Communist China since its inception has been expansionist, constantly invading and capturing massive land and resources of all its neighbours. China illegally occupies 43,000 sq km of Indian territory with ambitions to occupy significantly more.
With time China has grown more sophisticated. No more huge wars, it has been indulging in a tactic called salami slicing a creeping encroachment of Indian territory and strategic locations over the past 70 years whilst the government in Delhi looked on helplessly doing nothing except wring its hands.
The Indian armed forces however have not been complacent and have opposed Chinese aggression as best as they can with some success despite Delhi's lack of will to oppose the Chinese transgressions.
Against that backdrop in 2008 when the late Air Marshal PK Barbora, became 'the commander in chief of the western air command' he noted that India desperately needed a functioning advanced airbase near the Chinese border in Ladakh.
This was a major weakness in Indian defence and deployment capabilities. There was however a disused airbase very near potential conflict zones at Daulat Beg Oldi just 8 km from the Chinese border. It was very hostile terrain and an earthquake had shut down this landing strip in 1966. At an altitude of 5,100 mtrs, it is the highest airstrip in the world.
Like some of his former colleagues, before him had done, Barbora sought urgent permission to reactivate the airstrip. But the Air Force never received any answer from New Delhi. Three previous Air Chiefs had rejected the idea of activating the airstrip because of the many serious challenges that would need to be overcome.
Bureaucrats and politicians could not decide nor endorse a course of action regarding the airstrip at DBO.
An undaunted Barbora got the mud airstrip ready in record time with the help of the Army, after receiving a go-ahead from the Commander in Chief in Delhi. Rather cleverly but making it appear as a lapse, Barbora kept the political and bureaucratic leadership out of the loop.
On May 31 2009 an Antonov AN32 aircraft with Barbora on board made the historic landing to demonstrate what the Indian Army and Air Force could achieve. This paved the way for augmenting Indian defence capabilities and set the basis for establishing three more high-altitude advanced airbases.
On 20 August 2013, a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft landed in Daulat Beg Oldi demonstrating India's capability to rapidly deliver heavy equipment, supplies and troops to the highest conflict zone in the world.
Subsequent forays by Chinese forces into India to grab strategic land and positions were more than effectively repelled thanks to using the DOB airbase to mobilise and support Indian troops, giving China a bloody nose and containing its hegemonic ambitions.
Unfortunately, Air Marshal PK Barbora who passed on in 2023, was pursued for a long time by his detractors in the bureaucracy for his 'stepping out of line' and bruising their egos Thankfully he valued his duty to the nation higher than appeasing the bureaucrats and politicians.
Leaders should lead and juniors should obey and follow.
Capable people with responsibilities are invariably slowed down or severely handicapped by people who retain all authority and or control resources.
Visualise a typical organisational problem.
You need to get something important done urgently. You seek permission from higher authorities to act. Dithering takes place and either no decision is given to proceed. You are responsible and see the situation as untenable, you feel compelled to do something. What do you do?
You have three possible options
1. Do nothing
2. Hold fort and plead repeatedly for permission and or resources
3. Act without permission and finding resources from elsewhere
The result-oriented person knows that timing is crucial for any endeavour and acts decisively. So he acts. They know it is sometimes easier to beg for forgiveness rather than for permission
Of the above-listed options, only the third one can deliver the desired result. If results are favourable and the objectives met then the successful person usually receives recognition and reward. If the endeavour fails it becomes a good time to review career options or even write a book.
Interesting Links:
I decided to reactivate Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip without any written permission Air Marshal (retd) Pranab Kumar Barbora
At 16,700 ft, on mud strip: IAF pilot on how his AN-32 reopened Daulat Beg Oldi after 43 yrs - Suryakant Chafekar of the IAF in The Print
RTI on how much Indian territory China has illegally occupied
#AirForce #airstrip #Antanov_A32 #C130Hercules #China #daring #DaulatBegOldi #forgiveness #India #Ladakh #leadership #management #permission
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Ref: G0953 - V0071
Thanks to Gurvinder, such articles enthuse commanders full of beans, and there are many of them in our forces.
Onkar Goraya
Excellent article, as always! I'm sure hardly anyone would know the story of the courageous Air Marshall Barbora. Such stories need to reach everyone, as it's a great motivator in any field.