On a nationalistic front, the past month has been punctuated with emotions like patriotism, pride and revenge. The feelings of the common Bharatiya have been potently aggressive and intolerant towards terrorism.
The Hindu culture expounds the maximum of Ahimsa Parmo Dharma. Meaning: Nonviolence is the highest moral virtue. But if your adversary habitually practices violence as a way of life, then is Ahimsa your Parmo Dharma ? No! In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna repeatedly counselled the Kauravas, to be fair to the Pandavas. After the completion of twelve years of exile and one year of Agyaat-vaas, when the Pandavas returned to Hastinapur and claimed their share of the kingdom, Duryodhana refused to give it. In the course of negotiation, Krishna asked Duryodhana to give just five villages to the Pandavas. He assured Duryodhana that in the interest of peace, the Pandavas would not fight for their right. Duryodhana said that he would not give them land equal to even a pin’s head. In that eventuality, the Pandavas stood in confrontation with the Kauravas at Kurukshetra, and the Mahabharata war happened.
It was a fratricidal carnage, but it was the only way forward. The Mahabharata war put an end to all those who supported adharma. Also, Krishna gave a hundred opportunities to Shishupala to err against or abuse Krishna. When Shishupala abused Him for the 101st time, Krishna severed Shishupala’s head from his body, because enough was enough! In the Ramayana, Devi Sita was abducted by Ravana. Ravana’s grandfather Malyavan, wife Mandodari, brother Kumbhkarna, Rama’s envoy Angad, Lord Hanuman and many others, counselled Ravana but he did not agree to return Devi Sita back to Bhagwan Rama. War was the only answer. India has too many axes to grind with Pakistan.
I was in college when terrorism was at its peak in Punjab. In the larger interest of the safety of the country, punitive action had to be taken against the terrorists. The Mumbai attack in year 2008, popularly known as 26/11, left the world stunned and horrified. The terrorists had struck on 5-star properties in Mumbai. Many rich and affluent people, including foreigners were killed. The news became a world news. But did the then government bring the perpetrators of crime to the gallows? Crores of rupees were spent in keeping the caught terrorist Kasab. He was eventually hanged in 2011.
In the past few years, we have seen horrific incidents at Uri, Pulwama and recently at Pahalgam. When the pictures of the killings of 26 male Hindu tourists who were on holiday in Pahalgam, started streaming on the news and on social media, there was disbelief, anger and grief in the minds of the common man. Every logical and concerned mind asked, “Till when will this go on?” How barbaric can the terrorists be? They gunned down Hindu men in front of their wives and children, only because they were Hindus. Will the common man, ever be able to live and breathe without fear of terrorism? And then came the decision that when peaceful talks do not yield results, you have to strike back.
It took just 15 days for the Prime Minister to strategize and align the armed forces to strike. And strike like never before. The pent-up anger of decades was released and spewed, to wipe out a hundred plus terrorists across the border. Civilians in India slept, while our armed forces out-performed with surgical laser precision. And the world woke up to the news that those who had snatched the Sindoor from our Hindu women, had been blasted to pieces in Operation Sindoor. After the sudden declaration of ceasefire, there were questions zig-zagging in the society. Some questioned Operation Sindoor itself. Some asked, why retaliate? Why put so many lives at risk? Others demanded to know why there was a ceasefire. Why this? Why that? I wonder how audacious people can be.
Let us not overlook that the safety of the entire country was at stake. While going to war, there is always a risk of loss of lives, but sometimes war is the only way forward. Is it the time to doubt the intentions and wisdom of a Prime Minister who has upheld the honour, dignity and safety of the country like no other?
Is it appropriate for those who have nothing at stake, to question the moves and statements of the officers of the armed forces, who are the ones who have given their blood for protecting the country from terrorists? And all those voicing dissent and indignation at the way Operation Sindoor was conducted, are verily the enemy within us.
Those questioning the intentions of the government should ask themselves if they are even worthy of being called Bharatiyas. They are akin to cancer that attacks the body, from within. Interestingly, there is no cure for cancer in modern medicine.
Cancer cells have to be killed by chemotherapy. And cancer can be reversed by ancient Indian practices. The present day Bharat believes in the wisdom of our ancient sciences and practices. It would not be improper to mention here that Operation Sindoor was named Sindoor because we believe in the sanctity of Sindoor.
Watching the videos of missiles being shot down in mid-air, and the impenetrable air defence system, took me back to watching the Ramayana TV serial wherein was shown the weaponry used by Rama, Lakshmana, Indrajeet and Ravana. The firing and defusing of weapons in mid-air was portrayed therein. There is a mention of Hanumanji having a Raksha-kavach; a spiritual armour that no one could penetrate. Presently, India has developed its own advanced defence shield, known as Raksha Kavach.
It was built by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is a multilayered protection system, designed to protect critical military assets, soldiers, armoured vehicles and defence complexes, against any kind of attack. In ancient times, the Astra-Shastra were given to the sages by the Gods in return for their spiritual penances, for the purpose of Dharma-Raksha.
The present day weaponry including Air-defence systems, Brahmos etc. are made by super-intelligent minds, using technology and science. And India still uses them for self-defence; verily DharmaRaksha! Both the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Air Marshal AK Bharti of the Indian army, while addressing the press, quoted from the Sundar Kaand in Ramayana.
The press conference of the Indian armed forces on Operation Sindoor began with the powerful Shiv Tandava Stotram, enunciating India’s indomitable stance against terrorism. It is time each one of us acknowledges what the armed forces do, so that we can live comfortably. The most important question that each one of us needs to ask ourselves is, are we worth their sacrifices?
We are perhaps the only nation that reveres our motherland as Mother India. India has emerged on the world front as a quiet and confident nation who knows what it is doing. India shall make its own rules. It shall not bow down to the whims and fancies of others. There is a sense of calm and surety that has left the world astounded. Let us be proud of our country, our government and our armed forces. Let us not be ungrateful. Jai Hind!
