Day 110

 Shershaah- Biopic on Captain Vikram Batra, PVC

We are on the eve of our Independence Day-2021. What better time than now to recall the martyrdom of our brave soldier in different wars with our neighbouring countries, especially the Kargil imbroglio, which cost us lot of brave soldiers.

In blog 69  I had cited the brave accounts of Captain Vikram Batra and his teammates. Today, 13. 8.2021, I had the honour to watch the biopic on him titled, SHERSHAAH.

( I will repeat  blog 69 on the Independence day again).

 I have not been seeing movies for a long time. But this I saw in one go for 2.14 hours, with hardly a break, at home. I strongly recommend the same to all patriotic Indians ,who love their motherland- now and forever.

It may be possible that for many  army may be remembered only during a conflict or calamity, as our blood relations are not working there. But then all the brave soldiers are the children of some or other Indians, and their joy and sorrows should impact us too, as they are shedding their blood such that we can live peacefully.

So, the dialogues of Captain Batra will  always ring in our ears-  He says on one occasion that he will return surely either after unfurling the flag at Kargil or wrapped in the tri-colour. That is  the valour he had shown  along with his brave team members, who rose above the fear of death to protect the HONOUR of the MOTHERLAND.

Hence, being a civilian with great love and affection for Army- forces- it is my fervent wish that this movie is shown to as  large an audience as possible… this is not an ordinary movies. This is life at the riskiest level. One should never ever forget that soldiers depicted there were people like us, but many of them  lost their life in action protecting  our interest. Hence this is not a reel life, but a picturisation of  REAL life/reality/conflict. 

( I  also saw a video in which his parents, brother, family members, friends and colleagues from the Kargil war were praising the efforts of the producers of the movie and especially the performance of the Hero in the film).

An army man facing an enemy has no luxury of debating, boycotting, slogan mongering, blocking, rioting, stalling, shouting, rail/rasta rokos, bandhs, --------- endless types of destructive/backward/uncivil activities seen  here for decades after decades….

 ( Strange it may seem that a  country that has less than a dozen gold medals in Olympics for over 100 plus years , has time and energy for  many, many unwanted activities!!!)

If the army has not defended us, where we would be ? such thoughts are rarely voiced/heard /or seen.

Being a school student in 1963 or so , I remember distinctly, our school's children walking through the street of the town, where the school was located -in Kerala-, shouting slogans in praise of the martyred soldiers. How many died in the Chinese conflict is anybody’s guess. But we innocent students of that age- around 10  years or  shouted support for their sacrifice. And there used to be Flag days, when flags were purchased for 10 paise or so, that money used to go to army fund, if I remember correctly.

After seeing Shershaah all those memories welled up. How many brave soldiers had to sacrifice their life to defend mother land since 1947? How many parents would have shed tears of blood, how many women lost their precious happiness and how many children their fathers?

Are our country men conscious of that? One wonders, after seeing the behavior of many at many responsible places over the decades. Specifics are not gone into, as discerning people will know already.

Captain Batra’s and others lives should be honoured sufficiently, repeatedly and prominently. I think this biopic is a step in that direction, Congratulations to the team behind the biopic.

 Today I received the following WhatSapp message. I am reproducing as received due to  its valuable contents-

 Quote

India's Chief of Defence Staff Vipin Rawat has said that every person in India must read the below sentences about the Indian Army.

You are cordially requested to please co-operate in spreading these invaluable ' Rashtra Raksha Sutra s' to as many citizens as possible through various mediums.

Indian Army 10 Best Priceless Quotes: Must Read.

Reading these makes me feel true pride... 

1.′′ * I will come back hoisting the tricolor or wrapped in the tricolour, but I will definitely come back. *"- Captain Vikram Batra,The ultimate heroic chakra 

2.′′ * What is an extraordinary adventure of a lifetime for you, is our daily life. * ′′

- Signboard on Leh-Ladakh Highway (Indian Army)

3.′′ * If my death comes before proving my bravery, then I swear that I will kill death. *"

- Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey,Param Veer Chakra, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles 

4.′′ * Our flag does not fly because the wind is blowing, it flies with the last breath of every soldier who sacrificed his life in its protection. *"- Indian Army

5.′′ * You must be nice to get us, you must be sharp to catch us, but you must be a child to win us. *"- Indian Army 

6.′′ * God have mercy on our enemies, because we will not. "*- Indian Army 

7.′′ * Our living is our coincidence, our love is our choice, our killing is our business. *

- Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai 

8.′′ * If a person says that he is not afraid of death, he must be either lying or he belongs to the Indian Army. *"- Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw

9.′′ * It is God's job to forgive terrorists, but it is our job to make them meet God. *"

- Indian Army

10.′′ * We regret that we only have one life to give to our country. *"  

Brothers, you share a lot . Do this too.Indian Army Unquote

Salute to the Army, Navy, Air force and other personnel engaged in protecting our MOTHERLAND, 24x7x365- perennially.

**ASK NOT WHAT THE COUNTRY WILL DO FOR YOU,

                 BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE COUNTRY*** J F Kennedy

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ

7.40AM