India has betrayed the martyrdom of its freedom fighters
Shaheedo ki chitaao par lagenge har baras mele;
Vatan par mitne vaalo ka yahi aakhiri nishaan hoga…
It’s amazing to see how just a couple of lines can induce patriotism in an otherwise-dormant-patriot. Reminds me of The singing legend Lata Mangeshkar, clad in a crisp white cotton sari, standing elegantly at the India Gate, teary eyed, singing “Ae mere vatan ke logo…” The song was powerful enough to make it impossible for us to fight back our tears.
It is, surely, at times like these that a sudden urge crawls in, to do something for the land that has given you so much, while you are still spared with atleast some breaths more. But, it takes just a pragmatic thought to shun the idea away. For some fraction of a second, we might feel guilty of being selfish but then, it’s somehow more comfortable sitting back home, and shedding tears for the departed than going to the frontiers and let others back home do the same for you.
Now, a question creeps in. Who would, in our country, go on to join the Indian Army knowing the meager recognition and compensation provided?
Besides, of course, if he/she sees nothing but a row of badges on their chest when they grow up, or even dying for their motherland, since the day they get their first toy gun.
I would say, majorly the GOI is to be blamed for this. Not only is the contribution of the valiant soldiers given due recognition, but also the families of the martyrs are driven endlessly for the scanty pension posthumous. The only time we come to know who did what during which break-out is the Republic Day when these soldiers/families of the martyrs are awarded.
One thing that I have come to notice of late and is not appreciable is that India Gate, the centre of attention of the National Capital Territory of the Republic of India bears the names of 90,000 soldiers of the erstwhile British Indian Army who lost their lives fighting for the British Indian Empire, or more correctly the British Empire in India British Raj in World War I and the Afghan Wars. Where are the names of the Indians who died in scores of wars be it against Pakistan or China or even the British Raj itself, for that matter.
“No guts, No glory” is what their official website claims. Surely, people who jump into the Army have the craving that makes them blind to the other side of this issue and which becomes trivial to them then. I remember, there was a time, around the Indian Independence era when atleast one of the many progenies of every Punjabi family was sacrificed to the service of the nation. That was the spirit of India then. Even now, when people there own limousines and likes, the feeling has hardly died. If at all it does, the morning and evening services at wagah border is enough reignite the spirit. They give meaning to the lines “Us desh ki sarhad ko koi choo nahi sakta, dis desh ki sarhad pe nigebaan hai ye aankhein.”
A country stands strong when its citizens feel for it. The 3 armed forces represent its combined force. India possesses the courage and strength to give a hard time to any super-power in the world. The need is just to incubate it and take care that it doesn’t die down. We are huge in number. The catch is to channelize the passion and spirit of the youth in the right direction, for the good of the nation, else:
Two men have the arms and power to use them. What makes a soldier different from a terrorist is his responsibility to use them both.
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