Mere Baad Kisko Sataaoge.....

And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods….

Well, apparently fighting for OROP can be added to the list now !

I have kind of made peace with the fact that as a nation, we will keep achieving new lows from time to time. Scams, riots, terrorism, poverty, women safety, sanitation etc are so mundane that we have adapted to them and the result is for all to see. But the search to belittle each other, and ourselves as a nation is an unending quest by our state machinery, politicians, police and media. And let's say yesterday they crossed the line ! Never in the history, have I heard, that in any country, Veterans were beaten and insulted, dragged and shoved, treated like petty criminals, by country's own police. And that too when they were protesting rather very peacefully for their rights and their genetic discipline ensured that no one is being bothered.

Let's take a moment to understand OROP. Or for that matter let's not. I don’t care if the Veterans were protesting because they lost their toothbrushes  in train. You just do not treat them like this. These men, ensured we are free, we are safe and we have a country to feel free and safe in ! And now when they are little weak in knees, and expect some support from the government for having  given their youth and lives to the country, they get pushed around by local police. Imagine the pain for them, imagine the hurt, imagine the insult ! The mere fact that you manhandle a soldier who was once the wall between you and enemy, speaks volumes about how our country thinks. Every national day or post some event that required Forces' help and intervention, people start flooding social media with praises and accolades to show their solidarity and love for Armed forces. But it's on days like this, that it feels that it was better to face bullets on borders than lathis in country. What an absolute shameless and spineless act !! This one single incident, this crossing of line is what shows where we stand in this country and how clueless we have been so long. I really don’t know who to blame for this desecration. The government who showed us that we are not even a worthy vote bank which needs to be pampered, or our own Generals, right from serving ones  who don’t care what is happening,  or retired, who for petty gains and appointments from government kept sucking up to politicians so much that they sold off all the pride and respect we had. You will find lots of them talking like Alexander and Machiavelli on defence and strategy on Television shows. But on this, not even a single guy stood up and took charge and led the counter offensive to show the government its error of judgment. This incident should be an eye opener for all, especially those protesting there. You guys are alone so please man your defences yourself. Do not expect help from any quarter as none is coming! What can an old father say to a son who slaps the father because he asked help from his son in his old age? Nothing ! Exactly !! 

I know I'll see myself on steps of IMA the day I die,

That single memory can still make me cry.

Years of hard work and unending motivation,

Not an easy task to be appointed to serve this nation.

With dreams in eyes and passion in heart,

We all decided to honestly play our part.

Never to fear anything and stand by commitment,

We were ready to die for India, any moment.

30 years I served and retired last year,

In two little boxes, I had everything that was dear

Those mementoes and medals and stars and cane,

I had a million stories to tell as I took that homebound train.

Now I belonged to that elite clan,

A veteran and an Ex serviceman.

Recently I joined my brethren to fight for our pension,

Lets talk to government they said and resolve the tension.

How can they ignore their heroes who demand their rights,

For it is us who have fought all their fights.

Peace and war, we always were there for nation,

This building of India stands on our foundation.

Been few years and the talks are on,

Governments have changed and we still wait for that new dawn.

Where soldiers get the respect and status they deserve,

Where a nation values what it needs to preserve.

We kept losing ground over the years,

casualties ignored and no attention to widows' tears.

"Where are you going ?" Asked my granddaughter,

I smiled and said "it’s an army matter.

The government owes us some money for our work,

It's about our rights, and not about privileges and perks.

We have been this country's back bone,

At this stage they just cant disown.

We gave our youth and energy and lives,

Always stayed away from families and children and wives.

What have we not done to prove our worth,

And still we have to fight for a train berth.

This country owes us a lot,

Even the basics, we actually never got.

So we are fighting for One Rank One pension,

And its not some fancy overnight invention.

It’s not a favor but a right,

High time government noticed our plight.

So I'll just go with other uncles and talk to government,

You be nice and put flags in apartment.

Tomorrow is Independence day and we will celebrate it together,

Be proud, you are a veteran's granddaughter."

She jumped in my lap and gave me a kiss,

"Best of luck" she said and her words were such a bliss.

I longed to just come back and tell her stories of this proud nation,

Tell her all the struggle against British that my dad did for India's creation.

She is part of a family that has fought all along,

British or Pakistanis, this family always stood strong.

Like me and her Dad, she will join the Army one day,

Be part of this legacy, and that’s all I pray.

She holds my medals with so much awe and admiration,

Just wants to serve and fight for this nation.

Wear the uniform and join the proud soldiers,

"Indian Army is the best" yes, those words are hers !!

Jantar Mantar is the place we chose to meeting,

It felt like family, with same old mannerisms and Military greetings.

Some known and some strange faces,

The best thing about Army, all know their places.

We gave some speeches and discussed what next,

Made some documents and finalised the text.

We sat there with fellow soldiers chatting about our fate,

And its then when we saw some commotion on the gate.

"We have been told to evict" said someone loudly,

"We never give an inch" shouted someone proudly.

Everyone laughed at the joke and we resumed,

Its normal police drill, everyone presumed.

But we are the soldiers and Veterans to top it,

This is a peaceful rally, and no reason to stop it.

What happened next, was a nightmare ,

It was unimaginable and yet, it was there.

We, the soldiers, the fighters, the Veterans,

We the nation's pride and this country's sons,

We the ones who have stood against every enemy,

We got labeled as security threat, was unbelievable to me !!

The Police told us to leave and vacate the place,

We denied, as it is our right to protest in peaceful ways.

The police was in no mood to listen and we didn’t say much,

There was no need to get nasty as such.

We had faith in our system and knew we were right,

We came to talk, so no one was even prepared to put up a fight.

All we had were papers in our hands and medals on chest,

And all we wanted was to put this pension issue to rest.

Who can be more proud of Independence day than a soldier,

And nothing has dampened that spirit even if we got older.

But one day changed it all forever,

Makes us question our every endeavor.

Insulted, shoved, pushed and hurt,

I saw one crying with a torn shirt !

It was so unreal that no one knew what to say or do,

Like the ship is going down and we are the helpless crew.

We stood in trance and let police do what it wanted,

We asked for our rights and now could see what has been granted.

To be called a security threat and being pushed like a petty criminal,

Never was this done, you can check history's annals!

I saw the police guy who pushed my friend down,

And I also saw the guy who came later and they call him 'prince with crown',

While one was politician with fake smile the other had a visible frown,

Nonetheless, both were same clowns !

Neither had idea why they were there,

And honestly, neither of them cared.

We know you all and know your intentions,

For ages you also had the opportunity to mend these infractions.

When there is any problem, governments call us in haste,

next government, cut, copy, paste !

When have we risen above levels of those being just used,

And now to see this is how we get treated, I was utterly confused.

We The Mighty Indian Army can make enemies piss in pants,

And back home, our nation treats our rights as rants.

They send police to treat us like hooligans,

Not even thinking once that what has kept this country intact is our guns.

To tell you truth, I gave up today,

I'm so shocked that I have nothing to say.

The country thinks it has shooed some old veterans away,

Trust me, the joke is one you and you'll realize it one day.

All the injustices, bad policies, no support had always been part of the game,

Yet we kept fighting for our country, honor and name.

But you pushed us to a wall where we can see the light,

our future, not so bright.

You, the politicians start war that we go and fight for you,

We don’t even know who and why we fight and its true !

We save your skin every time you are in trouble,

we perform and deliver and save your bubble!

Yet, you let us down, again and again,

You don’t see our misery, you don’t see our pain.

How shameless and spineless that Police force is that can use force against old veterans,

How pathetic is their display of strength against those old and docile guns !

Your so called Police studs feel Macho hitting few old men,

Let them try this with serving Army and we will see then !

We have set huge armies of enemy straight,

Please tell Delhi government and Police, don’t box outside your weight.

Yes, we know that even our elders don’t stand by us,

Who wants to get into a mess that doesn’t concern the so called 'best'.

Look at them acting all General on a TV show,

Its only their personal agenda that now they can grow.

Well, sadly for us and luckily for this country,

We are the soldiers they get for free.

We are not minorities or millionaires,

So no votes and no money, hence no one cares.

We do our jobs when we are told,

Courageous and dedicated, honest and bold.

It is not about a little lathi charge on bunch of old guys,

It is crossing the line with which every positive notion also dies.

We never asked for what is right and wrong,

You drop us in Sri Lanka or dump us in Tawang.

We keep doing our job endlessly and honestly,

And first time we asked for something and you got so miserly.

You are so used to our submissiveness that even are 'rights' are wrong to you,

And hence we realized, all that praises you give us are not true.

I don’t need your words and awards and glorification in parades,

What I really need is some real support and not just charades.

On my way back I bought a new shirt,

I could not imagine to see my granddaughter hurt.

Her Superman Colonel Grand Dad cannot come home defeated,

She will not accept this and would feel cheated.

I rather not tell her that the mirror has broken and bubble is burst,

I rather not explain to her the pain, the insult, the hurt.

But what happened has helped me make up my mind,

This country will forget but I am not blind.

A country that cannot respect its soldiers should not have any,

And thinking logically, the reasons to not join have always been many.

My family have done enough and served for decades,

Its time we called spade a spade !

Let Gandhis and Kejriwals send their children to fight,

Let them also contribute if they care so much about our plight.

I am done with sending my kids to wars,

If you love India so much, send yours !

You showed me how I was running after a mirage,

An illusion of national pride and just an ego massage.

But thanks for clearing it now and opening my eyes,

I am all ready to say my Byes!

I refuse to be used and abused,

I refuse to beg for my rights and get my self-respect bruised.

I'm just one lonely veteran so you wont miss me,

I cannot be used to bring you victories and glory.

I did whatever I could when I was young and strong,

And you will take care of me when I'm old I thought, but I was wrong!

Never mind, I have been trained to survive against all odds,

And a soldier is not scared even of Gods !

There is just one thing I would still want to convey,

"Mere baad kisko sataaoge?"

Nusrat might have sung it for a lover,

But trust me, these lines will haunt you forever.

I'm just another  veteran that you don’t need,

On my words, you don’t even need to pay any heed.

But the spirit and soul of Army that you killed today,

It will never come back, that I can confidently say.

My father told me about the day he was beaten by British Police,

I always envied him because now we are free and live in peace.

So Thanks for giving me the feel of his times,

Making a fight for rights a punishable crime.

Now if you can feel, read the changes in the wind,

And as I always sign off,  Jai Hind !

- MJ, Lima 94 !