Unsung Heroes

UNSUNG HEROEStc "UNSUNG HEROES"

We have heard of people who have contributed largely to the cause of society. We have heard of people who have served us in the fields of politics, education, science and technology, medicine, literature, agriculture, fine arts, music and other related areas.  We have heard of people who have sacrificed their lives in the struggle for freedom.  Still more to go in this list, we have those brave heroes who work day in and day out along the borders of our country.  We celebrate SWATANTRA DIWAS & GANATANTRA DIWAS every year to cherish the memories of those who have either contributed their mite or laid down their lives for the nation.  Be it armed personnel or freedom fighters, they are unsung heroes today despite their heroic deeds.  They are true patriots, brave citizens, immortal souls and above all, the most loving and admiring children of mother India.

It is recalled that great sacrifices can be made by great souls only.  They are born great and their greatness lies in the root of sacrifices they have made. A sacrifice can be in the form of money, property and sincere service but the sacrifice of life for the mother land is something greater and higher than any gift of God.  They are great souls because they have dedicated their lives to the cause of freedom, peace and happiness for their fellow countrymen. How many of us remember the day when Sukh Dev, Raj Guru and Baghath Singh were hanged to death in the Lahore prison in undivided India?  Freedom for India was granted only after their hanging on the midnight of 14 August, 1947.  Do we officially celebrate their death anniversaries as we sincerely and solemnly celebrate those of politicians?  Does the day of their hanging still remain an abstract idea or a concrete reality?  Is it genuinely covered in the media at all?  How many children of tomorrow will remember the sacrifices made by the greatest sons of India? Why shouldn’t we introduce them in the textbooks?  The incomparable sacrifices made by these heroes are outweighed and outshone by those of politicians.  Do we really know the day when Major Padmaphani Acharya  laid down his life in the service for the mother land in the Kargil battle in 1998?  Isn’t his message forgotten today?  It is recalled that he has left behind a deathnote reminding his fellow countrymen something noble and ideal to emulate.  He cited an incident from the Mahabharatha and reminded how Lord Krishna led Arjuna from the front in the Kurukshethra battle.  Do the children of today tell us the names of those martyrs as they tell with ease and confidence the names of cricketers and filmstars?  When they continue to be unsung heroes in the present, what about those in the coming generations?  How many of the older generation vividly remember the great army officer, Major General Chowdhary, who was instrumental in merging the erstwhile Nizam State into Indian Union?  Isn’t it a matter of ingratitude for a nation that has not yet confirmed the death of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose?  Netaji was a patriot of patriots and the pride of India who secured a place of honour in the hearts of his countrymen.  Michael Edwards said of Netaji in glowing terms, “only one outstanding personality took a different and violent path and in a sense, India owes more to him than to any other man – even though he seemed to be a failure”. After having believed that Gandhi could not get independence with his non-violent path, Netaji started his Indian National Army.  We have another great patriot who is better known as “Iron man of India”.  He was the first union Home Minister to represent Independent India.  Who else but the people of erstwhile Nizam state could remember the atrocities and brutalities of the Razakar movement?  Had this brave man not taken a timely action, the number of killings would have been beyond human imagination and the merger of princely states into Indian union could not have been a reality.  India would have been a different state today had he taken over the reins of government.  Sardar Patel cannot be forgotten by any of us.

There was again this discrimination between the extremes and the moderates in the Indian freedom struggle.  The notion that ‘people don’t divide themselves but they are divided’ seemed to exist there right from the days of freedom struggle. A distinction based on the ideology was accordingly made between them.  While the extremists adopted a tit-for-tat policy, the moderates believed in the principles of peace, non-violence, satyagraha and peaceful means of protest.  The extremists, regrettably, face this discrimination in every aspect of ritual followed posthumously.  Moreover, the moderates have secured their rightful place in society in every respect. But the kind of treatment meted out to the extremists makes an absolute mockery of their sacrifices.  But the kind of treatment meted out to the extremes makes an absolute mockery of their sacrifices.  They have not been treated on par with the moderates in respect of wide publicity, media coverage and above all posthumous services.  Is this the way that we, as fellow countrymen, salute the martyrs, honour the brave, express solidarity and support the welfare of their families?  Offering an all-religion prayer, guard of honour, paying floral tributes, presenting gallantry awards and confering highest civilian awards do not make their souls rest in peace.  They leave behind some exemplary work to be carried into the next generation.  It is highly regrettable that political assassinations attract large scale media coverage leaving these sacrifices in darkness. 

How far is it justified for a nation which boasts of having made the greatest of sacrifices?  Are we merely confined to giving lectures on platforms?  We tend to remember and forget them once we celebrate Independence Day, Armed Forces Day and Martyrs, Day every year. What about the ideals behind these sacrifices?  A grateful nation definitely owes an answer to this question. Their acts of bravery, heroism and sacrifice go unsung and their message goes unheard in the next generation. Let noble souls be treated with due respect which they fully deserve.  Let their ambitions and memories be carried fully into succeeding generations.  Let it be the duty of the State, the right of the citizen  and the responsibility of the media to focus and to bring to light, from time to time, their sense of duty, devotion, dedication, commitment and motto of service. Then only, we shall be proud of calling ourselves a grateful nation to sincerely pay glowing tributes to the legendary heroes of India.

We continue to remember the moderates,
We continue to forget the extremes.

What a pity it is! How selfish we have become!
Oh Bravo! Salutations to you—then, now and hereafter.