from Maj Gen MS Balhara, SC
Dear Countrymen,
Some Will Never Forget Their Dead while Some Simply Won't Remember.
The harsh reality - We lost 18 of our bravest. The sad truth - we shall soon forget, life goes on.
Many years ago standing on the Rock at Gallipoli I had wondered as to what do these Brits Aussies have in them that even with a full half century and a quarter gone by they still throng to this desolate place - thousands of miles away from their homes - only coz their nation will never allow the memories of their martyrs be forgotten. The annual ceremony at Gallipoli is an extremely poignant and emotional affair. 2nd and 3rd generation descendants - who never even saw the men who fell at Gallipoli, stand in solemn silence grieving with moist eyes and a lump in their throats. Australia sends at least 3-4 ministers while senior representatives from their MoD as well as Pentagon are also in attendance.
These memories and thoughts got rekindled yet again in 2014 when we hosted Prince Andrews at the Kohima War Cemetery. The Prince was on a world tour in commemoration of the 75th year of the Queen's coronation. He had a two and a half day iternary in India and had been advised to visit Chennai (Madras), Mumbai ( Bombay), Kolkotta ( Calcutta) and Delhi. These were the venues of obvious choice – after all what better way to rekindle our colonial past than to take the Royalty to each of the three Presidencie !
But what did he choose ? The Prince politely declined all offers of gala times and receptions. He requested for a one and a half day visit to the Kohima War Memorial. His reasoning was brutally simple - he was on a world tour to pay homage to those who had kept the Union Jack flying high !!
No visits to Taj or any other place of tourist or diplomatic interest.
He was kind enough to answer my query, as to why had he come all the way when a symbolic wreath laying at the India Gate would have sufficed. His answer, "Because we care and when you care no distance is too long and no journey too arduous.".
Suddenly, It all became crystal clear - some will never forget their dead, some simply won't remember -as Indian idiot peoples politicians!
Jai Hind ki Sena
www.keralites.net |
Posted by: Pramod Agrawal <pka_ur@yahoo.com>
Reply via web post | • | Reply to sender | • | Reply to group | • | Start a New Topic | • | Messages in this topic (1) |
To subscribe send a mail to Keralites-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Send your posts to Keralites@yahoogroups.com.
Send your suggestions to Keralites-owner@yahoogroups.com.
To unsubscribe send a mail to Keralites-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Homepage: http://www.keralites.net
No comments:
Post a Comment