Roland Francis: Goans and the Indian Army - Stray Thoughts of a Toronto Goan Source: Goan Voice UK , Daily Newsletter 5 May 2013 at www.goanvoice.org.uk
The recent passing away of Major General Eustace D'Souza PVSM of Velsao Goan heritage, Lahore (undivided India) and Bandra Bombay, at age 91, brings to mind the noble tradition of Goans with meritorious and decorated service in the Indian Army that began with a Goan general in a Deccan Mughal force of the seventeenth century. Joining as a young officer at age 22, Eustace D'Souza saw action in Italy during WWII, as part of the occupation of defeated Japan in 1946, in the 1948 operations when Pakistan tried to take over Kashmir, in the Punjab border war in 1951 that started the Hindu Muslim partition slaughter, in 1965 driving China out of Sikkim and in the 1971 war when India helped create Bangladesh. He was also an avid sportsman playing soccer, cricket and field hockey, becoming a national selector for that latter game. D'Souza's outstanding achievements reads like the other brilliant records of the 42 Goan generals in the Indian Army led in rank by a chief -Sunith Rodrigues of Curtorim and two vice chiefs - Kevin D'Souza of Mapusa and Stanley Menezes of Sangolda. The Indian Army is till today a much admired force, comprising 1.3 million men and the third largest army in the world after China and the US. In an otherwise bleak scenario of corruption and society ridden by caste and divisions, the army remains a beacon of unity and professionalism. It has been completely apolitical and only on one occasion more than 2000 years ago, in 185 BC has an Indian commander overthrown the government of the day. Traditionally, it is the senior of the three branches of the Armed Forces. Several times after independence from Britain, the army has fought successful skirmishes, battles and wars. Except for a humiliating defeat at the hands of China in 1962 which was the result of both political and military mismanagement, it has acquitted itself with credit in the military actions of 1947-48, in 1965, 1971 and 1999. It has sent forces for international peacekeeping in Korea, Indochina, Gaza, Lebanon and Congo. With operation Vijay, It obliterated 450 years of Portuguese presence in a matter of days with few casualties and tried to keep the peace in Sri Lanka but facing a bitter, street fighting guerilla force against which it was unable to retaliate, had no option but to withdraw. It routed a Sikh rebel force in operation Bluestar of 1987 ending a long and violent terror campaign against the state. The Indian Army owes a huge debt of gratitude to the British for its formation, training, discipline and many traditions. For example, the army lives apart from society, in camps and cantonments and therefore maintains a strict neutral distance from the people it protects. No other armed force in the world has been able to maintain such a non-fraternizing policy. That gratitude was paid back in large measure when Britain was able to raise an Indian force of over 2 million men, the largest army in the history of the world, fighting alongside the Allies in all theaters of war and in a few that no other British unit was present. If Britain granted India its independence, it was not only due to Gandhi's and Nehru's long political struggles but also due to a grateful empire that wanted to be fair to a subject-nation whose soldiers laid down many thousands of lives in a war not their own. There were many Goans who even in the early days of British rule, lived outside of Goa. Given preferential treatment like the Anglo-Indians and Parsees for their loyalty and western ways, they reciprocated in large numbers by joining the officer class of the police, the armed forces, the railways and other branches of government that kept India together. Anglo Indian boldness was always taken for granted, but the myth of the timid Goan and the meek Parsee was shattered by the bravery of these two minority communities. Goan valor in war and fairness to the lower ranks written on regimental logs is replete with deeds of men like Gen Eustace D'Souza of the Marathas. Goan fame in the Indian Army must have attained a unique moment in the 1965 battle for Chinese occupied Sikkim when all three vital high altitude mountain passes to Gangtok the capital on the ancient Silk Road were all commanded by Goans - Lt Gen Stanley Menezes (later Vice-Chief), Maj Gen Sidney Pinto and Maj Gen Eustace D'Souza. Like the Goan identity, those exploits which make all Goans proud, will soon disappear since educated, intelligent and brave Goan men no longer look at careers in the Armed Forces, finding the lure of higher salaries in the private sector irresistible instead. But happily, what has been written in an army's annals can never be erased or forgotten. =====================================================