Friday, July 04, 2008

Sorry Sam

Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, fell critically ill on 26th June 2008 and passed away the next day. His funeral was held at Wellington near Ooty in Tamilnadu. Almost all the top ranking dignitaries of the country were conspicuous by their absence during his funeral. To know the names of the absentees, please click here. At least our Media could have done well to telecast the running commentary on the funeral of the departed soul. But they are generally busy in educating the public about more important things.

Just have a look at some examples :-




















Sorry Sam, as an ex-soldier of the same army that you once commanded, I hang my head in shame for the above lapse. Please forgive us.
The irony is that the gallant soldier, who got the shaby treatment at the hands of our politicians after his death, was praised by the newspapers of even that country which was cut to size by Sam Bahadur and his Army in 1971. While the article has praised the Field Marshal, it has also echoed the sentiments of many of our countrymen for the treatment given to the departed soul. To read the same please click here.

5 comments:

Renu said...

I fully agree with you, I am also ashamed at the attitude of our dignitaries, media and everybody, we have compleseley lost our bearings,I feel sorry for ourselves

Mampi said...

That a whole nation should take this treatment as a normal course incident is even more shameful.

The pictures spoke volumes about the apathy of the political leaders towards a real leader.

Balvinder Balli said...

Thanks Renu and Manpreet, i think blaring out patriotic songs on the eves of Independence and Republic days is like paying a lip service to the spirit of patriotism itself.

Indyeah said...

Yes,Sir this has been a very sore point in my home as indeed in homes that I know of.
That this man to whom we owe so much should be treated thus.I was ashamed and furious both that day and for many days after.
JKnowing what I do og this valiant soldier I know he would have passed this off in jest not caring two cents for this pathetic breed called 'politicians.'

But what about the armed forces?It is then that one is left with no words.The man in uniform is forgotten by his own??
I dont have words left.as I did not even then.

The media houses?the less said the better!

Balvinder Balli said...

Abhilasha, we don't expect much from our dirty politicians and the TRP hungary media but it only disappoints me when i find that even the intelligent and sane officials also act in such pathetic manner. That includes our President, Prime Minister, and the three Chiefs. May be they turned a blind eye to the funeral of the Field Marshal under some pressure from some quarters.