"I am the unknown soldier, forgotten and ignored
When once the war is over and peace and quiet assured
We fought for you and the country and now that we are dead
We rest in quiet exclusion, 'cause nothing more is said
Of how we did our duty, that you may sleep in peace
Of how we did our duty, that you may sleep in peace
When once the foe was vanquished, and the strife of war had ceased
The country called upon us to do what needs to be done
To oust the vicious enemy and ensure the war was won
Our near and dear ones blessed us and sent us full of pride
To defend the country's honour and some were new-wed brides
We went and fought your battles, most of which were won
Some of us never came back, all were mother's son
Our bodies they do lie there, on hill and vale and plain
Exposed to all the elements of snow and ice and rain
So many were anxious, some still do wait in vain
What can you do to lessen our loved one's grief and pain?
Our last rites were not given, we died a soldier's death
Our eldest sons kept waiting, their hopes could not be met
We went and did our duty, we do not ask for much
Only a place of honour, our loved one's heart to touch
A place where they can think of happy days gone by
To pray on the lonesome morrow and if need be stand and cry
Although we have left earth's orbit and need rest in peace
Our soul are not past caring, our pain will never cease
Till you and the country's leaders create a haloed space
For a fitting War Memorial, on valour and honour based."
Author: Major General Ian Cardozo
I am free to write all this on my blog because few brave men are standing on the Indian Border fighting the enemy so that I can live free of all fears. These brave men sacrifice their life for us and what do we give them in return? Nothing. They never asked for anything in return other than honour and respect. And we fail to give them that too. Since 1947, lakhs of soldiers have died saving us from the enemy. They fought till their last breathe for the country and for us. Handful of them were honoured by the Government with medals and honours like Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Sena, Nao Sena and Vayu Sena Medal. But thousands of others have been forgotten. What is not known to many is that for every act of heroism that is awarded recognition there are innumerable acts of courage that remain unreported, unrecognised and therefore unknown. This fact is acknowledged by many countries who pay particular importance to this reality and give it great significance at the national level. After World War I, many nations set up memorials to the 'Unknown Soldier' as a tribute to those who had died in combat. Almost every country has a memorial for 'Unknown Soldiers' but unfortunately even after 62 years India has failed to make any such memorial for these brave soldiers.
Britishers made India Gate in New Delhi to pay homage to the Indian Soldiers who died fighting in World War I. Recently Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated 'Memorial Gates' in honour of Soldiers from India, Africa and the Caribbean who fought for Britain in both the world wars. In addition, the British War graves Commission maintains war cemeteries in various parts of India and all over the world. Britishers are doing so much for the Indian Soldiers but our own Government is sleeping and its greedy ministers are busy looting India. After Independence, not even one War Memorial has been made by the Government for the Indian Soldiers. Mahatma Gandhi has been given Raj Ghat, Indra Gandhi Shakti Sthal and Rajiv Gandhi too has been given a place after his death. Every politician is honoured after his death then why not the Indian Soldiers who are much bigger than these greedy politicians.
We demand a War Memorial for our brave Indian Soldiers and all the Freedom Fighters of India known and unknown. Can't we do this much for the people who died for us?
"When you go back
Tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow
We gave our today."
The poem Unknown Soldier has been written by Major General Ian Cardozo, a brave soldier of Indian Army. All the officers and soldiers have been demanding a 'War Memorial' and Ian Cardozo is one of them. I read his book "Param Vir - Our Heroes in Battles" in which he has written this poem and raised the demand for a 'War Memorial'.
| Maj Gen Ian Cardozo, AVSM, SM | |
 | An officer of the 5th Gorkha Rifles (FF), Maj Gen Ian Cardozo was severely wounded due to mine blast injuries after being dropped behind enemy lines in the Sylhet Sector in India's first heliborne operation during the Indo-Pak War 1971. Uncaring of his serious wounds, he cut off his injured foot with his khukri. He too chose to soldier on in his regiment. Later, he became the first officer with an artificial leg to command a battalion and later a Brigade. He Subsequently commanded a division and retired as Chief of Staff of a Corps in the Eastern Sector. He is now a social activist, author and military historian. His books, “Paramvir: Our Heroes in Battle” and “The Sinking of INS KHUKRI” have received both critical and popular acclaim. He is currently Chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India. Here's a link to the interview of Maj. Gen. Ian Cardozo in The Hindu. Click here to read his interview. |
0 comments:
Post a Comment