A work Cut Out For The Chief Of Defence Staff
War of the Messes
Various Wars have been documented, studied, discussed and analyzed and relevant literature is readily available online and offline for all those interested in the subject.
*But have you heard of the “War of the Messes”?*
Do you know that this *“War of the Messes”* took place in 1982 on the *“battlefield”* of New Delhi?
This was a unique “war”.
In conventional wars junior officers and men do the fighting while Generals and Admirals watch on.
The “War of the Messes” was “fought” by Generals and Admirals while junior officers watched on.
This is what happened.
Till 1981, Army and Navy had two common Officers’ Messes in New Delhi a brand new mess at SP Marg and a rather antediluvian mess at Kota House.
Young Army and Navy Bachelor Officers lived together in these Officers’ Messes in great harmony with a spirit of camaraderie.
Of course, the Air Force, which always believes in keeping a safe distance from the “pongos” and the “sea dogs”, had its iconic Central Vista (CV) Air Force Officers’ Mess on Janpath.
If you were a young bachelor you could choose your mess.
The ageing Kota House Mess was conveniently located in the heart of New Delhi and was preferred by the slightly “elder” bachelors.
The younger officers preferred the modern SP Marg Mess located at faraway Dhaula Kuan.
(35 years ago Dhaula Kuan was considered a “distant” place on the “outskirts” of New Delhi).
SP Marg Officers’ Mess was a lively place with a laissez faire atmosphere.
I spent some of the best days of my life in SP Marg Officers’ Mess and even today as I hark back to my Navy Days. I fondly cherish my glorious days at SP Marg Officers’ Mess.
Relations between us Naval Officers and our Army Mess mates were excellent.
We made a lot of Army friends.
In fact, it was at SP Marg Officers Mess that I first made close friendships with fellow Army Officers lasting friendships which endure even till today.
We young bachelor officers lived happily together in SP Marg Officers Mess and there was an atmosphere of bonhomie in the evenings when we all sat together on the lawns or in the bar enjoying our drinks.
*If you wanted to see an example of authentic “jointmanship” and genuine “inter-service camaraderie” – SP Marg Officers” Mess was a shining example.*
I am sure it was the same happy spirit at Kota House too.
Everyone was living happily but, sadly, it was not going to be a case of “happily ever after” because suddenly the “War of the Messes” erupted.
Most of us junior officers did not even know that a “war” had broken out.
As I said earlier this was a unique “war”.
This “war of the messes” was not fought on the “battlefield” of SP Marg and Kota House Messes.
Conventional military tactics and weapons were not used in this “war”.
*This “war” was “fought” in air-conditioned offices by Generals and Admirals* using the far more potent bureaucratic weapon paper.
The “war of the messes” was not a physical war it was a “paper war”.
By the time “cease fire” was declared, the Generals seemed to be on the brink of victory and the Admirals appeared to be on the verge of defeat.
The “spoils of war” were divided.
The “victorious” Army won the coveted modern SP Marg Officers’ Mess.
The “vanquished” Navy was banished to the ancient decrepit Kota House Officers’ Mess.
To commemorate their *“victory”* over the Admirals in the *“war of the messes”* the Generals *renamed the SP Marg Officers Mess as the Army “Battle Honours” Mess.*
*It was a well-deserved coveted “Battle Honour” won exclusively by the Generals (without the help of their “Troops”).*
In order to further “celebrate” their “victory” in the “war of the messes” and in the true spirit of “jointmanship” – the Generals evicted all Naval Officers from the SP Marg Officers’ Mess.
In a retaliatory gesture of “jointmanship” the Admirals evicted Army Officers from the Kota House Officers’ Mess.
It was quite sad to see friendly mess mates who were living together as buddies being wrenched apart and separated as per the colour of their uniform just to suit the whims and fancies of a few Generals and Admirals.
The scene was reminiscent of partition days when friends who were living amicably together had to leave their homes and go to another land just because of the decisions of a few politicians.
Metaphorically, junior officers were like happy children who had to separate due to the “divorce” of their parents one parent getting “custody” of one child, and the other parent of the other child.
While the senior officers fought the “war of the messes” with each other it was the junior officers who suffered as a result of these internecine turf wars, ego battles and personality clashes.
The biggest irony was that none of the Generals or Admirals actually lived in these two Officers’ Messes which were primarily a home for young bachelor officers.
*Another amusing paradox was that many of the officers involved in “fighting” this “war of the messes” with each other were products of the famous “joint training institution” – the National Defence Academy (NDA).*
Of course, now each service has its own separate Officers’ Mess in New Delhi so that the Generals, Admirals and Air Marshals can have their own separate fiefdoms.
On many occasions, I have heard Senior Officers lecturing and pontificating about the need for “jointmanship” in the Indian Armed Forces.
But tell me one thing.
What so-called “jointmanship” are you talking about *when you can’t even have a “Joint Officers’ Mess” where Officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force can live together, drink together and eat together with camaraderie and build lifelong friendships?*
I think the first step towards achieving genuine jointmanship is to convert all Officers’ Messes in New Delhi into tri-service combined officers’ messes for officers of all three services.
Then, this “tri-service officers’ mess” concept can be implemented in other stations where the services co-exist.
On the one hand we talk of “integrating” our three defence services.
On the other hand each service wants to build its own separate “empire”.
I feel that the first step in “fighting together” is learning to “live together”.
*And only after the 3 Services have learnt to “live together” in a combined mess, should they talk of grandiose highfalutin concepts like having a combined Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).*
Editorial : Chief of Defence Staff must at once order a ceasefire and thereafter there should be an Armistice Day.
