-: [rti4empowerment] Fw: LIEUTENANT DID YOU DIE IN VAIN? ( A must read for patriotic Indians)

I belong to a fauji family and I cannot but help speak up ...

In remembrance and With Regards

Urvi

Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 7:37 PM

To: undisclosed recipients:

Subject: LIEUTENANT DID YOU DIE IN VAIN? ( A must read for patriotic Indians)

You might like to read this touching news report

> Dear Friends.
> A Maratha Light Infantry Battalion guarded our border well by exercising
> admirable vigil at Gurez(J&K) over the week end, *killing 12 Militants* who
> were being pushed in clandestinely by Pakistan. Mind you, it was just 9
> militants who created chaos in Mumbai on 26/11 that brought great damage to
> the Nation and shook us. Hundreds of Crores have been spent by state and
> Central Govts and corporates who suffered or who intent to limit future
> risks, on various measures after 26/11.
> But deeply painful is the fact that Lt Navdeep Singh, from Hoshiarpur a
> young officer just commissioned from Officer's Training Academy in March
> this year had to risk his life to kill maximum militants and finally had to
> sacrifice his own life for ous, leading his small little team courageously
> from the front. Opening fire at the militants early would have resulted in
> many escaping into Pakistan after the first shot is heard. He allowed them
> to come very close controlling his fire with utter disregard for his life to
> kill maximum militants.
> The saving he has done to the Nation in terms of lives, property and fear of
> the unknown is not quantifiable.
> I did not see any report in Times of India(one with widest circulation)
> today on the Army Operation. It carried a small piece on the side yesterday
> when the operation was still on. But was delighted to receive an young
> girl's passion penned down. She is *Sarvar Bali* an young budding
> journalist. Probably her article is unpublished yet. Please let this reach
> every patriotic Indian and let us all salute Lt Navdeep Singh while his
> mortal remains must still be in transit to his village in Hoshiarpur(HP).
> Jai Hind
>
> > The article follows:
>
>
> *LIEUTENANT DID YOU DIE IN
> VAIN? *
>
>
> I learnt about your demise from the ticker tape on one of the news channels,
> last evening. It was a big encounter and a very fierce one at that. A
> feeling of deep saddness enveloped me as I reflected on your youth which had
> been sacrificed in Gurez Sector,in the line of duty. What does your death
> mean?
>
> By now your mortal body would be lying embalmed at the Base Hospital and
> will be flown out of Srinagar later in the day,on its final journey to the
> cremation ground in your native town or village.
>
> You were too young to die,far too young! For whom and for what did you die
> then? This question haunted me last night and I will attempt to answer you.
>
> You were probably from a village or a small town of India. You were
> perhaps the son of an army officer or JCO, or from an urban or rural
> civilian background. You could not be from one of the big cities where iron
> has entered the soul of our youth and where the only driving motivator is
> quest for money in the surreal environment of the corporate world.
>
> Why did you join the army? Ofcourse to get a job. But than that is
> over simpliying the question. You were possibly motivated by the traditions
> in your family and clan,you were probably enthused by the sight of your
> elder brothers,uncles or other men from your community in uniform,you were
> perhaps enchanted by the cantonement life where you may have spent your
> growing years.
>
> As your body comes home, you will not get the adulations from the
> Government which a soldier's body gets in the USA. Your name will not be
> read out in any obituary reference in Parliament,as is done in the UK for
> all soldiers who fall in combat in the line of duty.Your name will not be
> etched on any national memorial because we do not have one! Symbolically you
> will become the unknown soldier for the Nation, for whom the flame burns at
> India Gate, but your name will not be etched there.The names engraved on
> that monument are of the soldiers who died fighting for the British Indian
> Army and not those who have made the supreme sacrifice for independent
> India! Can it get more ironic?
>
> But do not despair Lieutenant. Your comrades will do you proud! The
> seniormost officer will lead the homage that your brother officers will pay
> you before you leave the Valley of Kashmir one last time. Your unit
> representatives will escort your body home. You will be carried to the
> funeral pier draped in the flag for which you died fighting.The darkened and
> tearful eyes of your grief-stricken mother and the stoic figure of your
> father, benumbed by the enormity of this tragedy, will move even the most
> cynical.
>
> I do not know Lieutenant at what stage of the encounter you fell, mortally
> wounded. But the fact that you were there on the lonely vigil across the
> Line of Control in Gurez, is enough to vouch for your valour. Your unit and
> formation commanders will see to it that you get the gallantry award which
> you so richly deserve. In due time your father or your mother will be
> presented the medal and parchment of your gallantry,which will be framed and
> find the pride of place in your home.Time will dull the bitterness of
> this tragic parting, which right now is the only feeling that engulfs your
> parents and siblings, in its enormity.
>
> Lieutenant you were lucky. You did not live long enough to get married and
> leave behind a grieving widow. You did not live long enough to have
> children. For when they would have come of age you would have seen in them a
> cynicism towards the army for which you died. You will not see a young son
> who thinks his father is a hero and wants to follow his footsteps in joining
> the army only to be harshly disuaded by his mother (or even father!) from
> following a profession which ranks so low for the youth of our country. You
> were lucky not to serve long enough to see the army getting belittled . You
> did not live long enough to see the utter indifference and even disdain for
> the army. Like you a large number of valiant soldiers laid down their lives
> on the rocky heights of Kargil,fighting against self-imposed odds. Today it
> is not even felt fit to publicly commemorate the anniversary of that
> stupendous military victory,won by blood and gore,in a befitting
> manner.
>
> But do not despair Lieutenant. Your name will be etched for posterity in the
> annals of your Unit and your Regiment. A silver trophy with your name
> inscribed on it,will grace the centre table of the unit mess.You will also
> find your name in the unit Quarter Guard,where annual homage will also be
> paid to you.The war memorials at the Formation HQ where you served and at
> your Regimental Centre will proudly display your name for eternity.If you
> joined the Army through the NDA, your name will be written in the Hut of
> Remembrance through which each cadet will pass,paying homage before his
> Passing Out Parade.
>
> There will be an obituary reference to you from your comrades in the
> papers, which will be flipped over by most but which will be read in detail
> by people who have a connect with those who wear or wore the uniform.
>
> As your parents head into the evening of their life,memories of your valour
> will be their most precious possession. When ever your mother will think of
> you her eyes will mist over but there will be more stars in them than you
> ever wore on your shoulders.Your father may speak quietly about you but no
> one will miss the swell of pride in his chest. For your siblings you will
> always remain the real hero,and for that matter even for your community and
> village. A school or a road may well be named after you and you will become
> a part of the local folk-lore.
>
> You died Lieutenant, because when the test came, you decided that you could
> not let down your family,your clan and your comrades, who always expected
> you,without ever saying so, to do your duty.You, Lieutanant, have done more
> than your duty and made your memory their hallowed possesion.
>
> LIEUTENANT YOU DID NOT DIE IN VAIN!
>
>
>
> - Sarvar Bali