By Brig (retd) Nawab S Heer
I have watched and read the coverage and comments on Gurmehar Kaur's stand on violence with increasing dismay and concern. We are these days so determined to brand people to fit into various categories that we tend to lose balance; even go over-board in making denunciations or in defending the indefensible.
I do not expect my views will even be read by other than a few but that's not important...Giving an unbiased opinion certainly is.
Firstly, Gurmehar is just a kid. She is all of 20 years and is a student at an elite Delhi college for women. She clearly has seerat and soorat which isn’t unusual. Many of her peers are in the same category. She is an Army brat and that’s pretty routine too.
Secondly, her father died in combat and in Kashmir, soon after the Kargil War ended in July 1999. He was entitled to wear the war medal (Operation Vijay) authorised to all those who were deployed for combat at that time. It is loosely called the Kargil War medal but covers combat even in the Valley, the deserts, elsewhere wherever deployment was ordered. So does that make the girl a liar? Clearly, this is irresponsible branding.
Thirdly, he died on the spot during a terrorist strike on his company camp at Natnoosa, Kupwara. Read this report on his death:
"Capt. Mandeep Singh was commander of the 4 RR company which came under anti-national elements’ fire assault on his post in Natnoosa village, Kupwara. During the encounter at approximately 1.15 am on August 6, 1999, he received splinter injury on the left infra-clavicular region and was declared dead on the spot.”
He was thus a martyr as much as the Kargil War heroes were and, yes, he was killed by Pakistani/Pak inspired terrorists. Is the young lady lying? I should think not. Have media and "experts/itinerant cricketers and childish actors gone berserk? Take a call.
Fourthly, I have some idea what I am talking about and am not making breathless assessments on the basis on irresponsible media reportage. One of the units under my command as an RR Sector Commander in 1998 was 4 RR which was then located at Bijbehara, a few kilometers away from my HQ. I visited the Unit very often as one must, knew its ethos and its officers and visited their company posts. Mandeep then had about 7 years service and I do not recall him in particular, but do recall that the Unit was doing well and had quality "rafta" (rapport) with both locals and intezamia (civil administration). They left my orbat six months into my command and thereafter went through a trying time which does not concern this narrative at all. They went to another sector, 7 RR Sector and that is where young Mandeep lost his life.
Lastly, the kid Gurmehar was brought up wonderfully by wise Mum not to grow up with hatred in her dna. Was that wrong of Mum? Little girl? I certainly do not think so. In that context if a 20 year old kid says the war claimed her Daddy, is she showing political affiliation? Take a call. The fact that the terrorist attack was Pakistani or Pakistani sponsored is not as important as a Mum and child’s strategy to grow up without hatred.
Let the kid be...Let her top honours and become a world class pacifist. No harm there either.
Let you and I handle Pakistan and others in the way we are trained and educated for and without apology.
Take a call.
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Nawab S Heer, Brigadier (Retd)
nawabheer@gmail.com
Phone No. : 647-609-2633
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