Sameera Yargop
Human Resources Management
December 08
No. This isn’t a book review for the James Ivory bestseller. Nor is it a claim that soldier’s daughters (more specifically, me) never cry. It is a line my father used on the occasions when I would hold on to his OG (Olive Green) clad leg for dear life and refuse to let him board his train. I have always wanted to write about my feelings for the spirit of the Indian soldier. Having experienced it so closely and drawn from it all my life.
It is a fact that the Indian Army has a standing in our country that no other government institution can match or even come close to. Most people take this for granted, but very few know what goes into being a soldier.
When I was young, my father being an Infantarian was posted in inaccessible (Families weren’t allowed.) field areas for almost 2 postings out of every 3. It was a rare treat to have him around on birthdays and Diwali because that meant that unreasonable and absurd demands would always be met with a benevolent smile, which otherwise would completely be ignored by my knowing and experienced (read strict and no nonsense) mother.
Since we were in Pune for the most and did not travel with the paltan (A unit within the Regiment is referred to as a Paltan.) there were times when I knew that my mom found it hard to cope without an adequate support system. Having dad come to school on annual days was something that was unheard of and it wasn’t rare that he forgot what class my brother and I were in.
I have no doubt that my father like every single member of any defense service had his moments of weakness too. When pressure was high and the warmth of home and family must have seemed far away. But the only dad that we ever saw was the one smiling and whipping us into shape ever so often, when reports of wayward behavior reached him.
I’ve had the good fortune of visiting a few army posts over the years. The respect that an officer commands from the troops is the basis on which The Indian Army functions. An officer’s authority, whether he is a Second Lieutenant straight out of IMA (Indian Military Academy) or a Lieutenant General with 30 years of experience behind him, is unquestioned by his men. If he commands them to stand in the line of fire, they do it. With a simple belief that he will watch their backs.
The pressure of watching your men injured, maimed and often killed on a day to day basis, while putting your own family on the back burner, is one that would make any board room seem almost laughable in comparison.
Bravery and chivalry, these are the values that a soldier always stands for. And believe me when I say, these are not empty words. Only the lucky few who have experienced this life can truly understand its depth.
If I were to be born more than once, I would proudly choose to be a soldier’s daughter again. My father has demonstrated to me not just with words but with every action that there is no place for fear in a warrior’s heart.
Because for a soldier all the sacrifices are but a small price to pay for the glory and privilege of being of able to serve his country.
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