It was the action of a parent not the government or the Ministry of Defence that led to the stay by the Supreme Court of India in the case of Major Aditya Kumar of 10 Garhwal Rifles.  A serving officer Lt Col Karamveer Singh had done more than his duty by sending his son to the forces. Yet as a father he had to move the court to get justice for his son. What action has the nation taken to protect its soldiers except put them in harm’s way and shrug one shoulders and call it “occupational hazards”?  Is this the failure of the establishment that our children for doing their duty have to be legally protected by their kith and kin?

The drastic attack by cowards on the families of soldiers at Sunjwan military station in Jammu is condemnable and just shows the pusillanimous nature of Pakistan Army, another attack is underway at Srinagar. This is not the first time that such a thing has happened; the Army’s systems are resilient. We pray for the departed souls wish the survivors’ speedy recovery but also feel that those who live through such traumatic incidents are well looked after.

Families are the strength of the Faujis and this fact is well known to all. The soldier performs his duty, “even at the peril of his life”, knowing that his family will be well looked after. Not long ago as is the case in India the nation only listens when a celebrity or a cricketer speaks.A video clip went viral with actor Anushka Sharma talking about her mother as a part of Fauji families during the Kargil war.  Of course there have been slippages in making up to the promises of gas agencies and other promises but by and large the system now is better and does go all out to help one of its own. But all is not well as there are other disturbing signs which require larger than a 56 inch chest line.

There is a lot of cynicism clearly visible on social media with messages floating whether there will be FIR launched against the Army for killing three terrorist who launched the  “fidayeen attack”, on innocent women and children. Thankfully with this ruling by the Supreme Court this ill-founded cynicism will hopefully die down.  At one point it almost seemed as if the sacrifices of the soldier were in vain.

It seems nobody is worried for the sacrifices of the soldier as long as the political class gets its votes and the civil services get their job done.  Is the protector of the nation so lonely for doing his stated job?  The father of a soldier has approached the Supreme Court to quash the FIR lodged against his son for doing his duty.

In another incident children of serving Army officials in J&K filed a petition before the National Human Rights Commission seeking protection of their life and property.  Thus simultaneously the soldier fights at the border, while back home his family is attacked by terrorist, and legally his parents are in court because he is performing his duty while the children are asking for protection, and the government gives 1.52% of GDP as defence budget. Is this a one off, or is a pattern those serving know the best. The morale of a soldier is the key and for that some tough decisions are still required.  

Three children,of two Lt Cols’ and one Junior Commissioned Officer, have approached the Human Rights Commission. Once again the same question arises “is this the failure of the establishment that our children have to launch petitions before the commission”? Interestingly whether it is the father or the children, the action seems to be at the rank of Lt Col and below.

As per statistics very few senior officers’ children are joining the forces and if our children are filing petitions than a lot of those who should be volunteering for serving the nation are getting the message not to join the forces, which again is a worrying message. This is an acid test of military leadership in which first time our families are directly affected.

For too long we have gone about doing our duty while the families looked after the rear: financial, social and   psychological angles. The Rajput women committed Johar best portrayed   by the film Padmavaat so as to give their warrior class a free hand. The establishment has to stand up and be counted “you cannot play with fire without burning your fingers”?

(The writer is is author of books Gorkha: In Search Of Identity and Gorkha: Society and Politics; and co-authored India –Nepal Seven Decades of Trust and Friendship)