Siddharth Chatterjee - There Are No Martyrs—Only Shattered Dreams And Broken Homes
NB: In poignant contrast to the hot air churned out by our 'patriotic' chest-thumpers, this ex-Army officer brings us down to earth. Those who serve in the military are rarely militarist - they do not glorify the killing fields of battle, because they know what it means. As a Sainik School alumnus - and son of an Army officer - I happen to have many friends in the armed forces (some, alas lost their lives in active service). Most of them are retired now, some at very senior levels. Not one of them glorifies warfare in the manner of our armchair warriors and screeching TV anchors. Well written, Major Chatterjee. Thank you. DS
Many years ago, while
out on patrol, a platoon of my Special Forces unit came under fire. Minutes
later, an officer lay lifeless from gunshots wounds. I remember that day like
it was yesterday.
Nothing can prepare a
soldier for the death of a comrade—nor for delivering this news to his family.
I remember the look of pain and agony on the faces of my fallen comrade's wife
and children, and that memory still breaks my heart.
Every time the media
reports on military deaths, I think of the families of those soldiers and
wonder if a little more regard for the welfare of troops would inspire us to
seek non-violent resolutions to conflicts. It has become a
quotidian occurrence to be confronted by news headlines declaring, "17
soldiers martyred" or "India's
fallen heroes". But too often, these deaths are shrugged off.
Consider this: India
has the largest
number of war widows, currently estimated at 25,000, though it could be
much more. There may not be another nation-state that has lost so many soldiers
to fighting within its own borders. In banal, patriotic
statements, we declare these fallen soldiers martyrs and war heroes, while
ignoring the shattered dreams of their spouses and children left behind.
There is another
emerging trend that calls for an urgent consideration of alternative methods to
conflict and war; we are headed to the ironic situation where more soldiers are
taking their own lives than are killed in combat. Estimates suggest
that, since 2003, approximately 100 soldiers have committed suicide every year.
In 2007 and 2008, Army suicides reached 142 and 150, respectively. According to
one report, 597
military personnel took their lives between 2009 and 2013.
The preponderance of
ailments such as post-traumatic stress disorder among military personnel
requires that we have adequate mental health services freely available for our
soldiers. Due to long periods of deployment, many soldiers suffering from such
conditions may not get help until it is too late. This is not the only
unseen cost of the thoughtless deployment of armed forces: the families of
these soldiers also suffer immensely. Children often grow up with only one
parent around, while spouses are left to manage their households unsupported
and with the added burden of knowing their partner could be sent into battle at
a moment's notice.
Our administrations
must aspire to prioritize nonviolent solutions to India's problems. It is time
to set aside militarism and hone India's capacity to shape events without
resorting to force. Deploying the military should be a last resort. The failure
of diplomacy, dialogue, persuasion and consensus is not only felt by the nation
at large or by India's economy; it is felt first and foremost by the people who
are asked to sacrifice their lives for their country.
Ending conflicts
through diplomacy is a daunting undertaking. However, history shows that
peaceful negotiation can resolve even the most obdurate conflicts. For
instance, India can learn from the Good Friday
Agreement that brought peace to the long-running Irish conflict. The road to peace in
Ireland was characterized by violence, setbacks and numerous false starts, but
the negotiating parties realized that military strength alone would not
guarantee peace.
There are parallels
between the situation in Ireland and the current conflict over Kashmir. India
must be open to third party mediation, including involvement by the United
Nations, when bilateral negotiations become deadlocked.
Unfortunately,
consecutive governments have often invoked the Armed
Forces Special Powers Act, deploying large numbers of soldiers to troubled
states, rather than working to initiate peaceful conversations, improve the
economy and establish law and order in those areas. The act sadly legalizes
tyranny and human rights violations.
Even now, Indian
politicians are quick to boast about the size and strength of our country's
military as a threat to any challenger. This is unhelpful for India's image as
a country that is the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi. It is time to stop
being blind to our differences with those we perceive as adversaries, and to
direct attention to our common interests and the means by which those
differences can be resolved. Denouncing them and breaking off dialogue does not
solve any problems.
It is incumbent upon
our government, politicians, media and citizens to realize that the loss of
soldiers is not only a loss for their families and the Armed Forces—it is a
loss for their communities and a loss of the potential lives they could have
led. For their unwavering
service to the country, the people of India must exhaust all other options
before we ask our soldiers to make the ultimate sacrifice. That is the best
reward for their courage and that is what we must hold our government
accountable to.
See also
