OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED YESTERDAY

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the family,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Natha Singh has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And a pension, meagre & small..

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some Neta,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight to the skin.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED YESTERDAY"

Life in Army

Anybody who has ever donned an Olive Green Uniform would know how difficult it is to explain the Army as a Profession or a Job. It is neither  Job nor Profession. Its a way of life. A life which is above all jobs & professions. Although, ‘The Ultimate’ requires no illustrations, here is a kaleidoscope of myriad snippets which would, to certain extent, conjure up the vista of the soul and spirit of The Army. 

You do not have to chose Army, rather Army is when destiny choses ‘you’ over the rest.

 

Army is:-

• When a cold and shivering jawan gets you a cup of hot tea on a patrol break at 13,000 feet.
• When your sixth sense tells you there is something wrong with a guy at 50 meters.
• When you meet with an accident and the first thing you check is the serviceability of your legs.
• When you speak the language of your boys.
• When you sit from dusk to dawn in an ambush on Valentine’s Day, you know infantry is giving you the red rose.
• When you are a master at pump stove, lanterns, solar lights, bukharis and travelling in trains without reservations.
• When you know more about cramps and cold injuries than your average doctor.
• When a girl in the pub is indicated by clock-ray method.
• When only your batman can dig out the thing you want from your rucksack.
• When your pain submits to your will.
• When you find it funny when your relative says he’s going on a holiday to a hill station.
• When your arm is a matter of discussion during marriage proposals.
• When you do not believe in ghosts but do believe in Peer Baba and other high altitude babas.
• When you know the real meaning of camouflage, in field, in parties, in unit routine and in your own house.
• When you can live, anywhere, with anybody, on anything that nature can offer.
• When you know this Medium Machine Gun will be resisted by everybody up the ladder, till it comes back to where you had sited it initially.
• When somebody asks, “Do you play Golf?” and you look at the brass on your shoulder and
• When your girlfriend thinks you are Rambo, Commando, Gladiator and Braveheart, all rolled into one. Your Commanding Officer, by the way, thinks you are none.
•  say “Not yet!”
• When you are the biggest consumer of foot powder, DMP oil, water sterilization kit, ORS packets and Meals Ready to Eat in the Army.
• When you gave it all that you have got, and some more.
• When you are the only one to get trained in bayonet fighting. And expect it to happen.
• When you get lost in a multiplex with signboards but are at ease in a jungle with a compass.
• When you can die for, what you have lived for. 

A TRIBUTE TO THE AIR FORCE

A TRIBUTE TO THE AIR FORCE 

He was handsome ,dashing , and loved to fly,
I was just nineteen, awkward and shy,
With calculated charm he wooed me and persisted,
I demurred, protested, and half heartedly resisted,
But at last he managed to have his way,
I agreed to tie the knot , come what may,
We were wed and posted to KKD,
One month and he was off on his first TD,
Pilots wives ,I was told never cry,
Cheerfully send off their husbands to fly,
But here I was alone , stranded and sad,
Came the queries why the long face , why so sad?
They took charge and kept me busy,
Coffee mornings ,shopping sprees and kitties,
How warmly I was welcomed into the fold,
Into the squadron ,by young and old,
I cannot forget the warmth and the caring,
It was then I learnt the joy of sharing,
The picnics ,the parties and the sheer fun,
The pride and thrill when flying was done,
And now I am an Airforce wife of many years,
I look back and laugh at my fears,
We are so proud to be the wives,
Of these masters of the skies,
Men, who daily risk their lives,
For their country , in peace or strife,
May God bless them one and all,
May no harm ever befall,
If I ever was given another life
I,d rather be born an AirForce wife!

Arti Chopra