The Ladakh incident is an aberration (“Wake-up call for the army,” March 26). It is condemnable and definitely calls for corrective and preventive action at all levels. The sahayak or orderly is not meant to be a domestic help. During war, he is supposed to be at call of the officer. There are many stories of sahayaks’ supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The sahayak also acts as the pulse of an army unit. He forewarns the officer so that untoward incidents do not take place. Some sahayaks become part of their officers’ families. Many officers are known to have visited their sahayaks’ villages to attend their family functions. The officer- sahayak relationship in a regiment is thicker than blood.
Lt Col R.V.S. Mani (retd.),
Chennai
