAll you need is a "Vibrating Fat Removing Machine" and perhaps all the three can begin to show the six-pack.
ReplyDeleteNavy has "honed" their "belly" from the looks of the photo.
this is the problem with IA ..they are not public friendly..they want the best human material but they are(including experienced ex officers like u) ignorant of public demands or even simple ans to questions..
ReplyDeleteyou simply cant find simple info like PT routines in indian units..
sir it's regretable that u raise an issue but then don't correspond with commentors..
i am anon at 15:42 1 may..& i just raised a simple ques..
@ Col Ashwini
ReplyDeleteYeah, everyone who posts on any blog is super fit. Easy to say it on a blog, especially when nobody knows who the hell you are.
In contrast, my statements about anything that I do or did can be verified from multiple sources. All you need to do is ask someone of my seniority!
As for "coward"! Funny, funny. I'd say a coward is someone who fights anonymously on a blog. Someone who doesn't have the guts to show his (her?) face. And who cites "service rules" to hide his (undoubtedly flabby) self.
Btw, didn't you know that posting on a blog is also against the rules?
These pictures are very kind to the COAS -they are front on and he has the benefit of a dark coloured uniform.
ReplyDeleteThe role of a Chief is more of a leadership one and here in the area of physical fitness they must also lead by example -there is nothing so off putting to a martial image of a General officer.
than a protruding belly.
I would hazard a guess that with the pyramidal structure at any rank above Lt Colonel there are more guys who aint going further than those that do. That is when a guy tends to lose the motivation on a lot of things including fitness.
Take a look at any Sainik Samachar issue and you will see pics of visiting Army Commanders being introduced to a line up of local corps/div/area staff officers -with many in the lineups looking very unsoldierly. A closer look at the faces will reveal again many of them are those passed over and serving out time.
Fitness,immaculate posture and turnout are drilled into an officer in the NDA/IMA but somehow once an officer leaves his regiment (where willy nilly exercise is mandatory),the onus of physical fitness shifts to the officer.And the results are there for all to see.
So whats the solution? -instead of making a "jai hind" mandatory, why not make it compulsory for all officers who are not with their regiments to do an hours structured aerobics/cardio every morning 6 to 7am. Somethings on the line of the Japs who do a half hour of calisthenics before commencing work.Make sure the Army Physical Corps has a presence in every station and administers this daily workout for officers - there is no shortage of place/facility for exercise in any Army station.
But who will bell the cat for us to see a more fitter officer cadre?
The Chief of Air Force. N.A.K. Browne will kick Chinese ass any given day.
ReplyDeletePretty low standard of journalism...I would rather have pot-bellied winston churchill heading my army rather than egoistic and fit journalist.
ReplyDeleteThe coward has left the challange and adventure of the forces to seek the comfy greener pastures of dishonest journalism and has made it a business out of mocking and taunting those brave soldiers. First you were hounding the truly great son of the soil Gen.V.K Singh and now you are seeking out others like a malignat cancer. I am glad the army is rid of cowards like you. Good luck with your treadmill.
ReplyDeleteIf you are better than the chiefs why dont you take your fit posterior and take on the PLA Army yourself rather than pass value judgements on those who are actually doing it. Obviously you are jealous you could never make it to General rank and venting your jealousy from your comfy cushy office.
ReplyDelete@ Harbhan
ReplyDeleteI left the "challenge and adventure of the forces" to the comfy pastures of journalism. Funny, funny!
It's probably a waste of time for me to try and educate a half-wit like you, but for the sake of others who visit the blog, let me explain why your argument is so fake.
The "challenge and adventure" of military life exists only up to the time that you finish soldiering, i.e. command of your unit. And that I did.
After that, it is sahib-giri. For too many senior officers (though definitely not all), it is a rat-race in which the men in the field are forgotten as they race to climb the greased bamboo pole of promotion. I chose not to be a part of that.
As for your observation that I have a cushy life, you must be blind, ignorant or both. I spend more time on travel, tours and reporting from tough areas, even war zones, where I don't enjoy the facilities and backup support that officers of the Indian Army do. So, in essence, after 22 years of soldiering, I quit the staff stream and chose to go back to war zone journalism. My first assignment was four months on the front-lines during the Afghanistan war in 2001.
As for your rant that I am jealous that I "could never make it to General rank"... you again display your ignorance of military matters. I quit when I was still flying high... and might well have made it to general had I stayed on. Since I didn't, this will never be tested. But I wasn't superseded so I might well have become a general.
Anyway, your post makes it clear that you are a chamcha of General VK Singh. So, in many people's eyes, you are discredited anyway.
@ Harbhan
ReplyDeleteBut this post is not about your ranting. It is about the need for all officers, from the service chiefs down, to be fit and to look dangerous and to actually be so.
Sadly, too many officers let themselves go and start looking like lalas. And, since the generals are themselves unfit, who's going to crack the whip?
Btw, when I was commandant of an armoured regiment in 2000-01, I was amongst the physically fittest colonels in the army. I may even have been THE fittest. And this is something that I and my regiment took pride in.
Sir,
ReplyDeleteYou have an unbelievable patience and a superhuman capacity to read and respond to such insulting rants by morons. A rare quality for a soldier, for someone who is trained not to take any shit !
Amazing.
Your Fan.
I dont understand. I mean all they have to do is get up and go exercise. Its is not like they have a second job or something.
ReplyDelete