Shiban Khaibri
Could our freedom fighters , those young souls who sacrificed their lives for attaining freedom from foreign yoke, ever imagine that a time would come when there would be not only implicit but direct resistance to acts of patriotism? Could they dream that the highest seats of education and learning could become hot beds of what we saw in February 2016 in JNU and other universities just because the strongholds of some opposition parties in these institutions, to undermine and defame a government not of their liking, would encourage and eulogize blood boiling anti national slogans and our belligerent neighbours would make a feast of it politically and diplomatically. Let you criticize the functioning of the government on cogent reasons giving alternate solutions , let you take on the Prime Minister , the cabinet and the policies framed, the way, the laws and the constitution permits but to go to the extent of wishing some illusory Aazadi or in other words fragmentation and division of the country, that also taking the refuge of liberty and freedom of expression, is simple treason and needs to be dealt with firmly.
July 26 reminds us about two things , One – the treachery and deceit employed by Pakistan against our country as their article of faith , while we were effort fully busy in looking forward to cementing lasting friendship with that country as the then BJP led NDA government under Vajpayee Ji, initially charged with being communal and hostile to Pakistan, preached that one could not change one’s neighbours who must live in peace, went overboard travelling to Lahore in a bus to sell India’s conventional offer of peace and amity based on traits of our civilization . War in Kargil was thrust on us and we were taken unawares because the cunning neighbor had been busy in the area strengthening its position and intruding deep into our areas with a plan to attack Srinagar Leh road and to internationalize the issue. Seond – the unprecedented valour, grit , bravery and dedication of our armed forces to inflict crushing defeat on the rogue country even though at a cost in Kargil sector reclaiming all posts and points, makes the countrymen indebted to them. The principles of “Naam, Namak aur Nishan” or the name (of the unit or the regiment) the salt (or the loyalty) and the sign (or the tricolor) which the Indian soldier keeps in mind , spirit and determination in the battlefield forgetting dears and nears, is unparalleled in degree and depth , as such they deserve our love, respect and remembrances.
On this very day this year, when the entire country was celebrating the Vijay Diwas as well as paying tributes to our fallen heroes who had vowed and expressed so, that either they shall unfurl the tricolor with pride with victory in the battlefield or return home wrapped in it, the authorities of the JNU reportedly decided to have a decommissioned army tank on the campus as a mark of pride and a constant reminder of our armed forces. This was the wish of the Vice Chancellor who celebrated the Kargil Vijay Diwas with some war veterans on the campus . And, this was done for the first time perhaps as a sincere move to wash off the blot of secessionist infections contaminating the University in Feb. last year. Some groups of students backed by some likeminded faculty members opposed it tooth and nail terming it as “Imposed patriotism”. Not only this, some Congress and Communist leaning editorials appeared castigating the Vice Chancellor for his move which aimed at eroding the “credibility of both his office and the institution “. Such opinions have instead demanded from the Ministry of Human Resources Development to take “strict” action against the V.C. for imposing and foisting nationalism through these measures. Needless to add, only a few days back some ISIS slogans were reportedly painted on a wall on the campus but no editorials or write ups from such intellectuals “bereft of hyper nationalism but good citizens” were written nor vociferously demanded criminal action against Omar Khalid – Kanhayiya gang for holding the JNU campus to ransom by raising provocative anti India slogans and protests inviting outsiders who were seen chanting in chorus seditious slogans.
George Bernard Shaw would have been shocked on seeing the type of response to his golden words from such scholars and intellectuals of India when he said, “Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it.”
Another shocking incident is from Hyderabad University where on July 26, some students observed Kargil Vijay Diwas and raised a temporary memorial of Amar Jyoti Jawan with inverted helmet over the rifle but on the orders of the V.C , the administration along with the Police made a midnight swoop and demolished the memorial using sticks, lathis and the like. Needless to add, the memorial was installed in the same vicinity where a memorial was installed and does exist of Rohit Vemulla , the research scholar who had last year committed suicide based on the reasons given by him in the letter before unfortunately committing suicide. This memorial was installed by the Ambedkar Students Association. How shameful for the University authorities for unceremoniously and disrespectfully demolishing the memorial of Amar Jyoti Jawan set up temporarily there as also pulling down the National flag.
It is utter shame that a small memorial on the vast campus of the University for the Brave Army Men who offered supreme sacrifice for the country and the people is removed while a memorial for a student who committed suicide because of his personal reasons stays. If we cannot, for some inherent malady, respect our brave hearts , we have no right to disrespect them or any of their signs or memorials. It is well said that “To survive in peace and harmony , united and strong , we must have one people, one nation and one flag.” Let none afford to show any sort of disrespect to our valiant and heroic armed forces . Let us learn DeshBhakti and loyalty in abundance from them.
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