A very strange thing happened the other day. It was like a doubt cropping up in my mind on something as stable and unquestioned as the validity of the military. Actually, it all started when a friend from Japan just mentioned off the hook, that officials of the armed forces in her country are not treated with respect. Now, this was a real shocker. Because being an Army brat, I always revelled in the glory of being an Indian Army Officer’s daughter. But now, there was someone who made me realise that this glory of the defense forces has no appreciation in the eyes of Japan.
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It happened post World War II and the unfortunate Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, that the Japanese Constitution renounced the use of force as a means of resolving dispute. In other words, the age-old and much revered Japanese ‘let’s die for the king’ sentiment was erased from the mindsets of the people. Somewhere around 1947, the Public Security Force was formed which later progressed into the Ground Self Defense Force which is not like your regular military force.
As the name suggests, the soldiers of this military organisation are trained to use weapons only for defense, nothing else. But even that approach hasn’t won them any brownie points with common people. In fact, they are ashamed of wearing their uniform outside the premises of the army area. Mainly because they do not like to be scrutinised or questioned or singled out by the pacifists.
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This was a very weird phenomenon indeed. Coming from India, where a Captain in the army has more respect in the society than a millionaire, I am forced to think about the ideology that supports this phenomenon. Is it because we Indians have not been able to let got of violence? Despite Gandhi ji’s teachings and example, we still require a stern hand to keep us in check and yes, we never think twice to do the same if someone is supposedly off track. Violence is intrinsic to our psyche. Perhaps, that is why parents so readily beat their children, husbands their wives and army men do the same at the border. It all rounds up to one question –Â Do we really need wars, and the military by consequence? Or will it take another Hiroshima and Nagasaki in India to teach us the lesson of peace.
Tags: japanese army, peace, war, world war II