Like many of you, I too was excited when the Indian Air Force conferred the rank of the Honorary Group Captain on the iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar Friday last. Although I have a poor opinion of the game and the way this nation wastes time on it, I have high regard for the man himself. To sustain oneself at that level for two decades, and still lead, is absolutely remarkable. While a lot of wannabes get a lot of recognition, in Sachins case, IAFs recognition is well deserved.
As I said, IAF is something of pride for us Indians. Its achievement in the wars, even while using inferior machines, has been stuff folklores are made of. But if this particular event was to add to that image, it failed, and miserably so.
Just a look at the air chief,
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, as he shakes Sachins hands or smiles or does anything. Do these pictures not embarrass you? Pot belly that would shame even a hardened police constable in deep Uttar Pradesh is certainly not something that I, as an Indian, would feel proud of in the man entrusted with the task of managing my nations air force.
Such a stickler was he of fitness, which should be a given in the services, that none dared come close to him if he felt his belt was hanging below his waist. Can the current chief even hold that threat to his subordinates? He cant.
I am sure he is a great strategist and must have been great shape physically too in his hey days, but there can be no excuse for the state he is now. He is in the services, after all, where physical fitness is looked upon as an asset.
In the current state, he wouldn't inspire much confidence, especially among youngsters who may look up to him as a role model.
A fat and portly air chief is an embarrassment : India : Rajesh Kalra : TOI Blogs