Jul 21, 2003 08:26 PM
1989 Views
(Updated Jul 21, 2003 08:28 PM)
A politician's smile is sinister, reflecting his inner motives. A soldier's smile is tired, showing that he has done his duty.
IF THERE IS HELL, THIS MUST BE IT.
IT IS -40 DEGREES, THE WIND CUTS THE SOLDIERS FACE,
THE LUNGS SCREAM FOR OXYGEN, THE COLD NUMBS THE MIND.
ORANGE JUICE HAS TO BE BOILED, EGGS TURN TO GOLF BALLS,
THE GUNS JAM. WHAT A WAY TO FIGHT A WAR…
THIS IS THE PLIGHT OF OUR DEAR SOLDIERS WHO ARE NOW GUARDING THE ICY PEAKS IN KARGIL FROM THE PAKISTANI INVADERS. AS OUR SOLDIERS BRAVE ARCTIC CONDITIONS ON THE WORLDS MOST INHOSPITABLE BATTLEFIELD, HOLDING THE HEIGHTS IS A SEVERE TEST OF HUMAN SPIRIT AND RAW COURAGE.
FROM 16000 FEET, IT IS AS IF GOD HAS TAKEN A GIANT WHITE SHEET AND DRAPED THE WORLD. IN 1999, THESE PEAKS WERE WET WITH BLOOD; NOW THE KARGIL HEIGHTS ARE QUIETER BUT IT IS A MISLEADING TRANQUILITY.
AS THE CHOPPER LANDS ON A MAKESHIFT PLAIN, ALL THE SOLDIERS CROWD ROUND IT. ITS BEEN 17 DAYS SINCE THE CHOPPER LAST CAME, TOO LONG WITHOUT A LETTER FROM THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR ONLY SANITY. FACES FALL…THERE’S NO MAIL.
BOILING TEA EMERGES FROM THE KITCHEN, IN A FEW YARDS IT TRAVELS …IT’S HARD ICE. A STOVE CONTINUOUSLY BURNS IN THE BUNKER, CLOGGING THE SENSES, THE SOOT ALMOST BLACKENING THEIR FACES.
THERE IS ONLY ONE COMFORT, THEY FEEL GOD IS WITH THEM.
THEY ALREADY KNOW THE FIRST LESSON, JUST A YEAR AGO THEY WERE ASKED FOR THEIR RAW COURAGE, NOW THE CALL IS FOR SHEER ENDURANCE.
AFTER THE WAR, WINTER STALKING FOR 212 DAYS HAD TO BE COMPLETED AND REQD 3500 SORTIES BY CHEETAH HELICOPTERS. IT IS AN EXPENSE SO GREAT THAT ONE CHHAPATI FLOWN IN TO THEM COSTS RS 100. AND BY THE TIME THEY EAT IT, IT’S BECOME LIKE A ROCK. NAGA SOLDIERS SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO CUT VEGETABLES WITH A DRILLER!
THIS IS A LAND OF NO RESPITE, A TERRAIN THAT’S FOREVER CHALLENGING. SOLDIERS ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE BATH FOR UPTO 3 MONTHS. NATURE’S CALL IN THE MORNING IS A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE. URINATING IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE, KIDNEYS GET CHOKED WITH URINE, AND THE LUNGS GET CHOKED WITH OTHER BIOCHEMICAL FLUIDS RESULTING IN HEART ATTACKS.
GHOSTS OF THE FRIENDS WHO DIED, ALMOST ALWAYS HAUNT THESE SOLDIERS…SOME OF THEM BECOME PSYCHIC CASES. OTHERS FALL VICTIM TO THE MILLIONS OF LANDMINES PLANTED BY THE FLEEING PAKISTANIS…. YET OUR SOLDIERS CARRY OUT THEIR DUTY WITHOUT A FLINCH.
SOME SAY THE GREATEST ELEVATOR OF MOTIVATION IS WAR. OTHERS TURN TO THEIR RELIGION OR GOD. AT GURKHA TOP, SIKH SOLDIERS HAVE BUILT AN UNDERGROUND GURUDWARA.
AND SO, OUR DEAR JAWANS REMAIN THERE, AMIST SOLITARY SPECKS OF HUMANITY AGAINST A GRUELLING LANDSCAPE, WADING THRU DEEP SNOW, TREMBLING WITH COLD IN THEIR SLEEPING BAGS, LYING SHATTERED BY FATIGUE IN THEIR BLACK SMOKENED BUNKERS. THEY ARE THE TRUE WARRIORS…THE FROZEN WARRIORS…. WHO ARE DOING ALL THIS FOR US!
WHAT A PLACE AND WAY TO FIGHT A WAR…
