BLOWING THEIR TRUMPET

Date: 09 Aug 2009

Comment:

A LETTER TO THE EDITOR, THE TIMES OF INDIA  

 WANTED: INFORMATIVE IMPARTIAL INTERACTIVE INDIAN MEDIA  
To,
 
The Editor
The Times of India (Delhi Edition)
 
Sir,
 
The Times of India on July 26, 2009 carried a photograph of Army band performing at Drass War Memorial to mark ten years of the capture of Tiger Hill by the Indian Army during Kargil War.

This ceremony like any other function of similar nature reminds the countrymen of the  supreme sacrifices made and hardships undergone by the soldiers  who fought in a particular battle or operation. It is a very solemn occasion  evocative of the unrivalled gallantry, patriotism, professional competence, discipline and spirit of comradeship displayed by the officers and jawans of the Armed Forces while defending the country's borders, its integrity, honour and pride. It epitomises the ultimate in commitment and sense of duty.

If that be so, the words "BLOWING THEIR TRUMPET" in red block capitals given under the photograph of the Army band performing at the War Memorial trivialises the ceremony--it is morbidly derisive and insidiously mocking! 

Use of such a phrase on your part has greatly disturbed and anguished the serving military personnel and lakhs of veterans. There are many amongst us who have lost a near and dear one, a friend, a colleague, a relation or an acquaintance in the Kargil War. (The country too has lost gallant heroes who will never come back home.) 

At times we get the impression that you choose the material for publication in your newspaper for the "value" it has to ridicule the Armed Forces. There are any number of examples that can be cited to prove this.

We hold you in high esteem and earnestly hope that you observe acceptable norms of journalistic propriety, dignity and sense of responsibility expected of a distinguished newspaper. Our hopes unfortunately have been belied time and again. 

Please help us to continue respecting you. Respect, as you know, is not always demanded, it is deserved too, and that is where you have been faltering for years.

Nobody is above the law (yes, law), decency and good manners--not even you, Sir (with all your writing skills), or the Times of India. There is a time for fun and pun. There is a time for solemnity and sobriety. There is a time for seeking forgiveness, if not from the living, at least from the brave departed souls for the insult heaped on them through your derogatory remarks.

This time is now.

We expect that you carry an apology in The Times of India  along with an assurance that such snide remarks or phrases will not be repeated for the soldiers in future. This may assuage somewhat the deep distress and humiliation inflicted on the military personnel, serving and retired, and innumerable others in the country.        

Warm regards.
 
Sincerely,
 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wing Commander (retd)
XXXXXXXXXXX
Noida-XXXXXXXXXX
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THE REASON OF THIS INSULT:
THE INDIAN ARMY IS MERCENARY AT THE DISPOSAL OF NEHRU DYNASTY. THEY ARE NOT NATIONAL ARMY FIGHTING OR DEFENDING FOR THE COUNTRY.
THEY WERE GIVEN ETERNAL SHAME WHEN HELD BACK FROM THE DEFENCE OF LAHORE BY BANDIT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU, THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF PARTITIONED INDIA IN 1947. 

THEY WERE ALSO HELD BACK FROM CAPTURING THE WHOLE OF KASHMIR THUS LEAVING NORTH KASHMIR IN ENEMY HANDS FOR EVER.

THEIR SACRIFICES WERE TOTALLY FUTILE WHEN THE CAPTURED TERRITORY OF EAST BENGAL WAS RETURNED TO MOHAMMED. WAS IT SECULARISM? WHAT IF THAT EAST BENGAL, NOW BANGLADESH, MAKES NUCLEAR BOMBS IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

IN SRI LANKA THE ROLE OF ARMY WAS OPPOSITE TO THAT OF THE MANLY TURKISH ARMY IN CYPRUS IN 1974.

THE CONCLUSION CAN BE DRAWN ABOUT THE LOVE LOST BETWEEN THE RULING ESTABLISHMENT OF INDIA AND THE ARMED FORCES OF INDIA. 

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