Two Armies, Two Chiefs, Two Funerals

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. Not only almost all the top ranking dignitaries of the country were conspicuous by their absence during his funeral the media totally blacked out the proceedings of the 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.

The irony is that the gallant soldier, who got the shaby treatment at the hands of our politicians and the media 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. 

And now look at the media coverage that the funeral of chief of another 'Sena' got today.

While i have nothing against Shri Balasaheb Thakerey and pay due homage to him on his demise but at the same time as an ex-soldier of the same army that Sam Bahadur once commanded, I hang my head in shame for the lapse on part of the Indian Government, Politicians, Senior Defence Officers and above all that of the Media for meting out shabby treatment to him on his funeral. Please forgive us.