Life Is Cruel…Very Cruel

The Indian Express reports,

A young Army Captain, who was decorated with the Sena Medal for gallantry on Republic Day yesterday, was killed in a fierce firefight with ULFA militants in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam today.

Heartbreaking, isn’t it? But there’s more. The report further says,

The Captain was to marry his fiancee next month. At her home, they were celebrating the announcement of the gallantry medal when news came in that Chaudhary had been killed.

So what actually happened? Read on.

In the encounter inside the Mechaki reserve forest, 27-year-old Captain S K Choudhary of the 7/11 GR (Gorkha Rifles) led from the front. He was shot in the chest by the militants, two of whom were killed by the Captain and his men.

In fact, Choudhary was awarded the Sena medal for the bravery he showed last year when, in a similar encounter with the ULFA, he had killed two militants.

May this brave Indian soldier’s soul rest in peace.

Do We As Indians Care About Our Soldiers?

In war-time, they are supposed to risk their lives to save our country and they have done it time and again. I also once heard that when there is a scarcity of food, they eat grass (imagine!). Even during peace-time they are posted on the borders, just so that our enemy doesn’t try any foul tricks. That’s what the Indian Army does for us.

And what do we give them for all their sacrifices? Let’s compare with the Pakistan Army. A Brigadier gets Rs.32,245 as basic pay in Pakistan and only Rs.16,700 in India. A Lt. Gen. gets Rs.42,215 as basic pay in Pakistan and only Rs.22,405 in India. Effectively, Pakistan pays double what we pay our soldiers. Duh….Aren’t we far more richer than them? Far more powerful than them? Then why this disparity?

When we compare with the corporate salaries, it becomes even more clear why ‘quality’ youth is not lining up to join the army. And the effect is already being felt. The Indian Military Academy’s (IMA) this year is just 86 cadets in a batch where 250 cadets can be trained. The last time a full batch was inducted was in 1993!

So, let’s hope that the the Sixth Pay Commission (which will take it’s own time, given it’s politically sensitive nature) addresses these concerns or we will soon have a huge problem on our hands.

Till those politicians wake up, all we can say is “Jai Jawan! Thanks, for all that you have done to defend our country!”

Information Source: The Indian Express

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