It was Lal Bhadur Shastri, the Indian Prime Minister considered a humble and thus perhaps “weak” also by our adversary which attacked India at a time when this country had not fully recouped from the Chinese aggression of 1962, had resolutely warned that this country had no alternative but to “reply back weapons with (matching ) weapons”. Such an outright statement, not less than a serious warning, was not expected by the aggressor of 1965, perhaps, underestimating India’s resilience to come out stronger after every adversity even like the one never expected from a trusted neighbour China besides judging the late PM by his physical stature and thus mistakenly thought to be having a weak policy which proved utterly against all manoeuvrings and evil designs against this country. Rest is the history as to what a fate the aggressor met at the hands of the Indian forces led by a strong leader in 1965.
India’s armed forces are considered as pillars of India’s security and these pillars need to be constantly strengthened by meeting their all needs to keep them in readiness to protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Four hundred “pieces” of defence equipment hitherto imported , now being manufactured indigenously was a hallmark of India’s growth and progress and achieving newer mile stones in the path of self reliance. The point being stressed upon is that traditionally, as a way of life and high pursuits, this country has been believing in, preaching and practicing peace as that alone was ever lasting but if a conflict was thrust on India , in that case it had to be fought back with all might.
As PM celebrates the festival of Deepawali on different borders each year with the soldiers and interacting with them also dwells upon important issues including concerning our defence matters. This Deepawali celebrating with soldiers posted in Kargil sector where in 1999 Indian forces repulsed every hostile move of Pakistan which it had launched quite treacherously, he reiterated India’s stand and commitment for promoting peace. War having been never as the first but the last option / resort as a constant sate policy, the armed forces being quite capable to fight it. Giving an interpretation of how growing power of India could be interestingly no threat to anyone but a concomitant of boosting chances of global peace and prosperity brightening the chances of enhanced cooperation between the countries, the PM rightly expressed how through the prism of a total understanding, the world community looked at India as a “balancing force”. The term Balancing Force rather in its irreplaceable form, referred to no interest in global alliances, blocks and treaties but to remain equidistant and at the same time, endeavouring for cementing ties between them.
That approach, again, was to promoting peace. However, that also meant not to be cowed down by or get convinced with any advice from any country as to how we should shape our diplomatic ties if that clashed with the interests of the country. Buying fuel from Russia despite ”advice on the contrary” proved the point what Narendra Modi was trying to articulate. If not now, then perhaps never, we must let the world know that we were ready to protect what was ours hence pursuing our own policies and putting forth views. There could have been no better occasion or platform than sharing such views with the armed forces. In fact, India has been always trying to build bridges between conflicting blocks at the international levels and that policy has remained unchanged irrespective of which government was in power in the country.
Amidst severe economic crisis plaguing otherwise well developed countries including the UK, USA, China etc, if India having not only undergone the severe crisis on account of the COVID pandemic and having emerged out of it successfully but while recovering and showing encouraging growth graph, it has been achieving respectable slots as a fast growing economy of the world excelling in areas of self reliance and initiating of numerous economic and developmental schemes, the same need to be shared. It is, therefore, quite proper that we make a mention of India having jumped from 10th to 5th largest world economy during an economic struggle of the past seven years. Making a mention of some of these and sharing with the soldiers by the PM to have a feel of pride, he reminded besides various achievements as to how India had won a place of honour and recognition in the world, the example of how Indian tricolour acted as a protective shield to the Indians in the Ukraine conflict was one of the instances. Besides, India having been trying to deal with external and internal enemies, the PM counted a few measures both to exalt the spirit and morale of the soldiers and instilling in them added sense of pride of being Indians.
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