July 26th was Kargil Vijay Diwas, the tenth anniversary of the great victory that we achieved over Pakistani infiltrators in Kargil, the final battle being on the now famous Tiger Hill.
In May-June 1999 I was just another student studying in the 12th standard. In all honesty maybe I was too young, too unpatriotic or just too immature to care about what was happening. Yup I was right up there with many others who have taken our freedom for granted.
Right at that very moment it was interesting to see all the reports and visuals on television. It was very much like when CNN had taken over television to broadcast the first Gulf war.I remember celebrities coming out and doing charity shows in fulfilling their role towards the country. Reporters jumped in and out of dangerous locations with explosions and shelling behind them. It was all very exciting.
But now that I see and read about it, it excites me no more. The media has always glamorized war and indirectly glorified it too. Yes, we need the telly for giving us up to date reports, the statistics, the consequences and the aftermath. But why the manufactured drama? Why the constant need to remind us that our soldiers are brave tough men who are always smiling through the challenges that threaten their life. We know they are and we are mighty proud of it.
This is then the very platform that our fat arsed politicians choose to highlight their party’s contributions to war victories but fail to take accountability for what caused the country to go to war in the first place or why they are too meek to respond to aggression. Once again, a decade down the line, their lack of commitment or gratefulness to the role of our soldiers in Kargil, was evident yesterday when the authorities of the Panchkula administration failed to turn up for memorial service. Even in Delhi, the arrangements were low key. According to the media apparently, the Kargil victory was achieved under the NDA government so the Congress was a bit hesitant in performing a ceremony C’mon fellas atleast feign your jingoism.
It is ignominious that even after ten years, our politicians still fight over bragging rights as to whose victory was it? I know the Kargil war is not a cause for celebration especially as India was the one who had more casualties but it made the victory all the more remarkable. It is so demoralizing for our Army that the central government trivializes their achievements on political grounds. Sadly, we still haven't learned our lessons.
I salute you all Martyrs and Jawans for the gallantry you have shown in all the wars that India has fought (or rather been forced to fight). I am proud of the Indian Army. Jai Hind. !
In May-June 1999 I was just another student studying in the 12th standard. In all honesty maybe I was too young, too unpatriotic or just too immature to care about what was happening. Yup I was right up there with many others who have taken our freedom for granted.
Right at that very moment it was interesting to see all the reports and visuals on television. It was very much like when CNN had taken over television to broadcast the first Gulf war.I remember celebrities coming out and doing charity shows in fulfilling their role towards the country. Reporters jumped in and out of dangerous locations with explosions and shelling behind them. It was all very exciting.
But now that I see and read about it, it excites me no more. The media has always glamorized war and indirectly glorified it too. Yes, we need the telly for giving us up to date reports, the statistics, the consequences and the aftermath. But why the manufactured drama? Why the constant need to remind us that our soldiers are brave tough men who are always smiling through the challenges that threaten their life. We know they are and we are mighty proud of it.
This is then the very platform that our fat arsed politicians choose to highlight their party’s contributions to war victories but fail to take accountability for what caused the country to go to war in the first place or why they are too meek to respond to aggression. Once again, a decade down the line, their lack of commitment or gratefulness to the role of our soldiers in Kargil, was evident yesterday when the authorities of the Panchkula administration failed to turn up for memorial service. Even in Delhi, the arrangements were low key. According to the media apparently, the Kargil victory was achieved under the NDA government so the Congress was a bit hesitant in performing a ceremony C’mon fellas atleast feign your jingoism.
It is ignominious that even after ten years, our politicians still fight over bragging rights as to whose victory was it? I know the Kargil war is not a cause for celebration especially as India was the one who had more casualties but it made the victory all the more remarkable. It is so demoralizing for our Army that the central government trivializes their achievements on political grounds. Sadly, we still haven't learned our lessons.
I salute you all Martyrs and Jawans for the gallantry you have shown in all the wars that India has fought (or rather been forced to fight). I am proud of the Indian Army. Jai Hind. !
