By M S Nazki
Tragedies bring the best out of the leaders as the environment tests the mettle of the men leading from the front! What happened in Sikkim was not an operation where bullets confront the bullets but it was a fight against the wrath of nature!
-What happened:
At least three army personnel were killed and nine were missing after a landslide hit an army camp at Chatten in North Sikkim. The army camp at Chatten was hit by a landslide after the water level in the Lachen River increased. Three bodies of army personnel have been recovered and nine army personnel are missing. Search operation by the army is going on,” said Arun Thatal, sub-divisional police officer of Chungthang in Mangan district.
Nine people including eight tourists went missing in North Sikkim after the vehicle, in which they were travelling, fell into the swollen Teesta River. All of them are suspected to be dead. Chatten, which is around 3 km from Lachen, is amongst the most affected by the landslides and it houses many army camps.
A press statement issued by the Army said: “A landslide took place yesterday at Chatten, North Sikkim which damaged nearby habitat. Three bodies have been recovered which include some combatants. More are suspected to be missing. Process for identification of the deceased and search operation is in progress,” As many areas in North Sikkim continue to remain cut off due to multiple landslides, reports of loss of lives are being regularly pouring in. Places like Lachen in North Sikkim have remained totally cut off from all sides while a few hundred stranded tourists at Lachung were evacuated from Monday morning. “As many as 1,600 tourists, including 380 children, were rescued from Lachung on Monday. They had been stranded since May 30 after heavy rains triggered multiple landslides and the rivers swelled. The debris was cleared on Sunday night. Rescue operations started on Monday morning. Around 150 tourists are still stranded in Lachen. They are safe and lodged in hotels. The NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) is there too,” said Anant Jain, district collector of Mangan. Both Lachen and Lachung are situated at an altitude of more than 2,700 metres. Tourists going to high-altitude destinations in North Sikkim such as Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang Valley stop at Lachen and Lachung!
-Needless to mention it was Nature’s fury full on display!
-What was required was a cool calm and a collective approach from the army leadership as there was no one else present to take over the scenario!
-This was beyond combat type of a contour: The principle of ‘leading from the front’ extends beyond combat situations, applying to all aspects of the military profession, where leaders should always be demonstrating their commitment and setting an example for their troops.
– The picture with the story says everything. The officer standing ankle deep in sludge, has been doing this for nearly 40 plus hours now, leading the rescue efforts and is present everywhere personally. And he’s a Brigadier, top man of the HQ that was hit by a landslide in Sikkim. He didn’t go and sit in his office and asked for updates and reports. He’s there pulling the ropes, coordinating effort, updating seniors and doing everything he can, to ensure effective rescue ops.
-Organizational heads who choose to lead from the front make themselves an integral part of the operation. While this approach can contribute to a more robust and reactive team! That’s why military leaders are different.
The Indian Army believes in the Honor Code! Most will not understand the same but let us be assertive:
Adhering to the Honor Code versus passing the class – The …An honor code is a set of ethical guidelines and principles that guide the behavior of individuals, especially within a particular community or institution, emphasizing honesty, integrity, and respect. In academic settings, honor codes often address issues like cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic misconduct. Essentially, an honor code is a pledge to act honorably and ethically, often enforced by community members who are expected to report violations.
-Ethical Framework: Honor codes define what constitutes honorable behavior within a specific context, emphasizing values like honesty, integrity, and respect.
-Academic Integrity: In educational settings, honor codes aim to promote academic integrity by addressing issues like cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic misconduct.
-Self-Regulation: Honor codes often rely on community members to report violations, fostering a culture of trust and accountability.
Sanctions: Violations of an honor code can lead to various sanctions, potentially including expulsion from the institution.
Examples: Honor codes are found in various settings, including schools, universities, military institutions, and professional organizations.
Broader Scope: While often associated with academics, honor codes can also address a wider range of behaviors, such as respecting rules, laws, and other community standards.
-Now we will come to the subject of leading from the front:
Leading from the front can be a more effective strategy than leading from behind, depending on the size of your organization and the specific challenge your team faces. Here are some of its most beneficial potential effects:
-Better morale: Establishing yourself as empathetic and communicative is an important part of becoming a better leader. Leading from the front allows you to interact directly with employees, whether they’re in leadership roles or lower-level positions. This strategy can boost morale and create greater organizational cohesion.
-Greater flexibility: Leading from the front can give you the chance to be more responsive to crises or difficult situations. Since those who lead from the front often have access to on-the-ground information, they can react quickly and directly as a situation changes.
-More holistic decision-making: Leading from the front often involves spending time with different people at different levels and from different parts of the organization. As a result, when people who lead from the front need to make major decisions, they have access to perspectives and data from a wide range of sources.
When leaders lead from the front, they demonstrate a willingness to face danger and hardship alongside their troops, which can inspire them to follow and persevere, even in difficult situations. By being physically present on the front lines, leaders show their commitment to the mission and their troops, reinforcing their authority and earning respect.
Tactical Considerations: “Leading from the front” should not be a mindless act of recklessness, but rather a calculated decision based on the specific circumstances of the battle. Senior leaders should reserve this tactic for critical missions and situations, ensuring that it aligns with the overall tactical plan and the needs of the unit.
While the traditional concept of physical presence on the front lines is important, modern leadership also emphasizes other forms of “leading from the front,” such as being visible during crises, being decisive in tough situations, and leading by example through daily actions.
Leaders must ensure that their troops are adequately trained and prepared for any situation before leading them from the front.
Not a Substitute for Other Leadership Styles: “Leading from the front” should not be seen as the only or primary form of leadership. Leaders should also be able to lead from behind, delegate authority, and utilize other leadership styles as appropriate.
Well we said earlier that it was not an operation but it was an encounter of different kind and the Indian Army prevailed
