Simply Fly: A Deccan Odyssey

by G.R. Gopinath

In everything that you do, if you want to earn the respect of your men, you have to be professionally better than them. You have to work harder than them. You have to stretch yourself more than them. You cannot spare yourself. Do not spare your men but more importantly do not spare yourself. If you ask them to work six hours you must work eight hours. If you ask them to walk ten miles you must walk twenty. If you tell them to go without food, you must go without food and water. Whatever you do, you must ensure that you are better than them in the quantum of your effort and competence. Whatever you do, you must put them before you. Putting them before you will always show you the way. Whether you are in the army or in civilian life, putting your men before you—will always lead the way for you.

History is replete with instances where occupying armies which had become morally degraded eventually lost the will to fight and suffered defeat at the hands of those who occupied a higher moral plane.

I remembered what my instructor Capt. J.S.Verma had said: ‘to command the loyalty and confidence of your men, you have to work harder and put your men before yourself .…’

quotations from the Gita: ‘Do thou thy allotted task; for action is superior to inaction; with inaction even life’s normal course is not possible.’