The author seems to have either forgotten the history or is blissfully ignorant of the fact that the status of armed forces officers/men has been downgraded, rather degraded, day by day. He talks of parity in status with respect to their civil service counterparts.I can only wish that he goes through the order of precedence of the three service chiefs at the time of independence and compares the same to what it is today. Same is the story with all other ranks.It must be realised that both have different roles to play and comparing their jobs or working conditions is not fair. However, the author may go in for a national level poll on whether armed forces or civil bureaucracy have performed better in their respective areas and contributed more to the country and society as a whole since independence and he will get an answer.I would also like him to ponder on the reasons so as to why there is an ever increasing trend of civil bureaucracy depending more and more on defence forces at the time of calamities like earthquake, flood, fire or to control riots and on internal security matters.It is purely because even the babus-in their heart of hearts-know it fully well that the soldier will deliver when it matters.These are not the traditional roles of a soldier.The rot in civil bureaucracy has happened slowly but steadily. The bureaucrats splurge on taxpayers hard earned money, have practically little or no accountability as such, spend most of their time and energy fending to the needs of politicians, cannot ensure even the fundamental rights of citizens are protected but at the same time are extremely conscious of the fact that civil bureaucracy must prevail over armed forces.There is a famous saying that mother is remembered in pain and soldier in war.The fact that India has not fought a war in recent past has only helped his (babu's)cause.The author should know that for a soldier the 'Izzat'is the fuel that keeps him going.Jai Hind!