No nation can pay the cost of martyrdom, it is highest price paid by humans for restoration of peace on earth. Our claim to liberty, equality, dignity and a life without fear is written with the blood of those who died guarding every inch of our country’s land, sea and air. When Captain MN Mulla took the decision to go down with the ship, Nirmaljit Singh Shekhon took off in his aircraft for one last time never to return; and when Major Shaitan Singh did not retreat an inch and thwarted waves after waves of attacks by the Chinese Army; they did so in the belief that a grateful nation would remember them, and look after their families and also of those who will follow their footsteps in the years to come. When I stood atop a dune in Longewal, I could visualise the happenings on that fateful day in 1971. While walking on the sand, I was consciously hoping that I was not stepping on the ground where my comrades had spilled their blood. I vividly remember the moment I got down from the jeep; I stood in silence, saluted and said, ‘Thank You’. The only sound I could hear in the calm, tranquil and serene surroundings of the Thar Desert was my heartbeat and I was feeling guilty that I might be disturbing the eternal sleep of soldiers who laid down their lives for this land. Longewal, Khemkaran, Chushul, Jessami, Kohima, Sangshak, Saragadi – list is endless – are the most sacred places in my motherland for men in uniform and those who lost their family members. All places of pilgrimage and temples of God appear too insignificant compared to these sacred pieces of land that bear testimony to the unparalleled gallantry and commitment of these men towards the nation. With such a great heritage of national service, if we are today to be reminded that ‘not an inch’ will be given to those who are preparing to sacrifice their lives to defend every inch of this land, is a sad state of affairs. Imagine if soldiers are mobilised tomorrowfor war, and they are told that not an inch will be given even to erect a memorial in their honour; leave aside supporting their families and children. Will that soldier be able to die in peace for our safety, dignity and honour? I am not sure. I was shocked to hear clapping and giggle both from the stage and audience, when a political leader made such a contemptible, cheap and absurd remark about one of the most respected and professional force in the world. If our own political leadership holds such views about the armed forces, will the enemy respect or be deterred by such a force? We need to respect the guardians of our nation before the enemy is made to respect our capabilities. We as a nation need to introspect on the polity and the moral slide in our character.

            Let there be no doubt that the foundation of the motherland is laid on the blood and sweat of the farmers and soldiers without their sacrifices you will not have a nation which some claim to be their sole property. A former President of the US said: “These men waged war so that we might know peace. They sacrificed so that we might be free. They fought in hopes of a day when we’d no longer need to fight. We are grateful to them.” It is a profound statement from a grateful leader for his veterans and martyrs. There is a lesson for all of us to learn from these remarks of Obama.

            During my command of a company, unit and brigade, I have forgotten the numbers of the soldiers and officers who sacrificed their lives at a single word of command from their officers, without even asking what will happen to their family and children in case they do not return. I remember when Havildar Shanmugam breathed his last with a bullet in his chest; his last words to his company commander were “Sahib mere Beti”. The reply that officer gave him at that moment was, “Shanmugam woh hamari beti hai” (Shanmugam she is our daughter). After hearing these comforting words the soldier closed his eyes forever in peace. It is a trust, a moral contract that binds us to our men with the promise and hope that no matter what happens to each one of us, the extended family will take care of the families of martyrs and disabled soldiers. Major Shyam died fighting against terrorists in Kashmir and his daughter was two years old at that time. As Commanding Officer when I walked into his house to console his wife and his family, his daughter was blissfully unaware of what had happened. She asked someone when her father is coming home because she saw lot of officers coming to her house and she was under the impression that her father would also be coming since so many of her uncles were coming to her home. My heart bled when, the next day, I escorted the mortal remains of Shyam to Jammu airport. Looking at the young girl, I asked myself who she will call Papa now. These brave men laid down their lives sure that nation will look after their children, and so what if they have lost him they are now children of the nation. But they have been proved wrong today because we have a system that says that martyrs are entitled only Rs 10000 per child per month because the cost of supporting children of martyrs in higher education is too high for the nation to pay and the blood they have spilled is cheap in comparison.  The irony is that same government pays Rs 15000 for the telephone bills of the law makers who don’t even bother to make a telephone call to the families of martyrs in their constituencies once in a year, that too from the money paid by the government.

            I am asking the fraternity of serving and veterans: Do we need to beg from the government to pay for the education of the children of the martyrs. Either the government bears the full cost or it can keep this paltry amount as well and save few more crores. My request to the fraternity of soldiers, past present and future and conscious citizenry is that these men laid down their lives on the basis of a moral contract made in the national cause, and if nation feels that the cost of bearing the expenses of martyrs children cannot be borne, let us as a fraternity of the uniformed men contribute Rs 10 every month and we will be able to provide these children the best of education in the best institutes in the world. Let us take a pledge that they have sacrificed their lives for the nation, we will not insult the martyrs and force their children to become beggars before an insensitive political hierarchy.  We can make this small gesture for taking care of these children because our comrades laid down their lives on trust and we must not betray their trust. We took resolve to protect nation when we donned uniform and If we can protect the honour and integrity of the nation we can also protect the future of the children of martyrs.

Obama while addressing veterans and families of martyrs said, “I believe that our nation has a sacred covenant with our veterans and martyrs – that just as you served to protect us, we have a moral obligation to take care of you and your families when you come home or you don’t return home. Working to uphold that covenant has been one of my most solemn responsibilities as the president.” But let us remember that we are not the US. President of US speaks to the family of every martyr irrespective of his busy schedule to console and pledge the support of the nation to the family members. But such practice is considered mundane in our context. We have to find our own dignity and guard it by standing together. Let us all say no to the government for alms. Either they give it with dignity or we don’t allow them to insult martyrs by accepting it as charity.  To die on the battlefield is too sacred to be insulted. It is my belief that, “Don’t take that honour of laying down the lives in the battlefield from them.  Martyrdom is too sacred to be desecrated by evaluating it with money.” If the respect of the soldiers, veterans and martyrs does not come from the heart it is better not to pretend because pretending is abuse to the sacred blood spilled in the line of duty.

@ Brig Narender Kumar, SM, VSM (Retd) is the Distinguished Fellow at the United Service Institution of India (USI), New Delhi.