Honour the sacrifices of our Armed Forces

These days I observe with great dismay that many of our countrymen denigrate the Armed Forces and make fun of them. Those who have no serving relatives in the Forces do not know the extent of the sacrifices they make willingly? Little do they realize that we sleep soundly without being disturbed at night, because soldiers maintain a constant twenty four hour vigil on the borders to keep at bay the militants, jehadis and saboteurs – the enemies of our nation. This they do while posted on high snow clad mountain tops, dense forests full of leaches and snakes, in the hot desert and in riverine tracts. They are usually far away from their families and seldom enjoy the benefits of electricity or fresh water. They carry essential loads of food, clothing, ammunition and defence stores on their backs and march on their two feet in the forward areas.

The Armed Forces do not look for National Awards and praise but they want their countrymen to appreciate their efforts and sacrifices, that most take for granted. And yet when the time comes to honour them with a War Memorial, we can not find the money to finance such an important project or find a suitable place to build it on. INDIA GATE in Delhi was built by the British to commemorate the crucial role played by the Indian Armed Forces during World War I. The names of every Indian soldier, sailor and airman who made the supreme sacrifice on the distant battle fields of the world were inscribed on its sacred walls. Thus the British honoured the British Indian Armed Forces who became Martyrs and whose blood flowed freely to leave a crimson colour on the sands, soil and rivers in distant lands. Then again in the Second World War (WW II) the British added those names who once again made the ultimate noble sacrifice so that we who come after could live in peace and hold our heads high in the comity of nations. 

Since Independence, men and women in uniform have lost their lives and limbs while fighting for the country in the Kashmir War of 1947/48, the Chinese War of 1962, the Indo-Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971 and the Kargil War of 1998. Besides, there are many more incursions, clashes, raids and militant actions and accidents due to treacherous terrain, where men loose their lives. After every war when returning on short leave to reunite with our families or units moving back to their permanent stations, we were greeted by crowds and with some women distributing sweets and garlands at railway stations and at bus stands. But this is all momentary. The families of martyrs are left to fend for themselves. 

We are grateful to our chief minister for giving Goa a War Memorial in Fort Aguada when commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the Liberation of Goa. Here Goa has led by example, but where are the rest who should have followed? Such a memorial which is long overdue cannot be weighed against the need for toilets for slum dwellers.