Are only soldiers truly patriotic?
A comment was made by many people who protested after the Secunderabad incident yesterday, saying, “How can these people who destroy government properties work in the army?” Right-wing politicians and activists are spreading the propaganda that those who work in the army are extremely patriotic. We see moral policing by saying that no matter who protests in the country, soldiers are fighting for the country at the risk of their lives, while you are making movements for small things.
EXISTENTIALISM SACREDNESS PATRIOTISM ABSURD:Are only soldiers truly patriotic?
Are only soldiers truly patriotic? Are they the only ones who work selflessly for the country? Are all the rest of the country’s people selfish? Are physicians deity? Do farmers farm to feed the people of the country? Each of these is a distinct question. The dharma of any profession is followed by those who practice it. People’s lives are saved when doctors practice their profession. Farmers grow food in the profession they do for their livelihood. Teachers teach as part of their profession. Psychologists listen to the mental pain of others as part of their profession. In a similar vein, soldiers are trained to fight in wars with other nations when necessary. However, seeing divinity in some professions and inferiority in some is part of Indian culture. This is regrettable. A shift in perspective is absolutely necessary. Sometimes it can be observed that people in those professions also have this feeling. In fact, the first priority of all professions is their life. Later, they may also work with commitment in their profession. For a teacher to do her profession with commitment does not mean sacrificing her life. It is a doctor’s professional responsibility to leave her family at midnight to perform necessary surgeries. During 2000 – 2001, MCEME (Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering) located in Tirumala Giri area of Secunderabad had to develop and provide some CBT (Computer Based Tutors) to them. I had to work with them for about 3 months. Their actions were closely observed at the time. When the higher-ranking officers felt the need to discipline their lower-ranking officers, they would compare you to acting like a civilian, as you can see from their demeanor. The lower-level military officers would blush at that. This shows the stereotyping that has been formed among them.
10 – 15 years ago, the army there had some objections to the Mehdipatnam farmers’ market. Suddenly, one day, they attacked the poor farmers indiscriminately. There is no need to take sides here. Everyone who works in this country is doing their job with dedication, which means it should be considered as national service. While that service is visible to some directly, it is indirect for some. Isn’t it the national service of the municipal worker who goes down to the moors every day and removes obstacles? Isn’t it a service to the country to go into coal mines and dig coal? Aren’t their lives in danger? Isn’t it a service to the country to be done by a railway employee who checks the railway tracks every day? If they are careless, thousands of lives will be lost. Those lives are also the people of this country.
Are only soldiers truly patriotic?
Attributing sanctity to a profession to excess. Worshipping those in that profession is a mistake in understanding the whole matter. Here I am not belittling any profession. I am not exaggerating. What is more social service and national service than a person working with dedication in any profession? Let us respect a person as a human being, not based on profession. Those who work in the army also have emotions. They also get angry. Their mother gets angry. Sometimes even a cow tied up in the backyard gets angry. Politicians get angry. Emotions should be understood, but the argument that those in a profession should not have emotions is wicked. Whoever commits violence and destruction of property should be condemned.
#HariRaghav
