HUMOUR IN UNIFORM
BUSINESSMEN IN UNIFORM – Part 2
Ramblings
of a Retired Mind
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Disclaimer:
1.
Please read this apocryphal story only if you have a sense of humour. This is a
spoof, pure fiction, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. All stories in this blog are a work of
fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a
figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely
imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
3.
The generic term “soldier” includes all armed forces officers and personnel in
uniform – soldiers, sailors, airmen)
NB:
No
part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram
Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram
Karve (all rights reserved)
BUSINESSMEN
IN UNIFORM – Part 2
CATCH
22
If you are thinking of a career in the armed forces, the
army, navy or air force, I will recommend that you read a book called CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller before you
join up.
Catch-22
will give you an idea of what life is like in the services.
Have you committed the “blunder” of joining the army,
navy or air force without having read CATCH-22?
Yes? You joined the “fauj”
without having read Catch-22?
Not to worry! As they say – “better late than never”.
So even if you already in uniform, it would still be a
good idea to read the book so that you can appreciate the various “Catch 22”
situations around you.
More importantly, it will help you comprehend the seemingly
crazy behaviour of the motley characters you encounter every day in your
military environment by relating them to the inimitable characters depicted in
CATCH-22.
During my long years in the navy, I came across almost
all characters of Catch-22 – Dreedles, Cathcarts, Peckems, Doc Daneekas,
Dunbars, Korns, Scheisskopfs, Wintergreens, De Coverlys, plenty of Yossarians –
yes, I encountered all sorts of idiosyncratic types.
And, of course, how can I forget the canny Machiavellian “Milo
Minderbinders” – those “businessmen in uniform” who are proliferating like
hobgoblins all over in the services.
In Catch-22, the character of Milo Minderbinder
represents a typical “businessman in uniform”.
He looks at everything from a financial angle and his
motto is: “what is in it for me?”
Milo’s sole obsession is to make “profit” and he has no
allegiance to anyone or anything.
Just like the character of Milo Minderbinder in Catch-22,
there are an increasing number of money-minded “businessmen in uniform” who are
obsessed with money matters and their sole aim is to derive “benefit” from the
service.
From the day join the military they seem more interested
in their “entitlements” and “privileges” rather than their soldiering duties.
Forever they keep comparing their pay and perks with
others.
They make sure they extract the maximum benefits and are
paranoid about losing out on perks and pecuniary privileges.
They never seem to be satisfied and content with what
they get in the service and have an insatiable greed for more.
It is these greedy “businessmen in uniform” who
perpetuate corruption and get involved in all sorts of scams which tarnish the
image of the defence services and destroy the inner discipline and moral fabric
of the armed forces.
MILITARY
MINDSET versus BUSINESS ACUMEN
Business Acumen and Military Attitude are stark
opposites.
In fact, they are mutually exclusive.
You can either have a military mindset or you can have
business acumen – you cannot simultaneously have both.
You can either be a Businessman or you can be a Soldier –
but you cannot be both at the same time.
I am of the firm view that those with a “military
mindset” should keep away from the business world.
And similarly, those with a “nose for business” must keep
away from the military.
Military Ethic is different from Business Ethic.
The two are poles apart and there is no congruence
between them.
For a Businessman – Profit is the sole motive.
For a Soldier – Patriotism is the leitmotif.
The essence of corporate business ethic is: “money comes
before anything else”.
“Businessmen in Uniform” apply this tenet (“money comes
before anything else”) even in the armed forces and ruin the inherent
value-based military ethos of the defence services.
It is these “Businessmen in Uniform” who are responsible
for the corruption and scams that tarnish the reputation of the defence
services.
[Of
course, you may also find some “soldiers” among businessmen (who create
business fiascos), but that is another story which I shall discuss later]
The numerous scams and acts of corruption being reported
in the media is a sign of the proliferation of these “businessmen in uniform”
in the services, even at the highest levels of the hierarchy.
Unfortunately, in recent times, an increasing number of
senior officers, even Chiefs, are getting embroiled in scams, corruption cases,
unethical acts and controversies.
All this not only tarnishes the good reputation of the
services, but also adversely affects inner discipline as juniors stop
respecting their seniors who lose moral ascendancy.
How have we reached a stage where it is possible for so
many “businessmen in uniform” to get promoted to high rank?
Or is it the other way round?
Have we reached a situation that unless you are a
“businessman in uniform” it will be difficult for you to get promoted to senior
rank?
It is for you to have a thorough look at the top brass
and study the promotion trends in your service and reach your own conclusion.
But one thing is sure.
All these “businessmen in uniform” have one attribute – TACT (which is euphemism for “moral
pliability”)
To be continued …
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this book review.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
NB:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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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: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
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: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
Twitter: @vikramkarve
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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