As August of 1952 came the success of the State Bank of India had given Rohan the momentum he needed, but he knew that India's future required more than economic reform.
Even though he has established NDA to cater a very big problem of armed forces, there is another huge issue that can lead to chaos. He became increasingly concerned about the lack of representation in the officer cadre.
The military, in Rohan's view, should reflect the diversity of the nation, drawing its leadership from all corners of India. That is why Rohan knowing how to avoid is going to formulate something which India didn't saw until 1961.
One afternoon, as Rohan sat at his desk, going through reports from the Ministry of Defence, the disparities in the composition of the military's officer ranks became starkly clear.
Certain regions, especially the urban centers and wealthy states, were heavily represented. Meanwhile, vast rural areas and lower-income communities were almost invisible in the officer corps. This was more than just a military issue; it was a matter of national unity and fairness.
Determined to address this, Rohan decided to act. He called for a meeting with Sardar Patel, the Defence Minister, and other key officials from the Ministry of Defence. Patel had been a crucial figure in uniting India after independence, and Rohan knew that if anyone could help bring this vision to life, it was him.
As the officials gathered in Rohan's office, he sensed their anticipation. Rohan's ideas had a reputation for being bold and transformative, and they knew this meeting would be no different.
"Thank you all for coming," Rohan began, looking around the room at the faces of his most trusted advisors. "We've made significant strides with our recent initiatives, but today I want to talk about something that has been on my mind for some time our military's officer cadre. We need to ensure that every region, every community in our country, has the opportunity to contribute to our armed forces."
Sardar Patel nodded thoughtfully. "Prime Minister, I've had similar concerns. The current system has its strengths, but it's clear that certain areas are underrepresented. We need to address this imbalance, and education seems like the best place to start."
Rohan leaned forward, his voice taking on a more urgent tone. "Exactly. I've been thinking about creating specialized schools 'Sainik Schools' that would prepare young men for leadership roles in the military. These schools would not just focus on academics but also on physical training, discipline, and leadership."
The room fell silent as the others took in Rohan's idea. It was ambitious, but it made sense. The idea of Sainik Schools wasn't just about education; it was about preparing a generation to serve their country, no matter where they came from.
"These Sainik Schools," Rohan continued, "would be spread across the country. They would operate under the Ministry of Defence and be overseen by a Sainik Schools Society. This society would ensure that the schools maintain the highest standards in both education and training, drawing talent from every region of India."
Patel was deep in thought, considering the implications of such an initiative. "We would need a strong structure to manage these schools. The Sainik Schools Society could be overseen by a Board of Governors, with the Defence Minister as its Chairman. This would keep the schools aligned with our national defense priorities."
The Defence Secretary, who had been listening carefully, added, "To ensure close supervision, we could establish an executive committee under the chairmanship. This committee would handle the daily operations of the schools and make sure they stay on track."
Rohan nodded, pleased with how the plan was coming together. "Yes, and the Ministry of Defence should provide funding and deputed officers to bring real military experience into the schools. The state governments can provide the land, infrastructure, and staff needed to run the schools."
As the discussion progressed, they began to delve into the specifics of how these schools would operate. Patel suggested, "We'll need to create a dedicated team to manage the Sainik Schools Society on a daily basis. The Joint Secretary (Training) could serve as the Honorary Secretary of the Society, assisted by Inspecting Officers and other officials provided by the Ministry of Defence."
Rohan agreed, seeing the wisdom in Patel's suggestion. "This structure will ensure the schools are well managed. The curriculum should follow the CBSE guidelines but with additional training focused on preparing students for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Naval Academy (INA). We'll call it the 'CBSE Plus' curriculum."
One of the Defence Ministry officials, who had been listening to he conversation, raised a practical question. "Prime Minister, how will we ensure that these schools maintain a standard that is both rigorous and consistent across all regions?"
Rohan was ready for this. "The Sainik Schools Society will have a set of standardized guidelines and criteria that each school must follow. These will cover everything from academic standards to physical training and leadership development. We'll also conduct regular inspections and evaluations to ensure that each school is meeting these standards."
The conversation turned to the selection of students. Patel was particularly interested in ensuring that the schools remained accessible to all. "Prime Minister, these schools must be open to students from all backgrounds. We'll need to offer scholarships and financial aid to ensure that no talented student is left behind because of financial constraints."
Rohan nodded. "Agreed. The goal is to find the brightest and most dedicated students from every part of India. We'll establish a fair and transparent selection process that ensures these schools are accessible to all, regardless of their economic background."
The group discussed at length how to establish the schools, choosing locations that would maximize their impact. They identified regions that were underrepresented in the military and areas where existing infrastructure could be leveraged to quickly establish the first schools.
The local administration of each school was another key topic. It was agreed that the local administration would be managed by a Local Board of Administration, chaired by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C) of the Command where the school was located. This would create a direct link between the schools and the military, ensuring that the training and education provided were closely aligned with the needs of the armed forces.
As the discussions continued, Sardar Patel, who had been considering the broader implications, spoke up. "Prime Minister, these schools could do more than just prepare students for the military. They could become centers of excellence in education, producing graduates who are disciplined, patriotic, and ready to serve the nation in various capacities."
Rohan smiled, seeing that Patel understood the full potential of the initiative. "That's exactly what I'm hoping for. The Sainik Schools will be more than just military academies. They will be institutions of national pride, shaping the next generation of leaders in all fields. We're investing in the future of India."
As the meeting drew to a close, the group had laid out a clear plan. The Ministry of Defence would begin drafting the necessary legislation to establish the Sainik Schools Society and its governing bodies. They would also start identifying locations for the first schools, ensuring they were placed in regions that were underrepresented in the military.
However, Rohan knew that the real work was only beginning. Establishing these schools would require careful coordination with state governments, a clear plan for funding, and a strategy for addressing the inevitable challenges that would arise. But he was confident that with Patel and the Ministry of Defence behind the initiative, they could overcome these obstacles.
In the days that followed, the Ministry of Defence worked tirelessly to draft the legislation that would bring the Sainik Schools to life. The Sainik Schools Society was officially formed, with a Board of Governors chaired by the Defence Minister. The executive committee, led by the Defence Secretary, was tasked with overseeing the daily operations and ensuring that the schools adhered to the highest standards.
At the same time, Patel and his team began reaching out to state governments to secure the necessary land and infrastructure. There were lengthy negotiations, but most state governments were eager to participate, recognizing the value that these schools would bring to their regions.
Rohan closely monitored the progress, meeting regularly with Patel and the Defence Secretary to review updates and address any issues that arose. He knew that this was a critical moment for the initiative. Every decision made now would shape the future of the Sainik Schools and, by extension, the future of India's military leadership.