Give them Kashmir

Whether it is the terror attacks, the strained relationship between two neighboring nations or the animosity between the citizens of the two nations, it makes me wonder if a piece of land is worth the walls between hearts.

I am a proud Indian, but whether I was a Pakistani, Chinese, American or the citizen of any other nation, it wouldn’t make me think any different. I don’t believe any piece of land is worth more than human virtues of right and wrong, human relationships and universal brotherhood.

So, give them Kashmir. Give the Chinese whatever land there is a dispute over. And give any other nation any other piece of land they stake claim to. Give them your soul, your nationality, your pride, dignity, individuality and get it over with.

Relinquish all rights to national pride, relinquish any claims to individuality and accept a mute servility of the forces that dictate the order in the world. Accept that we are mute and spineless. Accept that we do not have the character to stand for our values and beliefs and accede to the global dictat.

Rid the common man of the life in terror. Relieve us of the brutality that we have to suffer while politicians, bureaucrats and custodians of the common man’s right…the public “servants” who masquerade as “rulers” get fatter and enjoy security beyond the reach of the common man. Let’s not live a sham, let’s not live in self deception anymore. Give them what they want and buy the notional safety by paying the price of pride, individuality, nationality and patriotism.

And if that’s not acceptable, don’t accept the “rulers”. Make them behave as public “servants”. Don’t accept the inanity of a blind world to atrocities meted out to a tolerant, peace loving people. Don’t cow down to hollow words and meaningless directives.

Who suffers? The politicos aren’t touched. Power shifts from one party to the other during elections. Empty words from ‘friendly’ nations leading to inaction that maintains the status quo do not save the lives laid in the line of national duty or sacrifice to terror.

Sandwiched between corruption and political pressures on the one hand, and inhuman brutality on the other is not an option. That is worse than selling your soul. My soul matters to me. I love every grain of soil in my motherland, am proud of it and love being an Indian. I cherish our tradition of peace, love, pride and standing for our values. I love the Indian even more. A life ground to death by politics and terror makes my heart bleed. Be it the life of a waiter at the Taj or the life of a soldier on the Kashmir borders. Give me back my nationality and my national pride. It’s about time the “rulers” of the nation made themselves accountable for ensuring that the average Indian’s rights are safeguarded.

Return the smiles to the faces of a Kashmiri child. Give safety to the vegetable vendor in the villages along the borders. Give back the pride of being to the slum-dweller, the dabba-wala, the bank clerk, the IT professional, the factory worker, the construction mason, the bullet-eating soldier and every other Indian soul. Give India back to every Indian. Give them the paradise on earth that they deserve. Give them Kashmir.

What it means to feel proud...

Among my many beliefs, I have always firmly believed that no war is justified. This led me to believe that there should never be a need for armies and soldiers. I haven't been an advocate of 'sacrifice' either and have always maintained that selfishness is everyone's right and is the way to exist as long as it doesn't become a self-centered existence.

Both these beliefs got a new meaning during a visit to my cousin, and I discovered what it means to truly feel proud...


Kavita (Gunnu as we call her) chose to chase her dream of flying when she joined the Indian Air Force. After two months at the Air Force Academy, we went to visit her for the first time and were instantly humbled by the discipline and energy at the academy.

We met Flt Cadet Kavita and two of the other lady cadets and spent the entire day talking about their experiences at the academy, the toughening that they are presently going through, the learning and challenges, the dreams and aspirations, the hopes and worries. It was a long day that seemed to pass in a hurry and it was time to leave.

It may not seem like much, but I couldn't get rid of the images from the visit right through the return journey. I couldn't help thinking that if civilians like me practiced 10% of that discipline, it would be a changed world.

She is training to be a soldier...no she is and feels like a soldier already. But she has not sacrificed her civilian life. She has gone after her dreams and has set about realizing them. It is a selfish pursuit that left her father in tears of pride while leaving the academy. So is her selfish pursuit not a virtue? I am convinced it is. And my belief that being selfish is the way to be just got a new meaning.

I also do not believe Flt Cadet Kavita Prabhu aspires to fight wars, nor do I believe she wants to kill or become an instrument of killing. I do not think she is a part of the Indian Air Force out of a desire for war. And yet, it is evident in her eyes that is she prepared to fight, for her chosen profession and her ambition. Through her single minded determination and resilience, she is fighting her past of laziness and reliance on others. She is fighting social norms and she is fighting every hurdle that comes in her way. This is her war and to me...a justified war.

Walking away, on my way back home, I was humbled, discovering what it means to feel proud...not just of Flt Cadet Kavita Prabhu, but of just being.