Soldier mostly unknown & routinely forgotten!
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| Entrapment |
The title may sound misleading but I am sure of attributing some meaning to it by the end of this piece of writing. I am not talking of a war hero or who died a hero's death in any action (be it against external enemy or internal insurgents) but of those who are alive and kicking, true in every sense of it!
Soldiers are solitary individuals (I won´t say souls because of negative connotations), lonely posts, mountains, forests, flowers, brooks, glaciers, deserts and all the areas without a whisper of human life appeal to him as his own. Those are the areas where one can truly be an "I am I".
Soldiers are simple beings happy to get basic facilities and joys of life. Their humble backgrounds keep them grounded close to reality always. They are alienated from many walks of life due to the long periods of separation from immediate family, friends and society. But with improvement in communication facilities they are not insulated from the changes in the society. Soldier misses many aspects of life which are taken for granted like, coming home each evening to share with dear wife & children, many social occasions, fashion changes, elections, and changing the course of things around by mere presence. The services do prepare a man for these rigorous by seasoning, conditioning, insulating or sometimes just keeping you busy. An interesting point is of `Rum & Cigarette Allowance´, it was introduced by the British at subsidised rates to keep the soldiers amused and away from the daily happenings around. It still is doing its bit!
Travel always teaches a man many things by providing opportunities of first-hand experience of many regions, cultures, languages, systems and builds tolerance thus making a man mature in his outlook of life. The profession of arms is a great equaliser; soldiers forget caste, language, colour, religion by intermingling and making thick friends for life. Uniform obliterates the importance given to individuals on acquired skills in the society, all are comrades first and specialists later.
Soldiers are mostly misunderstood by the civil society, there is a major misconception that there is no work unless there is war. Even family members cannot understand the real grind which he undergoes as part of routine. The concept of maintaining standing professional armies is as ancient as human history, but choosing soldiering as a long term career option is only as old as the nation state form of governance. It is a national requirement to have an army for peaceful progress of the nation without interruptions, be it voluntary or conscripted. Soldiers are coolly forgotten and remembered only during dire situations. No nation can progress without a strong army and routinely forgetting the contribution of soldiers. Army, Navy and Air force are all the same for the conditions of a soldier only with little difference in culture.
Soldiering is not an easy job; it involves apart from physical requirements various skills. He needs to always update his awareness about ever evolving military tactics and technical advancements, know well of the type of terrain of operations, implications of changing Geo-political scenarios, innovative ways of out-smarting the enemy. The change & adaptability is continuous in the life of soldiers with changing work place, environment, job nature, level of responsibility, operational demands by topping it all is understanding the demanding boss. A soldier is a student for life his learning curve is up always, more so in case of preparing for and leading a well adjusted post-retirement life.
Soldiers retire relatively young compared to his civil counterparts with emerging responsibilities at the family front. All the skills of a soldier could be better utilised for progress of the nation with right kind of post-retirement avenues. The problems continue while in service also with the regular apathy of government officials and ever increasing red tape. He is taken for granted by all in not responding timely, being fully aware of his limited leave period.
The real sense of being a soldier is best understood by none other than the soldier himself. One has to be a soldier to understand one.
Once a soldier will remain a soldier for life, with all that openness, straightforwardness and yet a child at heart (Dil to batcha hai!). No one can understand the simple pleasures of life like a hot water bath after 90days, seeing lights after months of dark nights, a working mobile to speak home, the lovely letters from near ones and many more SIMPLE PLEASURES are only enjoyed by soldiers... one needs to maintain an immaculate image in the societal glare & temptations for the larger community of soldiers.
"In a play, everyone wants to be a soldier but reality shuns him as a lesser brother of fate!" - Gurucharan Singh Bais(Bhai).
