Forgotten War, Forgotten Heroes

Exactly ten years ago India went through one of the most gruesome wars with Pakistan. The war was broadcasted on the television sets in every living room and people watched how our men fought with valor and died with dignity for Indians and India. We were able to watch the war in the comfort of our homes because we knew we were safe, because we had complete faith in our men in that they will thwart any deleterious aspirations of the enemy. We watched them beam with confidence as they captured bunker after bunker in one of the most inhospitable environments. Watching them our hearts swelled with pride and our convictions were made all the more stronger that they will return victorious. But now, 10 years later, some people seemed to have forgotten it or rather been ignoring it. Our politicians of course are in the limelight again. Only if somebody could remind them that the Indian men in uniform do not fight or work for one political party. They fought for the nation and died for the nation, and I think they deserve a lot of respect and honor from everyone. While one politician says, “Kargil isn't a thing to be celebrated. The war was fought within our territory. We didn't even come to know when the Pakistani army crossed over and built bunkers inside our territory. It's only the NDA which may celebrate,” the other one doesn’t even remember when the war was fought and won. Forget big national level celebrations, government isn’t even going to give a thank you speech for the services provided by our men. What a big boost of morale our men will receive.

Can’t they shun playing crass politics for once and pay homage to the Kargil war heroes which they so rightfully deserve? This just goes to show that we are represented by some of the most callous, hypocrite and undeserving people. A big disappointment comes from Prime Minister Singh who took out time to attend the Bastille Day Parade in France. Perhaps he too has forgotten Kargil and its heroes.

There is this Hindi poem "OOnchaai"(Heights)by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee which ends with this line:
"My Lord, Never let me climb so high that I can't bend down to embrace another human. Deliver me ever from such arrogance."

What If...?

Na tha kuch to khuda tha, kuch na hota to khuda hota,
duboyaa mujhko hone ne, na hota mein to kya hota

At some point life comes to a sudden halt along with the realization that it wasn’t being controlled by you even though you may think you were in charge. It’s not until a maelstrom sweeps you away or the sheer redundancy of everyday events envelop you that you realize you had been nurturing a delusion thus far and chasing will-o'-the-wisps in a make belief world. It is then that you “wake up” to an excruciatingly painful realization of utter desolation and a void that had been formed while you were away from yourself. That void, an enemy in disguise, befriends and provides solace for some time but slowly bedevils every passing thought every time you decide to retreat to it. It becomes an addiction of sorts and insecurities and fear take a hold of you. Rest of the world seems tepid and devoid of any concern. You become the only spectator in the theater of life, where you spend your life watching the rest of the world live theirs in an unremitting movie. You start wondering about the “What Ifs..?” About the possibilities that could have been. You wait and wonder that perhaps somehow you will wake up from a horrible incessant dream or go back into the make belief world where you are happy chasing will-o'-the-wisps.

Hui muddat ke Ghalib mar gaya par yaad aata hai,
wo har ek baat pe kehna ke yun hota to kya hota.

The camera can photograph thought. ~Dirk Bogarde

I've always loved looking at pictures, and I've always envied people who have managed to be in the right place at the right time to snap that jaw-dropping and awe inspiring vista.To me photographers are poets, storytellers, and artists. To be able to tell a story or give character to still life, they have to have a bit of a philosopher in them as well.
I've just been so in love with my camera lately that I must have clicked away over a thousand pictures in the last one month. It's been a lot of help in taking my mind off of certain issues. I also feel when I am with my camera I become more observant which helps bring out a poet, an artist, and somewhat of a philosopher in me. And also what's so wonderful about photography is that it is a language in itself which is understood by everyone regardless of their ethnicity, vernacular etc. It speaks a silent language of emotions which is inbuilt in each and everyone of us.
I will end it here and hope those who visit my blog will take some time to go through my pictures and spend a little time with me in my memories (see that's the closet philosopher I was telling you about.. ;) ).
http://picasaweb.google.com/rashveen.maini
http://rashveen.aminus3.com/
And thanks for visiting.