War - Chhod na Yaar ( Denounce war )

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.