Deen-imaan in fauji langar

Lt Gen KJ Singh (Retd)

TWITTERATI and the electronic  media is currently abuzz with accounts of self-appointed experts on food being served to troops in security forces. I also got caught in one such skirmish where considerable time was devoted to deciding if puris are ‘beloed’ or rolled, with the former winning the debate. There was also a suggestion to have the word ‘beloed’ included in the Oxford Dictionary. This debate has been triggered by Tej Bahadur, the langar crusader from the BSF, who, instead of keeping an eye on the Pakistanis across, seems to be focused on the dal and its ingredients. While the issue is being examined, it is simply not kosher to link a food-related complaint to his aberrant disciplinary track record. The simple maxim that I have learnt is that the bestest (sic) food has to be served to men, including prisoners. A defaulter has to be given good food and equally rigorous punishment.

I am reminded of an incident during my command that I am very proud of and take it as a proof of a successful command. Two defaulters who were to undergo treatment at MH Patiala were asked the choice of unit for attachment. They opted for my regiment, 63 Cavalry, despite their unit people serving in my Brigade HQ, because food of my regiment was reputed to be the best in the entire station. Like they say, the Army marches on stomach and units take pride in their food and cookhouses, referred to as langars, as they have their own camaraderie, culture and even syntax.

Now for an eternal lesson in secularism learnt in a langar, which relates to an old and famous regiment, 18 Cavalry. This regiment has three pure caste-based squadrons — Alpha-Jats, Bravo-Musalman, including Kayamkhanis, and Charlie-Rajputs. Following a violent storm, the roof of the cookhouse of the Jat squadron collapsed and they had to share it with another squadron. In the Armoured Corps, Jats follow the logic of the movie, Dangal — non-vegetarian food is not cooked in their cookhouse though die-hard ones manage to eat it on the sly in other langars, once in a while.

Jats had traditional rivalry with Rajputs because of keen competition in sports, so they chose to share the cookhouse with the Musalman squadron. This obviously got my Commander worried and he deputed me, Brigade Major, to check if all was well. I went to the langar in the evening, on a meat-dish day, to take stock. I saw no problem with both squadrons cooking and sharing food under the same roof. When I asked the Senior JCO of the Musalman squadron if all was well, he told me not to worry as Islam had taught him to let everyone practise his own deen (religion) faithfully. He would ensure that the Jats remained vegetarian and followed their Vedic Dharma in the langar. 

Do we need any other proof of the Indian Army’s secular ethos?