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Wake Up Call for Indians
By Devesh
Mishra
July 20, 2008 |
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I want to
share a personal experience I had while
traveling within the US. I had boarded a
commercial aircraft to fly to my work place when
I saw a US marine/army personnel enter the
plane. This seemed a normal and routine affair.
Everyday millions of people, including military
personnel, travel all over the world.
However, things changed remarkably when we
reached our destination. There was a special
announcement from crew members that the marine
who was traveling with us was returning from the
Iraq war to his hometown. He had spent one year
engaged in combat duties in Iraq. It was moving
to see the kind of regard and courtesy afforded
to this soldier by the aircraft staff. This
really touched my heart.
At the same time, I started thinking about our
county. India, where we have hundreds of
thousands of solders guarding our borders,
fighting terrorists and performing other
difficult duties in the service of the nation.
However, when our soldiers return from such
duties they do not even get their basic rights,
in many instances.
Their problems begin when they get off the train
bringing them home. They are not given due
respect and regard. Most Indians think that
service in the armed forces is a low class job.
This is really a matter of shame for us.
As far as my understanding goes, we can't expect
our country to be prosperous if it not secure
from all sides. Since our soldiers provide this
security it is crucial to provide them and their
families the facilities, respect and
encouragement they deserve.
The US army soldier in the plane wasn't a
politician, sports star or even an officer in
the armed forces. He was just an ordinary
infantryman returning from the Iraq war.
If you compare this with the situation in our
country you will realize that ordinary soldiers
do not get the benefits and respect they
deserve. Officers from Indian Army/Air
force/Navy get the bulk of benefits. But my
question is: why are our soldiers are not given
such respect and benefits? Even though the Iraq
war is unpopular, personnel from the US army
fighting this war are given the utmost respect.
Our soldiers protect our own country in a good
cause and are yet denied such benefits. So many
Indian soldiers gave their lives for their
country during the Kargil war in order to keep
the nation secure and ensure peace of mind to
ordinary citizens of the country.
However, after the Kargil war the treatment
given to our soldiers was not befitting their
heroic efforts and gallantry. Indeed their
treatment continues to be poor. Many families of
martyred soldiers are finding it hard to make
ends meet. Often they have to bribe corrupt
bureaucrats to get even the little that they are
given. This is spreading like a cancer in our
society. This is a matter of shame. Soldiers
should be given the same treatment as officers.
We should be grateful to our armed forces who
have made our country safe and peaceful. But
they are still struggling to get their benefits
and rights. I am requesting every Indian to
think from their point of view. This would help
our soldiers and their families immensely.
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Comments: |
I
don't know how many of you know
about this piece of info. Men/women
in uniform in the US are the most
regarded people in the country. For
example, special discount on
vacation packages. In case of any TV
show or social gathering they would
be appreciated before they begin the
show. When they are in a queue to
buy something in stores, people
would let them check out first. Even
hookers would give discount on their
services!
We are claiming ourselves as a
"Knowledge" super power but I do not
know why these things never reach
our knowledge.
Great article. - Mohamed
Safiudeen - July 22, 2008
This type of message will definitely
encourage our army men also. Keep
posting these types of articles. -
Pavan Maddi - July 22, 2008
Great article, just to add to the
point, in a recent study, it was
claimed that the Indian army is
losing more soldiers to suicide than
to enemy actions and most experts
attribute the growing stress to low
morale, bad service conditions, lack
of adequate home leave, unattractive
pay, a communication gap with the
superiors and they returned home to
neighborhoods where the occupation
is commonly dismissed as an
imperialist crusade.
It's a real shame how we acknowledge
our soldiers! - Sowgandhika Dusa
- July 22, 2008 |
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