O captain, my captain, our fearful trip is done, The ship has weathered every wrack, the prize we sought is won — Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman’s lines, written in 1865 eulogising Abraham Lincoln after his assassination, would have found much resonance on August 15, 1947 in an India rejoicing in Independence “at the stroke of the midnight hour”. But in those fateful days, India’s own Abraham Lincoln hour was yet to arrive, a fatal moment that finally did come on January 30, 1948, with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi at his customary evening prayer meeting at Birla House, in the heart of Lutyens’ New Delhi. The developing narrative thereafter has been the story of “India that is Bharat”, emerging for the first time in recorded history as a Republic, sovereign, democratic and secular, a contemporary epic which is still in the writing and August 15, in the 70th year of our Independence, is perhaps an appropriate moment to pause, reflect, introspect and look back at the “fearful trip” to nationhood that India has traversed in the 69 years since 1947.
Make no mistake, the road to nationhood has been rough and unhewn, the journey turbulent and often traumatic, punctuated by wars and conflict — four full-fledged wars against Pakistan, a short, sharp border war against China, one singularly ill-advised military intervention in Sri Lanka, along with an almost interminable series of internal “small wars” of consolidation within the country against a variety of adversaries.
Some of these multiple conflicts which the nation has faced and overcome, have been “wars of necessity” for consolidation and preservation of national integrity. Others have been “wars of choice”, for preservation of national interests. “The Ship of State”, — India that is Bharat — has successfully “weathered every rack” since 1947 and triumphed against all odds, with national integrity, national resolve and national identity intact and unshaken.
But in the immediate here and now of Independence Day 2016, multiple challenges have reappeared in quick sequence — from jihadi separatists at Burhan Wani’s funeral in Tral, Jammu and Kashmir, to the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland firing indiscriminately at a crowded “haat” at Balajan Tinali near Kokrajhar in Assam.
But perhaps the most ominous challenge of all comes from cow vigilantes mercilessly assaulting other dalits and cattle transporters in the Indian heartland. It appears that we the people of India, seem to have made up our collective minds to self destruct, a crazy kamikaze ride from which the nation will have to be saved at all costs.
The battle lines are blurred and multifarious. They stretch over multiple fronts: the military, cultural, socio-economic and ideological. Lurking demons from the past taken to be vanquished, lately seem to have resurrected themselves.
But as was said of the Indian Army’s stand against the onslaught of M48 Patton tanks at the battle at Chhamb in 1965 — they shall not pass.
However, it can be cautiously asserted that the state of the nation is generally tending towards the positive. From Khardungla to Kanyakumari, Imphal and Itanagar, the “dharmayuddha” for the idea of India seems to be winning out, as demonstrated most recently during the amicable passage of the Goods and Services Tax Bill in Parliament.
Another good news is that Irom Sharmila, the “Iron Lady” from Imphal, decided to give up her fast against the continuing imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Manipur. She says she will contest elections to achieve her objective. This is because, it is now universally accepted that India is just “too big to fail”. But while complimenting Ms Sharmila on her decision, a word of caution — “azaadi” is not an option, whether in Kashmir, Manipur, or anywhere else. She must also remember that AFSPA is a necessary legislation, if the presence of Army and paramilitary forces operating in aid to civil authority are required to contain political unrest. Indeed, the fastest method of repeal AFSPA is to improve the political situation to an extent that military and paramilitary forces can be withdrawn from the state.
They would be only too happy to step away from their vital but totally thankless task, considered draconian by “student activists” who crowd student hostels, while shamelessly freeloading on government scholarships.
And finally, the words of Robert Frost, often quoted by our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, provide the appropriate sentiment in the quest for peace in this troubled land
But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep ”
The writer is a former Chief of Army Staff and a former member of Parliament
