You know how much irritation and frustration must have hit me if I am forced into writing a post on my blog on a Tuesday. Which is not even far far related to my posting cycle.
But I have literally had enough.
When the so called Jat stir began in the name of demanding reservations, a very quiet whatsapp forward reached the family group. It simply said that since Pawan Kumar was an army martyr and a Jat we must provide reservations to the community as such.
The fact that it evoked almost an outburst of kinds from mostly all young ones in the group might be an understatement here. But it really got me going in my head.
Something I have been thinking for a while now.
We need to stop making army the clipboard of all our debates.
On an immediate basis.
You know it almost breaks my heart when I see the images of the coffins, the resolute family standing firm on their feet and perhaps broken inside and the grand salute doesn’t sound like music to anybody.
But snap this, suddenly I find people taking on the same issue with such fervor and connecting it with any growing debate in the country.
Perhaps tomorrow even farmer suicides will be shown in this light. Why are they dying if they have nothing to eat? Our soldiers are managing in negative 40 deg C and not complaining.
Enough. Again Enough.
Our army is our pride. Do not make it your scapegoat please.
And tell me how can anyone combat a person saying, ‘Army is national.’ And no offence to grieving ex commanders on screen but sir, how is it that you can fathom the idea that we do not understand what the tricolor means to you?
If you feel so bad that the tricolor is insulted by a bunch of students why didn’t you raise your voice when activists were JAILED for flying it in RSS headquarters 12 years ago?
See what I did just there? I did what so many of them do. Turn a debate into a comparison.
Don’t react. I never meant the RSS jibe seriously. Or maybe I did.
I am running out of steam here already. Because it saps me to think logic is fast being replaced by all forms of jingoism in our country.
Losing our best men to outsiders and our sanity to inside ones. Please just stop colluding the two already.
Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.
One last thing, a while back it trended on twitter ‘TricolourForUnity’ to that I want to humbly reply/
Tricolor is Unity.
Anyone wanting to guess who is Mr. India here as mentioned in the title of post? Anyone? Readers want to know!
I am happy you wrote about such a pressing issue…our Indian army is our pride and our only hope. God give strength to all the grieving families.
Yes Garima it is. And unfortunately we are dragging them in our mess.
You said it! You nailed it !
It frustrates me to an extent that I am too angry to write about it. Your words have been in everyone’s mind for a while, I’m sure. It just is not right, whatever is happening.Period.
Thanks Prateek. Unfortunately we need more and more people evoking the same response around to ensure this dies a slow death like now!
Well said, Richa! It is such a shame that the army is called out for all silly issues and when it comes to rewarding them our leaders have to think twice. And the same leaders have no issues announcing crores for building lifeless statues even while our own people, our farmers, are committing suicide because of huge losses and poverty. Reservation should be strictly on the basis of economic status or merit.
Exactly! You get it. This money can be utilised. Also army can be rewarded with better salaries and conditions. Instead of the jingoism we can actually act!
You said it! It is such a shame, how easily we take Army’s name and make them a scapegoat for matters that don’t involve them. It is frustrating to hear about India in the news for all the wrong reasons. No logic in whatever is happening around…so frustrating.
It is frustrating. But thankfully the sane voices are chiming in and that is our saving grace today.
It sucks when you see how they do politics taking the army name when they can’t defend themselves but will nicely forget OROP and benefits to the army. It’s sad the stage things have reached where our freedom have taken a beating and oppressed are treated like criminals. It’s difficult times.
You’ve made powerful and honest arguments Richa.
Thanks Vishal. It is not a difficult time but yes a little trying for those who really value FOE.