SOLDIERS REMINESCENCES

SOLDIER’S REMINISCENCES

 

Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao

 

The Officer cadet who goes for the training at the academy is clueless of his fate in years to come. Realization dawns on him soon and he slogs for years. He compares with outside world and perks, facilities etc and gets disheratened. The charm of uniform fades away soon in most of the cases. Years of transfers instability, whims and fancies in service, confidential reports takes a toll and he whithers away slowly. But he abides by the oath that he takes . Only this oath keeps him going in uniform and nothing else........

Having gone through decades of marching past

With body and mind thoroughly worn out and lost

It is high time to do thinking on years gone away

After loosing all the former charm and clout on the way

I was in the academy learning the service frills

Where I learnt ‘YES SIR’ and was doing the drill

Precious years have vanished into blue sky

While tired body has shriveled without a cry

Traveled around the country as a spinning top

After every two years non-stop

Traveled in the trains without reservations

And bore the brunt if insults and pain

Slowly and steadily the service was spent

While the soul turned weary and badly bent

Sleepless nights were the order of the day

And has to pass through the inevitable promotion fray

Glorious years of youthful age have passed

While values in service were trespassed

Waited tired to the hilt for the fateful day

To call it a day and be out of the useless fray

While in army the soul had to be shut

Army act causing great hiccups

Mixing with civilians was seen as a crime

Career was like a house devoid of mortar and lime

Risked the life and limbs in course of duty

And lived for the traditions which were mighty

Felt the perils of war with a smiling face

While the country was being managed to bring disgrace

Glorious years of freedom withered away

While those on top made fortune come what may

People’s verdict had no sway

While the leaders conduct was out of the way

Under the name of traditions army has slept

Poor Indians all these years just wept

The army was made a holy cow

Morale of the men was really very low

Scores of scams are the order of the day

Political crooks are all in the fray

Skeletons from cupboards still roll out

And army has no worthy candidates for passing out

Riding an auto was once a taboo in army

And the standards have greatly dwindled day by day

Officers once were to travel only by a car

And liquor however is plenty to flow in a bar

Cadre review has ruined the status of army

And the poor majors go around with heads growing bald and gray

Generals with sword now do duties of former majors

While officers are down the protocol with faded blazers

There was a time when Army had a glorious day

One had to watch today with greatest dismay

The chief was number three in Protocols

And now the generals are pushed aside as punctured footballs

Alas! The soldier is revered only in war

Heroes are held high at the top of altar

God is remembered at time of a crisis

After the war guys are left away from an oasis

Years of effort in army is down the drain

The fact is simple pungent and very plain

Once one is out of service, he is like a rat

Some although knowing blink like a treacherous cat

There is no doubt army is great

Here one has to reconcile to his fate

Yet one has to uphold prestige of the nation

While he withers away eating free ration

Army has to do great introspection

Nothing would come out of routine inspections

All those who are out of service

Would soon perish as a machine devoid of grease