CITY | Monday, December 8, 2008 | Email | Print | 
The bitter view on Mumbai martyrs
Reporter’s notebook : Sidharth Mishra
Writing this week’s notebook, I decided not to just recreate the thoughts I gather following interaction with people but also use their words to express their anguish. It has been 10 days since the terrorists struck in Mumbai but the anger of people refuse to die down. When I talk of anger of people I do not include those angry for a space of television screens. I talk of the anger of people who actually take on terrorists, subversives, anti-nationals and enemy in uniform to keep our nation intact.
It’s said once a commando, always a commando. It doesn’t matter whether they are serving or retired. Wherever they would be their reaction would be similar given the uniformity of training they undergo. The training is not just about physical toughness but also mental sturdiness and alertness. In fact commandos are trained to give most intelligent reaction to a situation.
So one such commando lucidly summarised the heroism of Mumbai cops quoting celebrated World War II American commander General George S Patton Junior, “No b*****d ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb b*****d die for his country.” In 1944, Patton was given command of the Third Army in France. His troops dashed across Europe after the battle of Normandy. By the time World War II was over, the Third Army had liberated or conquered 81,522 square miles of territory
“What is being publicised is Mr Karkare’s heroism! God bless his soul but I think for a senior officer to be running around inappropriately equipped and protected may well be excessive zeal and not really supreme bravery. I sincerely hope our Government would actually equip our Police and Army better. Not a single Australian soldier/policeman has been killed wearing Hellweg body armour. Aramid helmets replaced steel ones ten years ago. So an emerging super power, equipped worse than the worst. Mr Karkare died simply because he was not wearing an appropriate bullet proof vest. Very sad indeed!!,” says commando in a matter of fact way.
“Mr Karkare went to the hospital on an impulse not knowing any thing of the threat. He did not fire a single shot and he and his colleagues were absolutely vulnerable targets for the terrorists. No doubt, a very honest and efficient officer he became an easy prey. Unfortunately his vehicle was then used by the terrorists for further mayhem. He would have been of immense value sitting in the control room and directing the operation with his wide knowledge and experience. India needed him and all others who died in that ordeal, to live,” adds commando.
“We have this tendency to give such deaths a halo of martyrdom. The same thing happened in Kabul, when our embassy was attacked. The IFS officer & Brig Mehta got highest awards for bravery. Was it really bravery or simply, unfortunate deaths, as their car was blown up. I think it was again an intelligence failure, capitalised by the media, and awarded by our Government,” the commando explains.
“Innocent people sitting in trains also die when there is a bomb blast. Hundreds died inside the Taj and Trident Hotels. They never get gallantry awards. The staff at the Taj and Trident-Oberoi hotels did an exemplary job, protecting and guiding their guests and many even laid down their lives. Their sagas of courage remain largely unsung. While these officers gave the supreme sacrifice, on duty, it is not really raw gallantry but yes, they died in harness, and must be duly recognised and their kith and kin looked after,” the commando argues.
“The Government and the media especially need to draw a line some where and recognise the difference between raw courage beyond the call of duty in the face of the enemy and death on duty. It is on this account that the real valour and grit of Major Unnikrishnan, Havildar Rajbir will be eclipsed. They actually gave their lives in the face of active fire and a visible enemy,” the commando points out. I must agree he has made a compelling argument to embellish his point.
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