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| The Indian Army after capturing Tololing Hills |
"Sainik", the word on listening to which one can feel a change in the speed at which blood flows in their bodies. When we talk of a soldier, all that comes to our minds is Discipline, Abide by rules, Dedication, Sacrifice, Strong, Hardwork, Risk taking, Honesty and many other positive energies of life
While he stands across the border to safeguard us, we live here with all the comfort, happiness and safety. There's no denying that safety is the greatest comfort one can ever have in life. Without feeling safe, life will come to a standstill.
A Sainik’s life is full of struggles & sacrifice. An individual who is focussed to join the Armed Forces since childhood could join school like Sainik School, Military School, etc. where they get trained on numerous skills that make them leaders to serve the nation. For the ones who get on to this dream on a later stage of life, there is the NDA, IMA and other premier Armed Forces Training academies which conduct an entrance exam (UPSC) and an interview (SSB) for everyone aspiring to be an officer in the Armed Forces. I happened to read this very nice write up about an experience at SSB, Bhopal by Puneetkumar Pattar @ http://puneet3210.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-first-and-final-shot-at-ssb-for.html). On getting into the services, one gets into a life where he has to on his toes at all times.
Getting up early, the daily chores, exercises, reaching office on time, keep your family happy by spending time with them and now a days, the most important part of life 'The Weekends' scheduled prior and go out with friends & family to malls to spend time having look at the fancy, dashy & flashy things displayed around, shopping to falunt a credit card bill, ensuring that you eat the best food, etc. These are just a few issues that we all see in out lives every day and tell ourselves how overworked we are and how many problems we face. The only problems that a Sainik would ever think of is the national security, defending the nation from external aggression and threats, maintaining peace and security within the borders as well at times, and in the process, ensure that our weekend parties, the boozes, the dances and the fun keeps going on. Some may call this as the duty of the Sainik and that's it. But then, if everyone did their duties, the world would have no issues and no one would have to stand at the borders. Moreover, every duty can be performed in numeorus ways. You get results only when it is done in the right way with the right spirit.
We normal citizens have a completely different role to play in like an ‘Indoor Player’ who is incharge of the developing the country in terms of building the society, economy and polity which will meet the basic needs of the people so that they are not driven by poverty, inequality, unemployment, on the one hand, or by a desire to compete for resources and power either internally or in the international system, the culture, technology, building strong relationship with other nation and help build citizens their trust on the nation. The Sainik is an ‘Outdoor Player’ who takes care of the enemy around who intend to cause harm to the nation, even one such harm can waive off the success achieved in by the ‘Indoor Player’ in decades. One important point to aprpeciate is that the families associated with the Sainik also sacrifice most worldly pleasures being amid a world that is running behind these materialistic pleasures. Of course, every family sacrifices something for the welfare of a family member but the scale of measurement is different. Any family would think twice before getting their daughter married to a Sainik for known reasons. The isolation from the family, the tough lifestyle, the stress involved and the requirement to stay in difficult areas are just a few reasons to quote. Of course, above all, the safety of life. The world might not have noticed but I guess, more number of people die every year due to road accidents than the soldiers (in non-war years). So, uncertainty of life should not be a strong reason but it is one.
Our nation has many efforts in this direction like establishing the army schools, providing scholarships, etc. to drive the youth to the most strong and respected job in the nation. There is, perhaps, no shortage of patriotism in the nation but today’s youth are technology driven & need the mobility in the career in the urge of earning superior salary.
Its very important to note that the Schools established to train children for the Armed Forces are doing an incredible job. Not only do they produce excellent officers, they also produce great leaders. I have been blessed to be a part of one such great institution and I feel surprised, happy and charged everytime I hear about the stories of people from there. Above everything, these institutions mould people become better human beings. Everything else takes care of itself. Being physically fit, mentally tough and emotionally balanced is the need of the day in every sphere of life. Anyone who walks on the path of truth and honesty is a great success. Another important observation is that there is an amazing bonding between these people. It is a different family, a giant one.
I guess I have deviated enough from the topic. To practically look at it, there is nothing charming to write about a Sainik's life. It is a difficult story filled with selfless sacrifices to help the nation be a better place to live in. Our country doesn't even correctly realize or recognize a martyr's loss like we recognize the loss of a filmstar, cricketer or a politicians. We are such cheap xxxxxxs that we even made money on their coffins, on the bofors and on everything. We don't even realize the amount of effort that had gone into producing a soldier like him. This is perhaps the greatest distractor for today's youth from joining the Armed Forces.
Only the supreme personalities ever get a chance to serve the motherland. They are the greatest human beings. Forbes does not take their stories in the 100 Most Influential people in the world. If they did, they would have closed their magazine as they could never be able to put a number to the rank these heroes. It is only possible for these men to say, "Its ok. Let's keep going", when they know everything is in a mess. It is only these heroes who hide every problem as it nothing ever existed, perhaps because they never took their work as a duty but a pleasure to serve the nation, and say, "Live Life King Size"
My Salutes...!!! Jai Hind...!!!
The following information is taken from different sources on the internet
His Last Letter to his parents
Moments before the final assault Capt. Vijyant Thapar (Robin) left this letter at the war front base, to be handed over to his family.
HE CAME BACK HOME WITH TRI COLOR DRAPED
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.
And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today .
He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that some people start.
If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning,for a soldier died today.
