A soldier-statesman departs

Lt Gen GS Sihota (retd)

The chief ingredients in the composition of those qualities that gain esteem and praise are good nature, truth, good sense and good breeding. — Joseph Addison

INDIA lost a soldier-statesman in Major Jaswant Singh on September 27. After passing out from the Indian Military Academy in 1957, he joined the Central India Horse and served in the Army for 10 years. Jaswant Singh found his calling in public life after he first joined the Swatantra Party, later the Janata Party and then the BJP. He was one of the longest-serving parliamentarians. Atal Bihari Vajpayee utilised his talent by giving him the vital portfolios of Defence, Finance and External Affairs.

I came in contact with him as the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) when he was the Defence Minister. A man with impeccable manners, he was able to put everyone at ease in his presence and accorded them equal respect. Once I was to accompany him to an all-party meeting regarding a militant attack at the Jammu railway station. I was humbled and touched when he came out of his Parliament office to receive me. I could see that his secretary had been instructed to inform him of my arrival. This lesson in courtesy remained with me forever. He was highly articulate and had an expression for every occasion. His notings were a reader’s delight.

The defence forces will remain indebted to him for introducing and sanctioning schemes for the welfare of serving soldiers and veterans, including their families. His personal equation with the Prime Minister brought in quick sanctions and implementation. The Ex-serviceman's Contributory Health Scheme gave a new lease of life to the retired community. The introduction of Married Accommodation projects provided much-needed homes to the families in peace stations. It was a great morale-booster!

He was an active participant in military discussions for re-energising strategies and tactics in the battlefield. His inputs to the Army after his discussions with eminent leaders abroad proved to be extremely useful.

He sowed the seeds of the much-needed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by sanctioning the raising of the Integrated Defence Staff, the Andaman & Nicobar Command and the Strategic Force Command.

Major Jaswant Singh was a man of many parts. Though politics took up most of his day, he found time for horse-riding, which was his passion. He also found time to write. He left an indelible mark on the Indian defence forces and all those who knew him. As an Irving Berlin classic goes, ‘The song is ended, but the melody lingers on’.