Young MPs disappoint Territorial Army

Two years after making announcement that they would soon don the Olive Greens the Young Turks of the Indian Parliament seems to have developed cold feet. None of them has so far enlisted for the Territorial Army, a voluntary, part-time citizen’s army which acts as reserve for the Indian Army in times of need.

While history of US, UK and Canada has examples of politicians and their kith and kin serving in the armed forces and laying down their lives in war, Indian Parliamentarians do not have any military tradition. So when the likes of Deepender Hooda, Navin Jindal, Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed and other young MPs showed enthusiasm to join the ranks of Territorial Army many thought it would herald a new beginning that would motivate the young guns experience the pride of soldiering.

However, two years have elapsed since Territorial Army made a presentation to 30 odd MPs to woo them but no one has so far come forward to join the force.

When I spoke to Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed, the youngest MP in the country from Lakshdaweep Islands, he said: “Territorial Army requires a lot of time. Month long training is not possible for a Parliamentarian.” “The long absence from the constituency will not be a good signal,” said Sayeed. 

Sayeed’s statement seemed to be in complete contrast to what he said after seeing the presentation done by TA. He had said: “. “I went to an air force school. Joining the TA will be a natural progression.”

Only males aged between 18 and 42 can join the TA. So to enhance its brand appeal the TA had targeted the likes of Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, Congress’ Nilesh Rane, Independent member Rajeev Chandrashekhar, BJD’s Kalikesh Singh Deo and RJD’s Jayant Chaudhary.

Of the very few politicians who have joined the TA are Major Manvendra Singh, a former BJP MP from Barmer and former Information and Broadcasting Minister Brigadier KP Singh Deo.

“I write a lot on defence. So it is a good way to get an insight into the military. That is why I kept contact with TA,” Singh told The Sunday Standard. However, Singh also could not keep a balance with the annual peace time training required for joining the TA after getting elected to Lok Sabha from Barmer in Rajasthan.

Brigadier Deo had joined the 144 Air Defence unit of TA in 1971. During his inspiring stint he participated in many high profile military operations and was awarded Ati-Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for his exemplary services.

TA was brought into focus after legendary cricketer Kapil Dev joined its rank in 2008. He was closely followed by the southern super star Mohan Lal.   More recently, the President has granted the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel to the Indian skipper MS Dhoni and ace shooter Abhinav Bindra. But nothing seems to impress the politicians.

To make the force more popular, TA is deliberating to make its training shorter and more flexible.

Military and Politics

-          22 sitting British MPs and sons of 85 parliamentarians were killed in World War-I. Two British PMs, Herbert Henry Asquith and Andrew Bonar Law, lost their sons in the same war.

-          Former US Presidents Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan were all World War II veterans.

-          Wooing the young politicians was the brain child of Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju

-          TA is a second line of defence after the regular Indian Army. Only meant for those people who are already in mainstay civilian professions.