The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Sahayaks in army

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Wednesday, Aug 05, 2009
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Sahayaks in army

Many young men join the army because of the glory attached to the profession. But over one lakh such valiant men paid out of the taxpayers’ money are employed as orderlies (sahayaks) in the household of army officers to polish their shoes, iron their clothes, cook, serve their children, and run errands. That the obnoxious practice is sought to be validated on some pretext (Letters, Aug. 3) or the other deserves to be condemned. Claiming that the orderly system is a legitimate privilege is the height of legalising exploitation.

The practice is a colonial vestige. Two batmen were allotted from among the native foot-soldiers to satiate the inflated ego of white men. But there is no justification for it to continue in a democracy.

K. Balasubramaniam,

Hubli

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The so-called “long-established practice of orderlies” is nothing but a remnant of the colonial legacy. Many countries have done away with the system. Even after the Englishmen have left us, our new-age babus of the military want to preserve and protect the system of orderlies.

It is similar to the perpetration of the caste system. One hopes that one day, it will be abolished and all soldiers will be treated as equals.

Krithiga Balaji,

Coimbatore

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