Diwali with the Heroes
Let's talk about the second longest glacier of the non polar regions in the world that extends approximately 80 Kilometers in length with heights varying from 18000 to 22000 feet. The temperatures remain at sub zero throughout the year, dipping to minus 50 degree centigrade during winters. The average winter snowfall is upwards of 35 feet. The terrain is rugged with hidden crevasses and frequent avalanches. The nearest road ends at the base camp 72 kilometers away. It is in these conditions that the brave soldiers of the Indian Army guard our frontiers on the world's highest battle ground -SIACHEN.
There are numerous posts strung across the ridge with four to five troops at each post maintaining vigil 24x7x365. The approach to the posts is slow and dangerous requiring mountaineering skills. The rarefied air, low on oxygen, affects the body and mental capacity. Food items and supplies are air dropped for the forward placed troops and is dependent on good weather for flying, which often comes with a stroke of luck.
The day often starts with heating snow for water. Food is cooked within each post. The men almost never shave, it protects them from the cold, besides - its technically an almost impossible feat to achieve. Bathing is a luxury.
What's the icing on the cake you may say - intermittent shelling and exchange of fire from across the line of control. As if this isn't a very tall ask, these men stay away from their families, and from civilisation for days on end. Yet never for a second do these men falter from their line of duty, such is their commitment to the safety of their country and countrymen.
On the other hand is the civilian population, who live in the comfort of their homes and family, where daily necessities of breathing, movement, food, bathing etc are taken for granted. Being a proud Fauji (Army) kid, growing up, what broke my heart ever so often was when the civilian kids turned around and said - "they are doing their job, that’s what they get paid for".
Anyone who is remotely connected to the defence forces knows that these heroes don’t get paid anywhere close to what they do for the Country. What would you expect as justified remuneration to be paid in such remote environs where one wrong move spells death? While the other fathers attended the parent - teacher meetings at school expressing their joy at how wonderful the children were doing at school, our Army fathers would be deployed somewhere due to expected tension on the borders - what do you pay any father for that?
Our armed forces are seldom treated with the respect and admiration they deserve, neither by the people nor by the Government which has consistently ignored the demand for introducing the overdue One Rank- One Pension (OROP) norm followed by the defence forces the world over. Frustration led many veterans to return their gallantry awards and service medals to mark their protest. Despite this, not for a minute have our armed forces failed to fulfil their duties.
Its all eyes on the Modi led government now and the soldiers remain hopeful that their services to the country will now be acknowledged and the OROP issue will be resolved.
It has been 9 years since a Prime Minister visited Siachen. This is also the first time that a Prime Minister chose to spend Diwali with the troops. Modi thanked the troops on behalf of 1.25 billion Indians , saying that all countrymen slept safely in their homes because the soldiers kept the Country safe. “How many decades have passed without One Rank One Pension. It is in my destiny that One rank One Pension will be fulfilled, and preparations are being made for a National War Memorial, that we could all be proud of. The government is committed to the cause,” said Modi.
Strategists and analysts say that this was not just a time for the Prime Minister to bond with the troops but also to send a stern message for those across the borders who have been trying to destroy the peace in the region. Speaking to the soldiers Mr Modi said “I have specially come on the occasion of Diwali to be with you. I am aware how it feels like to spend Diwali with your family.
The happiness is different, but you are so involved in the devotion to your Motherland that, whilst the family is spending Diwali somewhere else you are somewhere else guarding the Motherland."
“My coming to this place will not fill the void of your family members, but as a representative of 125 crore people... after being with you, I feel proud and satisfied,” Mr. Modi told the troops.
While Mr Modi calls the subject of the armed forces an "emotional one" - heres hoping that the rest of the Country also takes time to acknowledge the sacrifices made by these fearless soldiers in protecting our Motherland. I remain eternally proud of my grand fathers and my father, all three war veterans, and hold my head high at all times for their valour and sacrifices .
Mr Modi later tweeted - "Be it the altitude or bitter cold, nothing deters our soldiers. They stand there, serving our nation. They make us truly proud".
Let's talk about the second longest glacier of the non polar regions in the world that extends approximately 80 Kilometers in length with heights varying from 18000 to 22000 feet. The temperatures remain at sub zero throughout the year, dipping to minus 50 degree centigrade during winters. The...
Let's talk about the second longest glacier of the non polar regions in the world that extends approximately 80 Kilometers in length with heights varying from 18000 to 22000 feet. The temperatures remain at sub zero throughout the year, dipping to minus 50 degree centigrade during winters. The average winter snowfall is upwards of 35 feet. The terrain is rugged with hidden crevasses and frequent avalanches. The nearest road ends at the base camp 72 kilometers away. It is in these conditions that the brave soldiers of the Indian Army guard our frontiers on the world's highest battle ground -SIACHEN.
There are numerous posts strung across the ridge with four to five troops at each post maintaining vigil 24x7x365. The approach to the posts is slow and dangerous requiring mountaineering skills. The rarefied air, low on oxygen, affects the body and mental capacity. Food items and supplies are air dropped for the forward placed troops and is dependent on good weather for flying, which often comes with a stroke of luck.
The day often starts with heating snow for water. Food is cooked within each post. The men almost never shave, it protects them from the cold, besides - its technically an almost impossible feat to achieve. Bathing is a luxury.
What's the icing on the cake you may say - intermittent shelling and exchange of fire from across the line of control. As if this isn't a very tall ask, these men stay away from their families, and from civilisation for days on end. Yet never for a second do these men falter from their line of duty, such is their commitment to the safety of their country and countrymen.
On the other hand is the civilian population, who live in the comfort of their homes and family, where daily necessities of breathing, movement, food, bathing etc are taken for granted. Being a proud Fauji (Army) kid, growing up, what broke my heart ever so often was when the civilian kids turned around and said - "they are doing their job, that’s what they get paid for".
Anyone who is remotely connected to the defence forces knows that these heroes don’t get paid anywhere close to what they do for the Country. What would you expect as justified remuneration to be paid in such remote environs where one wrong move spells death? While the other fathers attended the parent - teacher meetings at school expressing their joy at how wonderful the children were doing at school, our Army fathers would be deployed somewhere due to expected tension on the borders - what do you pay any father for that?
Our armed forces are seldom treated with the respect and admiration they deserve, neither by the people nor by the Government which has consistently ignored the demand for introducing the overdue One Rank- One Pension (OROP) norm followed by the defence forces the world over. Frustration led many veterans to return their gallantry awards and service medals to mark their protest. Despite this, not for a minute have our armed forces failed to fulfil their duties.
Its all eyes on the Modi led government now and the soldiers remain hopeful that their services to the country will now be acknowledged and the OROP issue will be resolved.
It has been 9 years since a Prime Minister visited Siachen. This is also the first time that a Prime Minister chose to spend Diwali with the troops. Modi thanked the troops on behalf of 1.25 billion Indians , saying that all countrymen slept safely in their homes because the soldiers kept the Country safe. “How many decades have passed without One Rank One Pension. It is in my destiny that One rank One Pension will be fulfilled, and preparations are being made for a National War Memorial, that we could all be proud of. The government is committed to the cause,” said Modi.
Strategists and analysts say that this was not just a time for the Prime Minister to bond with the troops but also to send a stern message for those across the borders who have been trying to destroy the peace in the region. Speaking to the soldiers Mr Modi said “I have specially come on the occasion of Diwali to be with you. I am aware how it feels like to spend Diwali with your family.
The happiness is different, but you are so involved in the devotion to your Motherland that, whilst the family is spending Diwali somewhere else you are somewhere else guarding the Motherland."
“My coming to this place will not fill the void of your family members, but as a representative of 125 crore people... after being with you, I feel proud and satisfied,” Mr. Modi told the troops.
While Mr Modi calls the subject of the armed forces an "emotional one" - heres hoping that the rest of the Country also takes time to acknowledge the sacrifices made by these fearless soldiers in protecting our Motherland. I remain eternally proud of my grand fathers and my father, all three war veterans, and hold my head high at all times for their valour and sacrifices .
Mr Modi later tweeted - "Be it the altitude or bitter cold, nothing deters our soldiers. They stand there, serving our nation. They make us truly proud".
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