Lest We Forget
- Aditi Patwardhan
- May 6, 2020
- 1 min read
We Indians, as a people, have a short memory. Let us accept it.
First, we shed tears for our soldiers who lost their lives protecting us.
Then, we became ‘armchair Field Marshals’ and started advising the Armed Forces and the Government on what should have been done.
But do we even know a thing? No. We know zilch.
The grieving families are all over news channels, and it does not feel good one bit to see them in that state. The media should behave responsibly and respect the privacy of those families.
This saga continues for 2-3 days, and then nobody’s shedding tears anymore, nobody’s asking questions, the media is back to doing what it does best… The world moves on.
Is our patriotism short-lived? Is it only reserved for days like these when our soldiers are killed in action, or on National Holidays like Independence Day and Republic Day? People wear it on their sleeves and act like complete hooligans.
We proudly claim that India is a nation that personifies ‘Unity in Diversity’. But the nation only remembers its soldiers in times of trouble and turmoil. Do we ever spare a thought for their well-being? Ponder.
When celebrities die, almost everyone writes a ‘RIP’ post on their social networks. When soldiers/policemen die, there is not a single post of remembrance – a harsh reality that we would hate to be told of.
Are we, as citizens of our beloved nation, even worthy of these sacrifices?
Someone’s silently guarding us, risking his life in the harshest of environments, the deadliest of terrains. He probably doesn’t even know us. But he is there, undaunted, because he loves what’s behind him.
So, here's what we must remember:
Very true natation of our social Psyche. The thought of nationalism flickers on very few occasions and for very short time. Another national truth you brought out rightly is that 'It is only the Armed Forces which reflect Unity in Diversity.' I love your advice ' Be the citizens worthy of Soldier's Sacrifice' . Because every time a Soldier sacrifices his life and goes to God, He asks the soldiers ' are you sure , these Indians are worthy of your sacrifice ' . Even God has doubts. Very emotional Aditi but very true and real write up. Keep writing. You think and write well.
"We Indians, as a people, have a short memory. Let us accept it." No, it is not that- it's just that there is too much to remember and even if one does not want, mortals who laid their lives in the line of duty end up as mere statistic and, now a name in the national war memorial. This is extremely sad, but true.