Indian Army and friends in distant lands

Over the past decade we have become increasingly familiar with the term Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR, which is essentially corporations' way of connecting with the community living in the vicinities in which they set up businesses.

- DOLA MITRA

The primary focus of CSR is to form a symbiotic, mutually beneficial relationship in which big businesses initiate support systems for the local population which range from creating income generation activities to ushering in improvements in the lives of the people in different areas including education, healthcare, gender sensitization and other fields. The endeavor is to go beyond charity and philanthropy, which are often considered activities that perpetuate dependence, and encourage self-sufficiency. In the process big businesses can create environments of close camaraderie so to speak with the people of the area and operate in an ambience of peace.

The book "Valour and Values: Aligning Military Experience to CSR" by Brigadier Rajiv Williams YSM (Retired) is an intriguing exploration of how, like corporations, the Indian army too engages in a range of activities which are really military versions of CSR. The author, who took early retirement from the Indian Army and immersed himself in CSR work, leading successful innovative projects for the company he was engaged with, is perfectly placed for such delineation having expert, insider's knowledge, of both the military and corporations. Brigadier Williams writes, "The Indian Army continues to carry out tasks beyond what just meets the eye which is of protecting the sovereignty of the country."

Lucidly narrated, the writer does not employ esoteric jargon either from military or corporate lingo, delineating a compassion for the common reader, which is clearly reflective of the compassion that would be expected from if not an absolute prerequisite of carrying out either military or corporate social responsibility.