The first-ever Param Vishisht Seva Medal of the Indian Army was awarded to Lt Gen B M Kaul in 1960, notably for the successful completion of Operation Amar – the construction of 1,450 barracks/family quarters for troops in Ambala – which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on August 20, 1958. This project was the brainchild of the Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon. To save on cost, the project entailed using troops as labour for the construction. Gen Thimayya, the Chief of Army Staff, was opposed to the project, but during his absence for a visit to the USA, Maj Gen B M Kaul, then General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 4 Infantry Division at Ambala, directly approached the Defence Minister and got the necessary approvals. The famous Red Eagle division rose to the occasion under his dynamic command and successfully completed the projected in a record seven months.

During his command tenure, in 1956, he had also given a fire-power and manoeuvre demonstration by an infantry battalion to the visiting Chinese delegation led by Prime Minister Chou En Lai at the Naraingarh field firing ranges. All that our army and air force had was put on display. Troops had rehearsed the demonstration for months to achieve perfection. The Chinese were awestruck and a visiting General was compelled to ask, “General would such immense resources be available to a battalion in war?” Thus 1956-1959 was spent by 4 Infantry Division in organising great spectacles to showcase nationalistic spirit by constructing accommodation using troop labour and in impressing the Chinese by using disproportionate assets in support of a battalion attack.

In end 1959, 4 Infantry Division was despatched to NEFA. Lt Gen B M Kaul, having earned his PVSM, was now the Quarter Master General responsible for housing of the army. War clouds were looming, but the General was still obsessed with his pet projects. Rather than staying in tents and focusing on preparing defences, the ever-efficient 4 Infantry Division was tasked to construct bashas (temporary mud and tin-roofed accommodation) under Operation Amar 2. Representations were brushed aside and construction began on a war-footing. Operation Amar 2 was inaugurated by none other than the Prime Minister on April 14, 1960.

In the early 1960s, the unit lines, messes and bungalows were also used for ‘grow more food’ campaign to grow wheat and other crops. It was a common sight in Meerut Cantonment to see troops engaged in farming. Bullocks and ploughs had been bought from regimental funds and old Persian wells had been reactivated. A still older method of drawing water out of conventional wells using a buffalo hide as a water bag and pulled by bullocks or male buffaloes, was also put to use. Once during a locust attack, it was a comical sight to see troops in hundreds beating empty peepas (metal canisters) to frighten the locust away from the wheat being grown.

In 1961, it was clear to all that war with China was imminent. However, the government at this juncture decided to throw the Portuguese out of Goa. Operation Vijay to liberate Goa was a classic tri-service operation against a very weak enemy and was all over in two days. However, great publicity was given to this ‘feat of arms’ with high-pitch political rhetoric and public adulation. The only sour note was that some units indulged in looting and were forced to march on foot on the way back. The liberation of Goa was long overdue but in hindsight, the timing, by design or default led to public attention being diverted from what was happening on the northern borders. Also, it brought in a false sense of complacency about our military prowess.

Such was the prevailing environment, ethos and culture in the armed forces in the Fifties and early Sixties. Grassroots training, the primary preoccupation of an army in peace time, had been neglected, generals were bending backwards for political favours. The Army chief had resigned due to reckless political orders for taking over the northern borders to execute the forward policy without requisite infrastructure. He was cajoled into withdrawing his resignation but was later humiliated during discussions in the Parliament.

Note the irony, when war came in October-November 1962, it was 4 Infantry Division that faced the brunt in the Kameng Division. 4 Corps, responsible for the defence of NEFA, was commanded by none other than Lt Gen B M Kaul. During the final conference held by the Chinese Politburo on October 6, Marshal Ye Jianying informed all present that during his 1957 visit to India, he had met General Kaul, the Indian Commander in NEFA. He said that though Kaul had served in Burma during World War II, he had no actual combat experience. He added that Kaul seemed, “to be very rigid, even if an impressive looking soldier. Still, he was one of India’s most outstanding commanders”. Mao cut him short and sarcastically said, “Fine, he’ll have another opportunity to shine.”

Alas, the rest is history. The Indian Army with 200 hundred years of unblemished history was routed in just eight days of fighting, four days each in October and November 1962. Of course, we have come a long way. It took us three years of concerted training and ‘detoxification’ to keep our heads above water in 1965 and another six years of hard work to redeem our reputation in 1971.

With the above backdrop, I appeal to our political leaders and our generals, that while participation in non-military ‘national causes’ is a noble effort, do not forget that our primary mission is to safeguard the nation.

The author can be contacted on Twitter @rwac48.