Neha Joshi
It was Valentine’s Day- the day everyone celebrates the beauty of love. He was not on leave but had promised to return home soon. A father reminisced his memories, a mother cooked her son’s favourite food, the children missed their father and a wife waited eagerly for her husband to call. The phone did ring, however it did not speak of love. It conveyed a simple message- he would arrive home soon, wrapped in the tricolour. A simple message yet so strong that it changed the lives of 40 families forever.
The recent terrorist attack at Pulwama took our nation by a storm. A horrid act in which around 44 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were martyred at Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. The attack took place when a suicide bomber carrying 350kg explosives rammed his vehicle one of the convoy buses. The many casualties were immediately shifted to the army hospital in Srinagar. This fateful incident is considered as the deadliest on the Indian forces for decades. The last time an attack of this magnitude took place was at the Uri base camp in 2016 wherein 19 soldiers were martyred.
Discussing about love and hate, peace and war, or what the next step should be is vital in this case. But I feel we should also talk about the martyrs- the heroes, the brave hearts, the men in uniform. It brings me pain to know that every year we lose many soldiers whilst protecting us. An act such as terrorism aggravates the situation even more. The people who suffer the most in times like this are the families. The uncertainty of not knowing when the last time they see their kin is troubling. Not being able to say their goodbyes well is saddening. And the fact that their son, father or husband will return one last time in a coffin wrapped in a tricolour is heart wrenching.
We will not be able to fill the void in their life. But I believe we can extend help and support to those who the soldiers left behind. This is exactly what everyone did, each one contributing in their own way. Not long after the attack, protests and candle marches broke out across the country. Our very own Panaji municipal market was shut down by the shopkeepers and vendors as they set out for a massive candle march. 200 people donated their blood in honour of the jawans in Karnataka. While 2500 Kashmiri youth participated in an army recruitment rally. Daily wage workers of Mumbai pleaded their day’s earnings towards donations for the families of the martyrs. Some of the most influential people of India have also shown their support by starting donation portals and offering to shoulder responsibility of livelihood of the jawans’ families. The Pulwama attack got an international response too when countries such as US, Israel, France showed their support to us. Solace did not stop pouring in as the Indian communities overseas held candle marches.
In my opinion, serving in the defence forces is one of the most selfless jobs. To put the nation before oneself takes a great deal of courage and our soldiers have displayed this act of bravery time and again. The jawans who were martyred in the service of the country were not just data and statistics. They were people with lives, relations and well-functioning families. They were doing their duty so that we can live peacefully. They put their lives on line for us to lead ours easily. So, we must encourage, support and celebrate the men and women in uniform. Let’s be humane towards them so that their sacrifice will not go in vain. More importantly, let’s be citizens of India who are worth fighting for.
