`Theirs is to do and die' is how a soldier's life is described. Actually ideally a war should not happen at all. In reality, however, it does, and often. What would then be happening to the parents, especially the mother, of the soldier at the border?
In a way, due to Raju's shippie job, I do know the eternal tension such parents must face. It is now much better, what with the mobile communication and the internet "meet"s of all varieties that make you believe that your near and dear, who is actually miles and miles away, is there, right next to you. During the 1980's and early 1990's, the heydays of Raju's ship bound livelihood, such luxuries were not available. So I can guess the worries and stress soldiers' parents must face as they would not be allowed to use the internet access that easily even now.
But that is when all is quiet on all possible fronts. But be it the border skirmishes or the all out war in India or on the soil of some allied/friendly country or the Naxalite confrontations, it must be the siege days for the soldiers' parents. " I shall return with the tricolour or covered in the tricolour" is an easy statement in reel life, but in real life, it is heart-wrenching, soul-searing.
Well. even if there is no war, to be guarding the high altitude army posts is indeed a Himalayan task in all sense of the term. Hats off to such jawans, their parents and their forbearence.
Finally, a solid salute to Kavita Gadgil crusading against the `flying coffins', the MIG 21 fighter jets, that have snuffed out the lives of many dashing young flght lieutenants or squadron leaders due to technical malfunction. Indeed, ma tuze salaam!
pratima@the pity of war, the pity war distilled!
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