It was a packed room, full of well dressed dignitaries. But there she was, clad in a white salwar kurta, with white dupatta covering her head. Her wrinkled motionless face spoke of a life full of experiences. She waited patiently till she heard the name of her son being announced. With stooped posture and folded hands, she stood in front of the President’s aisle. As the monologue began of her son’s bravery, she held herself with a lump in her throat, trying to fight back the tears. Just as a drop rolled down her cheek, the room went abuzz with thundering claps and the President moved towards her. Staring into oblivion and receiving the medal with a speck of pride, she wished for her son to be here.
But the people want a Hero – the one they always get… but never deserve!
Today, we look at a few stories and try to ask, do we really deserve the sacrifices… is it worth losing a son… a husband… a father, for the families. Read till the end.
- With his relentless attack over enemy, he was so carried away by the enthusiasm of battle and impetus of his own headlong dash that he started chasing the withdrawing tanks with his own and even shot down one. Soon thereafter, the enemy reformed and a fierce tank fight ensued. Ten of enemy tanks were hit and destroyed, however, this young officer refused to abandon his tank till death, displaying the tenacity of purpose. He was 21.
- In the Ladakh mountains when his search party was encircled by a platoon of Pakistani rangers, they all were captured before reinforcements could reach. He along, with his men were held captives for 23 days and tortured. His body handed over on 25th day, revealed cigarette burns, pierced eardrums, broken teeth and bones, punctured eyes, cut lips, chipped noses and amputated genitalia. These injuries preceded being shot dead in the head. 22 years and his father still files PILs and writes letters seeking action, but in vain. He was 22.
- Standing in the midst of a brutal clash and finding the whole team outnumbered, he was not deterred. Fighting against all odds and the vicious blows by unorthodox clubs and rods, he stood out displaying sheer bravery, taking down 12 Chinese soldiers barehanded in Galwan valley. He knew his fate but he decided to go down as a true warrior fighting. He was 23.
- In the fiercest battle, he got the opportunity to lead the men to clear and capture a point. Despite the heavy artillery and mortar fire from Pakistani troops, our soldiers counter-attacked, including hand-to-hand combat. Under his leadership, the company destroyed three medium machine bunkers. He had killed nine infiltrators himself, when a rocket propelled grenade directly hit him. Although injured, he led his men till the last breath. He was 24.
- He was arrested from a cruise party with others. He was a son of a movie actor, a famous one. There was ‘alleged’ seizure of banned drugs. He was put in Jail. Trials were held. Media houses were lit, reporting his daily routine in Jail. He was called a “child”, who was being harassed. Finally, he was released on bail. His father’s fans came out in unrelenting support and celebrated his release. Certainly, if you support a guy, you need to back his family as well. It’s a moral obligation. Thats how governments were run for this long. Anyways, they did wish him well. He is 23.
Out of the five stories listed above, I am sure you know the last person very well but you will probably have to google about other four… I hope you do google them. That describes our state as a nation and the state of our priorities as countrymen.
And we need to introspect or else, the times are not far when we are left as “a bunch of Right-Left wingers trying to co-exist on a piece of land fighting over the name of God” and few good men dying in the line of Duty for… Nothing!
PS- Feel free to comment the name of the four martyrs.
