DO NAVAL OFFICERS
INDULGE IN WIFE-SWAPPING ?
Musings of a Veteran
By
VIKRAM KARVE
I am a retired
Naval Officer who has given more than
33 of the best years of my life to the Navy.
That is why I was shocked
when I opened the newspaper this morning and read a headline NAVAL
OFFICERS INDULGE IN WIFE-SWAPPING on page 11 of The Times of India
(Pune Edition) Friday 12 April 2013.
A headline in
another edition of the TOI says: Wife-Swapping
Common in the Navy
This news item
has flooded the print electronic and internet media and is being widely
discussed on the social media like Twitter.
Click the url
links below to read about the news item in the TOI and other newspapers and
media:
While the
matter will be duly investigated and law will take its own course, I am deeply
pained and dismayed by all this and wish to put forth my views purely from the
ethical angle.
It is sad that
some despicable actions of a few black sheep tarnish the good name of the navy
and hurt the reputation of all naval officers, serving and retired, causing all
of us immense pain, shock and humiliation.
As far as the
media is concerned, the way in which a broad brush has been used to paint the
entire community of Naval Officers as an immoral depraved bunch of
wife-swappers is most unfair.
I feel that
media must use restraint and avoid over-sensationalizing such sensitive and
delicate matters.
Please ponder
and reflect on the deleterious effect such sensational headlines will have on
the impressionable minds of young children of naval officers and on those
students who want to make a career in the Indian Navy. And think about the
detrimental impact on serving naval officers, sailors and their families.
In my more
than 33 years of naval service I have not come across any instance of “wife
swapping”.
Wife Swapping
is certainly not rampant in the Navy.
Therefore, I
think it is most unfair to make sweeping statements like “Naval Officers
Indulge in Wife-Swapping” or “Wife-Swapping Common in Navy”.
The navy is a
close-knit community. Inept handling of such delicate matters will lead to more
dirty linen being washed in public which may adversely affect the morale of
officers, sailors and their families.
Therefore, I
would like to offer three suggestions:
1. MEDIA RESTRAINT and BALANCED COVERAGE
The media is
doing a yeoman’s service in bringing such issues to light and it is doing its
duty by reporting news.
The media must
give balanced in-depth coverage in a holistic manner reporting all aspects of
the story and uncover all facts so that the truth is established and follow up
this matter to its logical conclusion.
However, I
feel that media could have used a bit of restraint and avoided
over-sensationalizing the news by employing slightly less catchy headlines than
“Naval Officers Indulge in Wife-Swapping” or “Wife-Swapping Common in Navy”
which tend to tarnish the reputation of the entire service.
2. FAIR JUST and TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION
Wife Swapping
among Naval Officers is tantamount to “Stealing the Affections of a Brother
Officer’s Wife” which is strictly taboo as it violates the Naval Officers’ Code
of Ethics.
Also, Stealing
the Affections of a Brother Officer’s Wife amounts to conduct unbecoming of an
officer and Wife Swapping among Naval Officers is an act which is prejudicial
to good order and naval discipline.
I hope the
matter will be dealt with in a fair just unbiased equitable and transparent
manner and steps will be taken to ensure upholding of high ethical standards in
the navy so that the good name of the service is not tarnished due to such
unbecoming incidents in future.
In today’s
world, of an alert mainstream media and an even more observant social media, it
is necessary to keep everyone fully informed and updated, promptly and properly,
about the progress of the case. Proper press briefings by well-informed
officers may help. Navy must also learn to use the social media effectively. These
steps of giving authentic information in a timely manner will help obviate
rumours and speculation.
Care must be
taken to avoid an impression being created that there is something to hide or
that matters are being hushed-up or brushed under the carpet. Persons dealing
with the media must be honest, candid and forthcoming.
3. AVOID INTERFERENCE BY NWWA
This is a Navy
matter and so this issue must be resolved in an unbiased and transparent manner
by the Navy. All sides must be heard and given equitable justice. Justice must
be done and more importantly “justice must be seen to be done” to the
satisfaction of all stakeholders including the media and citizens of this
country.
It will be
best if “welfare” organizations like Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) are
kept out of the ambit and not allowed to interfere. We do not know the actual
facts, but purely on reading the news reports one may draw an inference that
the “well-intentioned” amateurish ham-handed intervention by NWWA has
boomeranged. NWWA does not have relevant expertise nor does it have any jurisdiction
in the Navy Human Resource (HR) Management System and, therefore, NWWA should
not have any role to play in the Naval Justice System.
CONCLUSION
The negative
media coverage of this issue has tarnished the good name of the service and hurt
the reputation of naval officers. This has happened probably due to inept
handling of the situation and letting matters go out of hand.
All eyes are
now on the navy leadership. The nation is watching. Let us see how they resolve
this issue in a fair, equitable, just and transparent manner in the true
traditions of the navy.
Also it is
high time for the navy, and sister defence services, to introspect as to why
such undesirable news of scams and scandals keeps appearing in the media with
alarming frequency. When such negative publicity happens the entire naval
community, serving and retired, feel humiliated. I feel that there is an urgent
and inescapable need to implement the naval code of ethics throughout the
service. I hope the navy ensures superlative conduct within the service and
maintains its good image in the eyes of the citizens.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
NB:
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A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
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Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
Twitter: @vikramkarve
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
6 comments:
Sir,
As you rightly mentioned, the merits of case may not be known until a fair appraisal is done, what is disheartening is the media coverage. Actually that is no surprise given the penchant of the media these days to hyperventilate at the slightest infraction and the general ignorance of the journalists concerned in the subject matter. The lesser the people pay attention to these news hounds the quieter this yapping will become.
Regards
@ Subhash,
You are right. The less people pay attention, the less the media attention.
However, I feel that better media relations and prompt media interaction by the navy is a must in today's times to avoid such sensationalism.
Thanks
Vikram
Do you really expect the media to have ethics??
Our media is ruled by sensationism, gossip and blackmailing tactics. Most news channels are owned or controlled by political parties and indiviuals with vested interests. The so called journos are mediocre people who can be boughts for a few thousand rupees to cover some news WITHOUT ascertaining facts from both sides.
Its best to keep quiet and let things pass because nothing ever comes out of any inquiry. It is merely a tool to buy time till people forget the incident.
There is a lobby of media that is controlled by vested "foreign" interests and is out to malign the name of the ONLY PILLOR of our Democracy that has some standing in the society as an unbiased, morally correct organisation ie the armed forces.
The only way to stop such miscief mongers who spread romours without ascertaining facts or before any investigation is over, is to sue them for a huge amount in a court of law - and who will do that???... Time the armed forces dragged such elements to courts.
Very well expressed Vikram.Being a retired Naval officer who has served with pride and honour in tbe fine service , I am totally appalled at the sensationalisation of such false news by the rating hungry media.
Hi Vasu,
Yes, there is too much sensationalism in the media.
I feel the navy must respond promptly and properly to mitigate such incidents and contain the damage to service reputation.
Regards
Vikram
@ Wizzy - Thanks for your views. You do have a point. The best way to stop rumor-mongering is to respond promptly and be transparent
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