THE UNFLINCHING SOLDIER IN KASHMIR

Kashmir is a place of profound beauty and it has legitimately been called as the “Paradise on Earth” and “Switzerland of Asia. Kashmir is the core of mighty Himalayas, receiving in abundance its grace in the form of captivating scenic beauty, lush green pastures and majestically glistening snow covered mountain peaks, the enchanting rivers and the great lakes of mythological fame. In these valleys grow the rarest of trees and herbs, including the most precious of all flowers – the Zaafran (Saffron). The best pines and deodars.  From these orchards come apples, apricots, pears, walnuts and cherries of different kinds and on these green meadows graze the lambs bearing the most exquisite wool„ ThePasham‟.  The  Dal  lake  and  its  house  boats,  Gulmarg  and  its  glaciers,  the  tulip Gardens and the scenic beauty have made Kashmir an international tourist spot. Undoubtedly the name of Kashmir should conjure up a thrill in all Indians.

Historically, Kashmir has always had its significance and has always remained a soft spot and an important part of India. Due to its gifted beauty and its kind hearted people, it has always been a dream destination for countless Indians. Kashmir is, has been and will always be a heartthrob for India. Unfortunately, the partition during 1947 and the many unwanted and unwarranted turn of events in the late 20th century has affected the fate of Kashmir adversely. The land which once was that of peace and serenity has been turned into an unstable place and an inhospitable place for tourists and locals alike. The state sponsored proxy warfare against India in Kashmir has crippled the state with its many weapons of militancy, separatism, communal violence, radicalization of youth, false propaganda and what not. It is imperative that we as a nation should bring back normalcy in Kashmir and make it the true paradise it once was. As a last resort, The Indian Army has been entrusted with the mission of safeguarding the state and its soldiers are deployed at the forward locations in the high ranging mountain ranges of Shamshabari and also in the valley, braving the unforgiving terrain and weather conditions and the hostilities which come with it. The adversities range from cold and merciless winters to the towering heights of many thousand feet where even breathing proves to be difficult.

The sacrifices a soldier makes while being deployed at places like this can hardly be fathomed by his civilian counterparts who are sitting in the comforts of their homes with their families and enjoying the beauties of nature. One might argue that it is only the difficulty of not being able to meet his family and nothing more. But the truth is that absenting himself from his family is not his ultimate sacrifice but merely where it starts. At the heights of the Himalayas, even survival proves to be a difficult task. Basic amenities like water and fresh food are hard to come by and even sunlight seems to be a joy to look at sometimes. Staying at an isolated place and being cut off from the rest of the world for almost half a year is something one can never imagine unless he is a soldier. Hearing the voice of his loved one gives joy to him more than anything else that money can buy. A soldier is taught and trained not to turn his back while facing the fiercest of enemies and not to complain while enduring the most adverse hardships. He knows the responsibility he is shouldering and the trust reposed on him by his countrymen. He takes pride in  being able to wield this responsibility and this pride and his unflinching loyalty to his oath, his unit and to his motherland is what makes him able to stand tall against all odds in service to his country. When he wears his mantle, the uniform, he feels invincible because he knows that he has to be the best so as to deliver his duties without fail and he also knows that the fate of the country rests on him and the whole country looks upon to him like he is GOD. What adds to his strength is his brothers in uniform and the bonhomie they share. He trusts his buddy with his life and he knows that they will save each other‟s life when the time comes. He does all this not because he hates the enemy in his front but because he loves his country and everything it stands for. All he asks for in return from his countrymen is not some celebrity or superhero status but just the respect he deserves.

In places like Kashmir, while the soldier is doing his duty, the porters play a significant role in helping him endure the adversities. These porters are local Kashmiris who get employed by the Army as a means for meeting its administrative requirements. They are the local highlanders with remarkable physical fitness and are a great help to the Army in maintaining its troops at the forward locations. In many villages, men become porters rather by compulsion because they don’t have much employment options and they are thankful to the army for providing them employment which helps them make the ends meet and sustain their families. Over the years, a strong bond has been forged between the Army and the locals through this relationship. They are no less than soldiers who endure almost the same hardship and spend the same time at the posts catering to the wellbeing of the soldiers helping them perform and complete the daily tasks and in the hour of need.

More than anyone else, a soldier who is defending his country in the borders, be it the heights or valleys of Kashmir or the dunes of Rajasthan hopes that things return to normalcy so that he too can spend some quality time with his family and be rest assured that no one is going to harm them when he is away fighting for his motherland. The steady decline in militancy and terrorism in the valley over the last 30 years gives him hope that the peaceful future is near. His daily interactions with the civilians and the warmth he receives from the local Kashmiris gives him tremendous positivity. It appears that the recent abrogation of the article 370 has brought about a further improvement in the situations in Kashmir. The 15th of August has also gone by without any hostilities at the border for the first time in the recent past or even perhaps the first time ever since the Army has been deployed. It brings joy to the eyes when we see the Tri-colour being unfurled at locations where it would have seemed impossible years ago. The tunes of Jan Gan Man echo the ears pleasantly like it did never before. Locals seem to  be happy about the changes that have occurred in the past and are also confident this change will do massive good for the residents. The sense of belonging is seen in the people of Kashmir. It appears that things are changing for good.

But the soldier, at the back of his mind, knows that he can never let his guard down. He has learned from his past experiences that he can never let the enemy deceive him. Therefore he is always ready to face the worst while hoping for the best. He is and always will be ready to counter any threat that lurks in the shadows to defend what he loves the most and will always do so until he has his last breath.

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