Nothing can be said about our Writers, they have freedom of speech, so do I.

Going through the editorial of an English daily today (https://goo.gl/ocA24t), I was aghast and astonished that an article which has prompted me to write this, can actually make it to print. I am neither vacuous nor am I confused. I therefore choose to bring out the following:

1. The author seems to very well know that more that seventy percent people will not go ahead and read the complete article, so he never comes back to the subject after using a sensational title.
2. His preoccupation with trying to row in “Ulsoor” lake has taken over his rationale. Sirjee, there is no dearth of lakes in India to row. You can be allowed to row in “Ulsoor”, only if the lake is open for “public”, which it cannot be, as otherwise the security personnel will be preoccupied in providing security to those who enter their premises, cleaning the premises once its closed etc (all this because armed forces set a certain benchmark for themselves) and not do what they are supposed to.
3. You trying to remind your readers that Indian Armed Force used to be a mercenary force is of particular interest to me. Because if you are suggesting that its the mercenary DNA of the forefathers of Indian Armed Forces that people should be afraid of then you should look back the past 70 years and judge by yourself. Don’t they give you enough confidence that they will protect the democratic values at all costs and that they will fight against any enemy they are ordered to on land, air or sea ? And for your information the Armed Forces in India are not dynastic fiefdoms like some other professions in our country.
4. Your mention of “this respect changed to reverence”, is again as frivolous as your article as a quick recheck of definition of reverence on google brings out that reverence means, “deep respect for someone or something”. You suggest we should respect armed forces but not revere, when basically they mean the same, its just that the degree of respect is higher in reverence. Then you make a sweeping comparison of soldiers with men and women who clean our sewers. Who are you trying to belittle ?soldiers or cleaners? The argument of “more meaningful contribution” can be taken further, how is the contribution of bureaucrats, industrialists, politicians, teachers, businessmen, writers or anybody more than that of a soldier. At best everyone’s contribution is the same. Then they all should treated equally. But then you yourself mention something about a “minor rule that equates bureaucrats with army officers” has been done away with. Question is not what the rule is but is why has it done away with ?
5. And last but not the least, 36 war planes at a cost of Rs. 59,000 cr is troubling you. This really exposes you trying to play with figures and fool people. According to you, for the past 40 years we have not used planes in a war. I hope you are aware that those planes have been in a state of operational alertness for each and every minute of those past 40 years. Such an awareness is too big a expectation from you, but I am sure you must have read some news articles about pilots dying because they are trying to fly equipment which was bought more than 40 years ago and whose spare parts are not available now. Like your fantasy of rowing in Ulsoor lake, have you never fantasized about flying in a MiG 21 ? Would you like to avail that offer too ? I am sure you have heard of the ostrich approach of burying your head in the sand. Well if you haven’t your argument is a manifestation of the same. There is peace because our enemy knows that it will not be beneficial for them to undertake a misadventure with a country which has its forces trained and ready. It is not because we do not have enemies.

Your article strengthens my belief that work of security forces is taken for granted and that people like you either do not know the ground realities or you choose to ignore them and proliferate a nefarious narrative on someones behest.

BTW, when I tried to find out who you are, why was it that you, amnesty international and
https://goo.gl/HRxicn & https://goo.gl/U6N5My appeared on the same page?