Maj Gen GD Bakshi must know universities are no battleground

Who are the soldiers of democracy? Are they exclusively or predominantly the military? Let us examine the stance of Major General GD Bakshi who is very upset with the JNU faculty and students. He has every right to his opinion now, but not when he was in the military.

I should know, I was his batchmate in the National Defence Academy (NDA) in the 39th Course in January 1968. I applied for the Air Force and was seventh in merit in the combined list, later joining the Echo squadron. One thing was clear from mottos put up on the walls of the squadrons where we lived. The military's life of service to the nation was contrasted with a critical view of the civilians. The worst criticism in the academy was to be compared with a civilian.

Of course, in a uniformed force discipline is paramount, especially in India, with wars and continuing terrorism a perennial challenge.

But countering alienation and theoretical/motivated attacks on the framework of democracy is primarily the job of civilians in the government, judiciary, legislature and civil society. Here flexibility and compromise are critical.

Therefore, having tanks in Army installations is fine. But not in academic institutions which are not and should not be militarist. The military is a precious resource. So are intellectuals and civil society, including outside India.

Large parts of knowledge are universal, and a substantial part of academic and political discourse is discussed in various parts of the world. The widespread signature campaigns from throughout the world in support of JNU are testimony of the universalisation of debate and commitment to academic freedom.

The military has its own foreign contacts and knowledge exchanges, but the parameters are different. It must understand and appreciate difference. These are difficult times. Those officer cadets in the NDA who have got degrees from JNU would do well to understand the political, judicial and regional basis of ideological and theoretical debates and politics. The Army may well say that we have been there. That is true. They have fought terrorism at considerable cost. But this is a struggle on a different terrain.

In a word, we are all united in the effort to further cement national unity, pluralism, secularism and democratic rights. Only then will truth prevail. Satyamev Jayate!