BANGALORE: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has brought out three versions of 2018 calendar, thereby making a mockery of government’s austerity measures and most importantly their own internal ‘diktat’ by chairman S Christopher, issued in May 2017.

The three versions of the calendar are: Products, People and Products, and Scientific Advisors (or heads of DRDO so far). These versions have been uploaded on to DRDO’s website.

Prominently missing from the ‘Products’ calendar are BrahMos missile and Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas). However, a static Tejas with the IAF Chief standing in front of it, finds a place in the ‘People-Product’ version, which has otherwise DRDO chief’s photo splashed all over.

The publication of three types of calendars has not gone well with various DRDO clusters that some have even refused to accept it to register their ‘protest.’

The reporter couldn't independently verify the following: a) for what purpose three different types of calendars were brought out b) whether all the three versions were printed for distribution c) the cost incurred for this extravagant publicity move.

An email sent to DRDO’s Directorate of Public Interface (DPI) office in Delhi on Wednesday evoked no response.

Later, speaking to Mathrubhumi, DPI Director Manish Bhardwaj said he has ‘no comments’ to offer as it was a decision taken at the top.

However, officials at DRDO HQ said DPI had no role to play in the design and selection of photos as it has been done by its publishing division.

Calls to Christopher went unanswered and messages on his mobile phones too got no response at the time of filing this report.

Many Surprised At The Self-Promotion of Chairman

The DRDO chief has managed to put his photos along with professional highlights in the ‘Scientific Advisors’ version of calendar along with the greats, including Prof M G K Menon, Dr Raja Ramanna and Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, to name a few.

“So we have seen the Dashavatara (10 different kinds of avatars) of our chairman in these sets of calendars. We are all surprised to see the self-promotion of one man and even the logic behind the selection of products. Those who take a close look will understand the ‘politics’ behind the photos,” says a scientist from the Life Sciences cluster.

Interestingly, hours after Mathrubhumi raised the queries, DRDO clubbed all the versions into one page with the head: DRDO Calendar 2018.

The calendars have been now given the name: E-Mag Version-1, E-Mag Version-2 and E-Mag Version-3.

Before pulling down and renaming, they were all independent PDF versions carrying separate names to suggest their content. All the three PDFs were scrolling on the home page section of the site, earlier.

“Now DRDO might claim that they haven’t printed the calendars, but only made e-versions. The truth is that the calendars have been distributed across India,” says an official working at the DRDO HQ on deputation.

He confirmed that during the just-concluded Directors’ conclave, these calendars were distributed to all and now they have been shipped to various clusters.

DRDO Chief Exposed By Breaking Own Rules
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DRDO chief had in May 2017 written an editorial in their internal publication asking all laboratories to pull down his photos. Christopher’s ‘selfless projection drive’ did surprise many then.

“Old colonial practice followed by the Services, to display prominently, photos of their Chiefs and Commanders, is also followed inadvertently by some labs. This practice is also not required. I request all DRDO establishments to display the photos of the President and Prime Minister of India only and not the Chairman of DRDO. This may please be implemented at the earliest and not later than 15 May 2017,” he had said.

However, the latest calendar drive, has thrown the earlier order to the winds. In the calendar ‘Products & People’, the DRDO chief has managed to find a place on nine pages, out of the 12 leaflets earmarked for every month in 2018. The photos seem to have been carefully chosen with Christopher being ‘strategically positioned’ in all, next to politicians and top government officials.

He has photos with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Seetharaman, her predecessor Manohar Parrikar, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely (twice), Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Miss World 2017 Manushi Chillar.

Youngsters Missing From All Versions of Calendars

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While the DRDO Chief might have met all these personalities at different events in 2017, what has surprised many is splashing them all over on official calendar meant for ‘People and Products.’

“In the People-Product version, DRDO should have put the photos of AD/Nirbhay/Tapas or even the Tejas teams. Many clusters who have contributed to national projects have been left out. This would have been an ideal opportunity considering there are many models (read as version) of the calendar. We do not know so many types have come out this time,” says a scientist working with Aeronautical Development Establishment.

“You will not find the face of youngsters in these calendars. They are the most neglected groups in DRDO,” she adds.

When probed, an official with DPI said that DRDO might have decided to bring out three versions to mark the 60th anniversary of the organisation being celebrated in 2018. DRDO, famous for hitting headlines for all wrong reasons, had to face embarrassing moments in 2014 when details of a hi-tech chariot it built for a Pune temple came out in the open.

Often being pulled up for veering off the targets set for various projects, the ‘calendar carnival’ might explode on the face of DRDO, if the Ministry of Defence views it seriously.

“Nothing will happen as the gifting and plundering is part and parcel of DRDO and DPSU culture. And, self-promotion is the name of game if you want to float round. I heard about the calendars but not seen them yet,” says a retired DRDO director.

Interestingly, all the three versions of calendars have logos of Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, BrahMos Aerospace (a JV of DRDO), Aeronautical Development Agency (an autonomous society of DRDO), Make in India and Digital India.