Military Digest: Army, Olympics and finance ‘babus’ objection to Milkha Singh’s training

However, sometimes, these efforts run into the thick wall of objections on file by bureaucrats who are unable to reconcile the leeway given to such sportsmen soldiers. One such objection was made regarding celebrated athlete Milkha Singh when he was serving in the Army.

Milkha Singh was holding the rank of Jemadar (now Naib Subedar) at the time and had already earned acclaim for himself and the country by setting national records in 200 metres and 400 metres in national games and winning a medal at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. He had been feted by the top brass of the Army and even Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and thus, his name was well known throughout the country at the time.

However, this did not stop the finicky ‘babus’ of the Finance Ministry from raising objections in 1959 to a proposal to send Milkha Singh to Finland for training so that he would be better prepared to compete in the Rome Olympics in 1960.

Under the Rajkumari Sports Coaching Scheme, Milkha Singh was to be sent to Finland for four months to attend sports meets. This period was proposed to be treated as casual leave with full pay.

“The JCO has already availed of 30 days special casual leave under the authority of Ministry of Defence letter dated 1st November 1955. He is at present on annual leave from 15th May to 14th July 1959. He is expected to leave India on 20th June 1959. Accordingly, the anticipated period of absence beyond the date of expiry of annual leave is 90 days,” the file noting on the proposal stated.

The finance department official went on to say that the defence ministry had proposed that a special leave with full pay and allowances be granted for this period.

“However, there appears to be little justification for the grant of such a concession in this case,” the objector noted acerbically. He noted that Milkha was proceeding mainly for training purposes so that he may acquire further experience and his chances in the next Olympics may improve.

“In the circumstances, it is for consideration whether the individual should not be asked to have his future annual leave adjusted against the proposed period of absence instead of being granted any further special casual leave which is not covered by existing orders,” noted the official raising objection.

The archives contained an additional note from an official who took a more measured approach to the proposal. It stated that the defence ministry or the Army would not approve a situation where Milkha Singh took a two-year leave if his annual leave was adjusted for these four months.

“We should be grateful to know if in the civil there have been similar cases and whether the acceptance of the proposal in view of the position of Milkha Singh will create an embarrassment,” the official noted.

The file moved back and forth before another note was made stating that the proposal may be accepted and Milkha Singh’s entire period of absence from attending training meets in Finland may be covered under special casual leave.

It was pointed out that there had been precedents for the same and that Flight Lieutenant V M Muddiah and Lieutenant Surendranath, members of the Indian cricket team touring England, were given such special dispensation and that acceptance of the proposal for Milkha would not cause any embarrassment.

Not the ones to be deterred by logical replies, the Establishment Division of the finance ministry struck back with a detailed note that pointed out that the Secretary of Rajkumar Sports Coaching Scheme has not stated the period of Milkha’s absence. It has been said that after Finland, Milkha may be flying to the USA, where he will acquire competitive experience for an indefinite period.

It added that Milkha’s absence was sought for four months in the first instance. It further quoted letters and directions from the defence ministry that provided for such periods of absence for participation in international sporting events and that special casual leave was allowed for a period not exceeding 30 days in one calendar year, such leave being combined with any other kinds of regular leave admissible, if necessary.

The finance ministry note further said if Milkha participated in the Olympics in Rome, then his absence would be nearly one year and at least not less than six or eight months.

“Regularisation of such long periods of absence in case of any government servant, however high his reputation in athletics may be, by grant of special leave with full allowances as demanded would in wide repercussions. The utmost that can be done would be to grant leave admissible to him and in the absence of necessary credit to offset such leave against future earnings or to treat the period of absence as extra-ordinary leave,” the note said.

The finance ministry note dismissed the example of the cricket team members from the IAF and Army, saying there was no comparison as their absence was for a definite period and that accepting Milkha’s proposal would be indefensible.

The file again went around, and now one official said, “It is a question of national pride and importance, and I suggest that we should agree to an exception being made and Shri Milkha Singh being granted special casual leave. After all, it is not he who is pressing for the permission, although he will no doubt benefit considerably.”

The archives show that the finance department did not budge until the last and rejected all counterarguments. It insisted that the exchequer’s loss on account of pay and allowances given to Milkha Singh should be made good by the sports scheme, which was proposing to send him abroad.