Note: This post is a personal opinion, and the reader is welcome to disagree.
The desecration of the Amar Jawan memorial in Mumbai symbolizes not just the resentment that people harbour against the establishment - but also the lack of respect for our armed forces. Soldiers' lives are in a state of neglect. There is little that can be done if the very people who are protected don't spare time to understand the sacrifice of their uniformed brothers. The life of a jawan is often dismissed as lowly; why bother, after all, with a life that entails penury? An officer is respected in social circles, not because he contributes to nation-building, but because he holds a superior rank. What is common to both the jawan and the officer? Have you, as a civilian, ever bothered to find out?
I am not preaching here - heroism is not a supernatural gift. However, in contrast to the average youngsters' disposition in matters that concern the country today, our soldiers' spirit of sacrifice is extraordinary. By and large, the people I speak to don't find the idea of serving their country in such a direct manner very appealing; materialism has become the new ideal, and selflessness is sacrificed everyday, at the altar of convenience. While it is unfair to expect the average civilian to serve in the army, it is not unreasonable to ask of him a little respect for our soldiers; attempts to inculcate a sense of oneness and conviction are met with mockery, and people go so far as to rubbish the service rendered by the armed forces. The National Military Memorial in Bengaluru is an example of our apathy as a people. The construction of the memorial was opposed on environmental grounds - a citizens' group filed a Public Interest Litigation petition in the High Court - which was dismissed. In expounding its reasons for the dismissal of the petition, the Court stated that the memorial was a matter of pride for the citizens. Isn't it sad that the judiciary has to remind the society of their duty towards the defence forces? That is not all. The group then moved the Supreme Court to stop the construction - the Court rapped them on the knuckles, and concurred with the High Court's verdict. The basis of the petition was a supposed environmental grievance due to the disappearance of a park. This is shameful, given the army's habit of preserving the environment wherever they go - what right do we have, to sully the memory of our Martyrs, and accuse the army of harming the environment, when there is only a perceived, and not an actual reason to do so?
Why is this happening? Examples set by our inept political cadre, for decades, have shaped the attitude of our youth. That said, initiatives such as awareness lectures held by the army at St.Edmund's College, Shillong, can help mitigate this problem - if only there were more of them. We would then be able to tell a guerrilla from a gorilla (as Field Marshal Manekshaw so delightfully put it). Sensitizing children at school could also address this problem. We could do with the inclusion of famous battles that instill a sense of pride in our military culture - not necessarily post-independence battles, but inspiring stories, which help them understand what the term "esprit de corps" really means. The Battle of Saragarhi is an excellent illustration. The army had been pushing for its inclusion in the school curriculum; apparently, it has been taught in French schools - this sparked a political debate, and it has been taught in schools in Punjab since. What I understand from this incident, is that change at the grassroots level is difficult, unless the political class desires it. The average citizen, on his part, can engage in debate and healthy conversation on all things military with people who are willing to listen.
There is hope. There are examples of gratitude - but they are few and far between. The National War Memorial in Pune, located near the Souhtren Command Headquarters is one such example - it remains the only war memorial in South Asia to be erected by citizens' contributions. However, fleeting remembrance does not equal respect - it brings to light an acute lack of conviction. Ceremonial and scattered recollections aren't enough - the remembrance has to be consistent - only then will it leave a lasting impression. This will happen when we, as a nation, spread ideas, debate, and when lessons in bravery are nationalized.
This won't blight my hope for a better outlook. I might be a civilian, but I relate to the creed of our defence forces, and hold our soldiers in high esteem. Jai Hind.
