I am a retired army guy from the combat arms. Just saw the
movie ‘War-Chhod na Yaar’. The reviews were good, though the movie does not do
full justice to them.
But the movie does make a point – that there are many
constituencies interested in seeing countries fight and soldiers die. Of these, third party countries (as shown in
the movie) are easy to single out and despise. The problem is with those who
are on your side and proclaim themselves to be as patriotic as you are, or
more. Their demand that you take on Pakistan looks so justified that you run
the risk of getting lynched if you as much as question them. Some months back, Sushma
Swaraj thundered, ‘Get me 10 Paki heads for every one of our soldier.’ Seeing
her genuine anguish, I was sure someone of her close family would take up the
challenge. At second level, I expected someone from the BJP party take up the
wishes of their leader and make a suicidal bid to get her the Paki heads. But
nothing of that sort happened. Then it dawned upon me that the people expected to
run the gauntlet for her were the Indian army, not her relatives or political
supporters. We should die and she should get the votes.
Don’t these politicians have a right to see the army do the
task it is expected to? Sure, but only if they themselves do the task they are
expected to. Haven’t the army people
taken an oath to die for their country? Sure, but so have the legislators taken
an oath to serve the country. And what
about bureaucrats and others who have not taken any oath? Oh, God! Is the absence
of a formal oath such a strong defence?
Dying is such a final sport that those engaging in it should
be given the privilege to at least get the right spectators. Very few people
understand what it means to be hit by several high velocity bullets after
making the assault at 15,000 feet.
I would still grant these people the right to fight Pakistan
‘to our last fauzi’, if they sent their own sons to the army. If the loss of
the fauzis were to also become their personal loss, they are entitled to this right.
Buckingham palace will always have that right since Prince Philip was part of
the contingent to Falkland and Prince Harry fought in Afghanistan. But what
about the Indian political royalty?
Even if the Indian political class will not send their sons
to bleed for the country, how warm is the relationship between the government
and the warrior class? Judging from the number of court cases between them,
these two groups are more apart than India and Pakistan. Why, then, should we
not be wary of their ‘patriotic demands’?
Towards
the end, the movie ‘War – Chod na Yaar’ has another important message. It is that
you, the people, can force your leaders. Recognise your strength and use it. Do
send us to our deaths but only after giving peace a serious chance.
