I have been trying to pen my thoughts on the Indian Army and offer my tributes to the Late Field Marshall Manekshaw who passed away recently. India lost a real Hero, and thankfully we didnt have riots like we have when a famous south Indian film start passed away, Sam Bahadur sure wouldn't have liked it and I really don't mind if people of India and its elite dignatories didnt get time to attend his state funeral as reported by newspapers, atleast thankfully they didnt disrespect him by rioting :) But well he was no Film Star...he was a REAL HERO.
So much for the people, but Sam was extraordinary, he liberated Bangladesh, had 93000 strong Pakistani Army surrender in Dhaka, walked up almost to Karachi and still, pulled back when his Primeminister wanted. Thats valour, thats courage, to leave all you have gained without a wince, to be apolitical and not let your ego overtake you. I respect Sam Bahadur for that, and I think India is indebted to him for creating such a legacy with the armed forces.
I am proud of the Indian Army, not because it has won 4 wars against Pakistan, not because it is the world's second largest Army but solely for the fact that it has remained largely apolitical. In Asia, with most countries which have been at a similar time and sense as India, Army has always taken over while a country was growing up, experimenting with democracy and values. Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Srilanka, China, Bangladesh, Malaysia all i think have bouts of coups and Millirary dominated rules more or less. But the Indian Army has stood out for its professionalism. Inspite of the morass of Indian politics, the largely currupt and inept political class, the various stages if instability, emergency, war, riots, kashmir and other host of issues, the INDIAN ARMY thankfully has always been apolitical. It has done its job fairly, without any bias at any stage. I think as an institution its is probably still the most respected in India.
And if the Indian army has shown such restraint and patience with the politicians, allowed democracy to nurture, grow and supported the teenage pranks of indian politcial class, it owes it to people like Sam,Sundarji and Thimmiah. We as a nation we owe these Soldiers a lot.
I bet Sam must have felt bad, when the myopic Indian political establishment took a toll on his best Soldier during the Operation Blue Star and Indian Army had to kill had to kill its best soldier , the one India awarded "PVSM" for his valiant efforts in the Bangladesh war. Thats the tragedy of India, and whenever some of friends who are frusrtated with the dirty politics in india say we need a Military Rule, I tell them, We are lucky ....Our Army never even thinks of taking over.....if it can show restraint, ask its men to take bullets till the enemy has run out of bullets in Kargil, If it can see its politcians selling thier morals to scam and make profits for coffins bought for the countries Martyrs and still is professional.....we should take a leaf...show restraint, salute them, and thank God for giving India such a professional and Disciplined force.
I salute Sam Bahadur for his bravery, for his legacy, for his love for India.
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yah karthik
i feel the same. he was the most loved soldier in India. Me from IAF wept for him. The others from sex and services haps did the same but the governmnet sleeps over such people.People who gave there lives but praise people like salman khan, amitabh etc.. or even Rahul, sonia etc... The world has changed but the Army has not.I lived in service and say emphatically that there is no caste bar or religion bar.every unit has a gurdwara, mosque and a mandir. It is only when we come out in civil as retired that there som many hues of caste etc.. Sure sam must be turning in his grave for his treatment. In the parliament his dying was overshadowed by 123 deal etc...what shamed us most was that no worthy chief did visit the creamation rites. Yes we service men know it is down right bad but keep mom snce we are trained to keep quite and say nothing.
Yes for us the country is great and not its political set up.
achuta
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