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Former senior officer says he knew Padmanabhan would make it to the top

D Jose in Thiruvananthapuram

The next army chief, Lieutenant General Sundararajan Padmanabhan's only connection with the city of his birth, Trivandrum, is his former senior officer, a retired 72-year-old brigadier.

Lt Gen Padmanabhan, then a major, worked under Brigadier V K Nair at Beenaguri in north Bengal in 1967-68 as a staff officer. He still keeps in touch.

The general was born in a rented house at Vazhuthacaud on December 5, 1940. His father was a member of the staff of the erstwhile diwan of Travancore, Sir C P Ramaswamy Iyer. He left for Madras with his parents after Iyer was overthrown in a popular upsurge in 1947.

According to Brig Nair, Gen Padmanabhan does not remember any of his childhood friends. But he is nostalgic about the city of his birth. He told Brig Nair this on a visit to the city last year.

Brig Nair considers Gen Padmanabhan one of the most accomplished officers to hold the post. "He is a hard worker, full of humility. He doesn't talk too much and is a good listener. He is very methodical. I can't find any negative aspects in his personality," he told rediff.com

The brigadier says he knew Gen Padmanabhan would make it to the top. "He had the potential to reach the top. He proved his worth by peacefully tackling the Hazratbal crisis. It was his deft handling of the situation that helped liberate the shrine from the control of militants," he said.

Asked if Gen Padmanabhan would be effective as the army chief at this juncture, Brig Nair said, "I have my apprehensions on this because efficiency and talent are not respected in the country's defence system that is dominated by bureaucrats. We had brilliant officers in Gen Sundarji and Gen Thimayya. They were not allowed to do much by the bureaucrats," he said.

"The biggest curse is the power vested in the hands of the bureaucrats in defence matters. Indian Administrative Service officers rule over army officers with much more experience. The system makes the bureaucrats the master. This is what caused the 1962 debacle and the Kargil crisis", the veteran officer said.

He says bureaucrats do not allow constructive initiative by army officers. "I know many outstanding officers who have not been able to function effectively because of the system."

But Brig Nair feels the situation may improve under Defence Minister George Fernandes. "He is reasonably understanding and diligent," he added.

Brig Nair said Lt Gen Padmanabhan had expressed many concerns when the two last met. "But I cannot divulge them," he said.

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