Thread by @ColSanjayPande

1/ This thread is not for pity. It is to let all hypocrites slap themselves. #VeteranSoldier Yesterday I was in Hyderabad. Went to Sainik Board which is under Rajya Sainik Board. As I was leaving and negotiating with an auto guy I heard, JAI HIND SAHAB from behind.

2/ #VeteranSoldier I am into 16th year of retirement, I keep beard, hair 50% white and was sure the guy said this to someone else. I turned to see a soldier in blue safari suit, cap facing and saluting me. I looked at him and said instantaneously, ‘Basant Lal Mandal’, ‘yes Sir’

3/ #VeteranSoldier he said. This had to be miracle. Last we both met was in 1999. 23 years, he had recognised me by my haircut and walk, I recognised him by face. It was electrifying. Basant was a recruit under me when I was Battery Commander, a Major. I had trained them.

4/ #VeteranSoldier He was a Technical Assistant in Command Post. Everyone who has seen devastatingly accurate artillery fire in Kargil must know that gun crew fires where a Technical Assistant tells them to. A TA fires where the observation post officer, sitting with infantry

5/ #VeteranSoldier tells TA to fire. These people are the ‘brain’ of a battery. They can work without sleep for 120 hours, operate computers, are masters at calculations and have such high and contagious morale that each battery takes pride in them. Basant served for 23/24 years

6/ #VeteranSoldier and was released at 39 years age. His struggle to get a job started. He had prepared for exams and passed. No job given. He went from company to company, no job given. His children were in school and meagrely pension just permitted a house on rent and food.

7/ #VeteranSoldier Two years and absolutely nothing. At the end, frustrated he met Sainik Welfare Board officers. They offered him job of a security guard. Helpless he took it up. Yesterday when he was smartly saluting me, he was on the gate of Soldier Board. We hugged so tight

8/ #VeteranSoldier and not ready to leave the hug. We both had moist eyes. He knew that I had dedicated my life for welfare of forces widows and soldiers. Said he follows be on SM platforms. He could have quietly let me go. He chose to recognise me after 23 years. I feel indebted

9/ #VeteranSoldier He invited me to his home. I promised to have food with him next time I visit Hyd. I will, he knows it. END. When I say ‘invest’ in dead soldiers, you know it why cos they don’t speak, NGOs, generate money we can become patriots. Basant Lal Mandal, my friend.

10/Last #VeteranSoldier He is alive, veteran, burden who has zero ROI. There are lacs of Basant Lal Mandals about whom neither the serving nor the retired bother. All bullshit talk of Regimentation vaporises soon as we see our soldiers alive & struggling. A quiet salute to them.

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