The triumphant soldier
Its not so long ago when I met this triumphant soldier
and now meeting him again after 40 years
but memories are still fresh
yet 40 years is not so a small span
meeting a war hero from the own place
whose name was heard on the All India radio
for his heroic acts
The victorious soldier
who by his strategy and war skill
had ruthlessly slaughtered hundreds of enemies
whom he had no enmity with
Even today he is holding the same medal on his chest
but does not exactly remember now
whether it is PARAM, MAHA or just VEER Chakra
(medal of Supreme hero, great hero or just the hero)
He was not unhappy with life
just little worried
worried about the running around
for the widow pension of his daughter-in-law
the wife of his martyred son
who became a martyr without fighting a war
but fighting the snow storms at the NEFA's Himalayan heights
the widow of that son
who joined the army on father's foot step
that is what most parents want
he feels now that children must not be shown just the traveled paths
but must be encourage to invent the new one
The widow of his that son
whose children are proud of his martyrdom
but the cries of the stomach overshadow the pride
they seek just one blessing from all the Gods
-- the clearance of their mother's widow pension
But the triumphant soldier manages the family with his pension
Passing the time too is not a problem for him
he keeps remembering the faces of the victims of his war heroism
the enemies whom he killed with impunity
he remembers the faces of unknown enemies
whom he had nothing against
But the boss had told that they are the nation's enemies
And the enemy has no human rights
In the same way as the soldier has no right of non-compliance
To define and identify the enemy is not the prerogative of the soldier
But the task of all knowing all mighty high command
the product of its intense knowledge of enemy-ethics
But this time when he began to talk about the triumph
The lines of pride had become invisible
or were covered and concealed under the wrinkles of the guilt conscience
Even the slain enemies were looking humans
Spoke with an air of wisdom
That though it was no use saying now
that he should not have killed the enemies
The enemies who he had no enmity with
But he would certainly tell this to the children of his martyred son
And also tell them that soldier never wins
As long as the enemy is identified by the rulers
He shall triumph only when he identifies his own enemy.
[Ish Mishra/22.05.2015]
