On 26th July, kargil war ended, 527 soldiers were martyred and with them 527 uniforms took untimely retirement from duty.How fortunate they were ,who lived donning those uniforms and died wearing those uniforms ,they understood the real value of the uniform. A person who dedicates his life for his Motherland, after intense and rigorous training they get the chance to don this uniform, this uniform only demands selfless service, courage and sacrifice.
The person wearing this uniform lives years after years in tough terrain like icy mountains, dense forests and scorching desert at any condition. No home cooked meals, no decorated house, no costly cars,celebrating festivals with beloved ones is just a distant and hazy dream.
If the owner of this uniform dies in the war or on the International Border, this uniform reminds the memories of its owner to the childless mother, widowed wife and fatherless child ,this uniform reminds the valor of its owner to the countrymen.
Those who play with bat and ball are equating themselves with those who play with guns and ammunition.
Promoting cricket with the uniform of armed forces, what a pity!
What is their contribution for Indian Armed Forces and do they think of spending even a small portion of their honorarium for the welfare of the Martyrs’ families?
For playing well and acting well, the rank and uniform which are earned through pain and sacrifice are being donated as honor to the entertainers !
The decision to donate Armed Forces uniform is of Government, the Government is perhaps more interested in sports and entertainment business than the significance of military uniform.
Do people think that delivering speech, playing and acting to be equivalent to the duty of embracing death?
Rub and clean as much as you can the medals, stars and ribbons but they always shines on the chest, shoulders and arms of a true soldier .They should wear an Armed Forces uniform who really deserves and whom it suits. If you smell closely a soldier’s uniform you will get the fragrance of sweat and blood.
In this modern society anyone can wear anything but there are only few attires like Military, Paramilitary and Police uniforms, one should not wear for fun, wearing them is not a hobby or fashion but a dream and austerity.
Before donning an Armed Forces uniform one should ask himself/ herself am I worthy to wear this uniform ? But some people do not hesitate in wearing these uniforms, do not think did l ever tried to wear this uniform in my life?
Why some people do not have this much understanding that these ranks and uniforms of Armed Forces are donated to us as a mark of honor?
Do people think the duty of a soldier to be a game of bat and ball or performance before camera?
Someone dreams of wearing an army uniform in childhood and wears it in youth and someone only dream but it is not fulfilled and someone gets a chance to wear this uniform after spending half of his life in the play ground and wears it.
Those who like to be entertainers or sportspersons they join entertainment world or field of sports mainly for fame and money, and those who have the courage to play in vast battlefield ,to fight on icy mountain, desert , they do not need inspiration from entertainers or players to join the Army.
Sachin Tendulkar is the Hony.Group Captain in Indian Air force, MS Dhoni is the Hony. Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, this is also the reason why shahid Afridi dared to comment something bigger than his standard after the terrorist attack in Pehelgam on 22nd April that Indian soldiers are incompetent and useless because he could not differentiate between the importance of soldiers and players of playground.
If they were not celebrities then no one would have donated Armed Forces uniform and asked them to wear it.If anyone getting an offer of wearing this uniform in donation he should refuse by keeping in mind how much tireless efforts an army personnel did for earning it .Any civilian of any status who has minimum shame and maximum respect for Armed Forces definitely will never wear it.
Feels very strange to see when some real heroes become restless to click pictures with entertainers a.k.a fake heroes.
If soldiers believe that their uniform is the second skin of their body and shield of the soul then every soldier should oppose honoring players and actors with their uniform and the entertainers too should refuse to accept the uniform of Armed Forces with politeness for the sake of its dignity and pride.
As a humble citizen of India I request those celebrities to respectfully return the Armed Forces Uniforms those have been given to them together with the substantial Honorarium for entertaining the people and the Government should give such gesture a second thought in future.
(Ms. Pratyusha Mukherjee, an Independent Sr. Broadcast Journalist working for British media with 20 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence and Sports.She is associated with us as Editorial head of Defence and Sports. In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and Indian media awards for Journalism).
