It was good to read that the army is reviewing its colonial and pre-colonial era customs, traditions, battle honours and names that can be foregone. This step is taken after the recent removal of the ensign of the age-old red-coloured St George’s Cross from the flag of the Indian Navy. The defence forces and also the top echelon in the police should do away with the British practise of having soldiers, orderlies, constables and other staff in their homes. These personnel are perhaps made to carry out menial works such as polishing the officer boots, cooking, gardening, drop and pick the kids to/from the school, driving memsaab for shopping etc. Such tasks are insults to their calibre, intelligence and months of ardous training that the personnel have undergone. The staff being paid by the government are not meant to cater to the whims of the officers and their families. Let the officers appoint their personal staff and pay them from their handsome salary. Hope the government will banish such demeaning postings and send the personnel to their rightful duties and placements.
