BRAVE SOLDIERS

 ‘Sleep peacefully at your homes, Indian Army is guarding the frontiers’-This signboard along the border gives us reassurance that we are protected from enemies. Let us think of the brave soldiers of Indian Army doing duty in adverse climatic conditions, away from their families and risking their lives, just to keep us safe from enemy attacks. 

Many soldiers became martyrs. Captain Vikram Batra was a brave officer and patriot. His slogan about victory “Ye Dil Mange More” is memorable. He fought like a lion and got injured with a bullet in the chest while evacuating an injured soldier. But he continued to fight with enemies. He shifted aside a fellow soldier and stood up to face enemies and was fatally hit by an Artillery splinter. Displaying extra ordinary bravery and leadership, he made the supreme sacrifice for our nation. Govt of India honoured him with the highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra(PVC) Posthumously. His words to one of his friends were “I will either come back after raising the Indian Flag in victory or return wrapped in it. But I will come for sure.”

Another brave soldier is Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat of the 4th Battalion of Garhwal Rifles Infantry Regiment. He was born on 19 August 1941 and became a martyr on 17 November 1962. He was awarded Mahavir Chakra (posthumous) During the final phase of Indo-China War called the ‘Battle of Nuranang’ in Nov 1962, Rifleman Jaswant Singh fought and killed around 300 Chinese soldiers. Now the story stranger than fiction is that, the soldiers and the local people believe in the existence of the spirit of Jaswant Singh. They fondly call him ‘Jaswant Baba’ giving him the position of a saint. According to the soldiers and local people Jaswant Singh’s spirit roams the area at night and protects them from enemies, accidents, and natural calamities. They also say that Jaswant Singh comes in their dreams and solves their problems. Soldiers guarding the Eastern borders feel protected thanks to the presence of the spirit of Jaswant Singh. As the signboard along the way to Jaswant Garh says, ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today’ ,we should not forget the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our nation. 

A brave soldier,Sepoy Harbhajan Singh, joined 23 Punjab Regiment of Indian Army at the age of 20 in 1966.On 4 Oct 1968, he lost his life, while on duty when he slipped and fell into a stream. He was escorting a mule column for sending supplies to a remote post. His body could not be found as it was carried by the powerful current for about 2km downstream. Army conducted search for 3 days and was surprised to find Harbhajan’s body exactly at the same place as described by him in the dreams of his soldier friends. There is a strong belief in Army that Baba will warn about any accidents, disasters or impending attacks from enemies at least three days in advance.Believe it or not, it is a true story of patriotism and faith. Both the soldiers and local people believe that Baba is there to protect them and that is a reassurance for them to live in peace. It is an unsolved mystery. But our soldiers say that their belief in Baba gives them strength and courage to stay and do their duty even under adverse circumstances, natural calamities or hostile environment along the borders. You know that it is not a superstition, but a strong faith in Baba Harbhajan Singh, the patriot! This is the story of the Hero of Nathula who protects our nation even after death like a true saint,a saint who answers prayers and grants blessings to devotees.

We recently celebrated our Republic Day."Our National Flag does not fly because the wind moves it. Our Tricolor flies with the  last breath of each soldier who died protecting it." -This saying is absolutely true. There are so many soldiers who fought for our Mother India and became handicapped or became martyrs in those wars or encounters. Let us remember with respect those brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our nation. Proud of those brave sons of Mother India! Salutes to them! 

JAI HIND! JAI HIND KI SENA!