A large number of activities have been conducted by the Central Government, State Governments and various other organizations/ individuals to celebrated India’s 75th year of Independence. While these celebrations showcased the achievement of the country and its people in various domains, these have also thrown fresh light on multiple fault lines existing in the country which need to be eliminated from the social fabric for the well-being of the nation and its people. It is towards this that the veterans of the defence forces can play a larger role for the national resurgence.
The nation has multiple challenges at the moment including that of external threats. While Pakistan has been working against Indian interests since partition, China has become more aggressive once again post 1962 conflict. It’s transgression on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh is well known and the same is continuing since April – May 2020.
The situation has not returned to ‘Normal’ despite multiple level of talks since then. While some stand offs/ transgressions have been visibly resolved but the status – quo even in these areas has not been restored to pre- April 2020 position. It is hoped that defence preparedness, infrastructure growth and political/diplomatic efforts will take care of these challenges in due course. It is also hoped that trade deficit having reached alarming levels with China will also give some impetus to our policy makers as well as our manufacturers to reduce imports from China and focus on indigenous production on cost competitive basis.
Large number of defence veterans are spread throughout the country and can make valuable contributions towards the nation building. While issues of external threats and trade deficit have been mentioned in passing being in the domain of other stake holders, there are issues where the veterans can play major constructive role in the nation building. These areas will be evident once we critically see around us as there are multiple fault lines present in the country internally.
These are related to regional disparities, language barriers, caste discriminations and religious divide being some of them. While each fault line has its own manifestations, the caste and religious divides are fragmenting the society internally. It is as critical and important to address these issues as is our external challenge as only united India can do well on external threats. All these fault lines are required to be narrowed and closed for all times to come. It is towards this that the defence veterans spread across the country can play a very constructive role. Areas of caste and religious harmony where defence veterans role are as under:
Bridging the Religious Divide. Substantial Number of all ranks join the defence forces in various units/ establishments. These persons have differing religious affiliations. The eco-system followed in the units/establishments allows them to have a peaceful Co-existence and learn the beauty of all religions preaching human values. A single unit mandir allows space for all religious scriptures to co-exist side by side in total respect of each other.
Each soldier not only gets opportunity to pray for own religion but also participates in the religious functions of other fellow soldiers. All major functions of all religions are conducted with same fervors without discretion whatsoever. Once veterans are out from the defence forces having been a part of positively disposed atmosphere, they imbibe a national character where one religion is not played against the other but each Indian has respect for all religions whether they are classified major / minor based on the numbers of their followers. Some of the major recommendations are as under:
- Veterans assist and be part of religious cohesiveness committees to be established in each Block, Sub-Division, District, State and national level. Through these religious tolerance committees, they resolve mutual differences in the entire country where in each religion is given due and equal respect.
- Veterans engage with progressive religious leaders in all religious segments to evolve the best practices so that every human being is treated with honour and dignity irrespective of sex they belong to.
- Our religious shrines are being administered on varying models – from individuals to families to trusts etc.A consensus needs to be evolved to have all religious shrines in public domain run by trusts. These veterans can be part of these trusts so that they help in adopting universal and brotherhood values respecting one and all.
- Veterans can also be dialogue facilitators in resolving interfaith issues and bring the best practices of the defence forces to the society.
Bridging the caste divide
Defence persons serve with persons of different castes .There have been class/caste based units also in the defence forces. There have been units wherein different companies comprise of different castes but they still live in harmony. They only bring positive side of class/caste affiliation related to healthy competitiveness. While the current AGNIPATH scheme is going to be based on all India basis but all castes will find their place still albeit based on the merit. The units cohesion with members from all the castes is there for society to emulate. Veterans can play a constructive role towards this some areas of which are as under:
- Educate people towards divisive agenda of various people/parties/ organizations to exploit caste to create the social disharmony.
- Link up and co-ordinate with those organizations who are working in the field of social harmony. There are still certain practices being followed in some areas wherein one caste is seen superior to the other. There are sub-castes within the caste having similar profile. All unfair practices being followed should be addressed so that every Indian is treated with similar dignity irrespective of caste he/she belongs.
- Re-align Government policies to facilitate parity in the execution domain as far as equal respect to all is concerned. Veterans could be part of social welfare department/any other department working in the related field.
India is transiting through a challenging time which also have huge opportunities. Close to 60,000 defence veterans are exiting every year besides those already exited in the previous years. This huge national resource could be helpful to address the internal fault lines of religious and caste biases to help country emerge stronger. In addition to the Governments, NGOs and individuals veterans organizations should also contribute towards this.
-This story earlier appeared in Souvenir magazine of ESM Bhopal
