[Points: Introduction—importance of the military—need for compulsory military training—indirect benefits—how to be introduced in our country.]
We all know that the safety and honour of a nation depend on the military. We also know that the stronger a nation is militarily, the greater are the fear and respect it commands, while a nation, militarily weak, is looked down upon by other peoples and falls an easy victim to them. It is, therefore, necessary for every nation to be militarily strong.
But the equipments of modern wars are very costly: so no nation can now maintain a very large standing army. Its strength is increased only when the occasion arises. But it requires time to train an ordinary man into a good soldier. The need, however, may be very urgent. So new half-trained recruits have to be rushed to the battle front. The result is bound to be disastrous.
Thus arises the need for compulsory military training. Under it every able-bodied young man is compelled by law to undergo regular military training for a certain period. At the end of his training he goes back to civil life, but he may be called back to army work at any time. The result is that all the grown-up men of these countries are trained in military arts. Consequently, there is no difficulty for these countries in getting quick supply of trained soldiers in emergencies. This compulsory military training is normal in some countries; in some it is enforced only during wartime.
Compulsory military training is necessary for us from another point of view. Long years of peace of civil life have made us physically weak. We are also ignorant of the use of arms, and have a fear of them. Military training is necessary to get over this fear complex and improve physical fitness. It is also a good lesson in discipline-a lesson which we so badly require as a nation. But s great is our aversion to warfare that unless it is made compulsory, it will not be effective.
A beginning may be made by making it a compulsory subject for college classes, and arranging for it compulsorily during long vacations.
A year's practical training in military camps may be laid down as a necessary condition for an academic degree. Even school students should be urged to join the National Cadet Corps in large numbers. And the sooner all these are done, the better.
