Dear Colleagues,
The year gone by saw our issue move forward to make inroads into public consciousness. While our problems have gained recognition the solution is still elusive. There are numerous tasks yet to be done. ESM unity is still an unrealized dream. The IESM needs to spread its tentacles wider. Our communication with the rank and file needs to improve. We will intensify our efforts to achieve these, and much more. We pass into the New Year with a renewed resolve to continue our struggle for justice. We need to continue keeping our foot on the pedal, and press on.
Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and purposeful New Year.
An year-end read is given below:
THE MID DAY CANDLE
Raj Kadyan
It aroused neither curiosity nor intrigue
When you saw him in his crumpled fatigue
On railway platforms, slurping his tea
Hurriedly from his saucer, and then flee
Shouldering his bag and tromping his feet
To catch his rum-reserved seat.
Seldom in your mind a moment you spared
Even knowing he was ill-paid and uncared.
You gave him no more thought than you may
To a candle at mid day.
Then one day on the border the guns boomed
Suddenly on your TV screen he loomed
Humping his load, climbing, metre by metre
Along with Pritam, Purohit, Parvez and Peter
A silent symbol of India, a true secularist
He marched ahead to keep a tryst.
Cold and wet, poorly garbed
Unmindful, his face gritty and barbed
Never the one to question or ask
With a single focus - just to do the task
He followed his leader in face of fire
And you suddenly began to admire
His traits of courage, loyalty, sacrifice
His willingness to pay the highest price.
Fighting and falling, and rising again
Forth he moved, oblivious to pain
Some of him was dead, some was maimed
While your country’s honour he reclaimed.
As the coffins arrived, you filled the air
With paeans and promises for the heir.
But barely a few lunations later, I and you
We all began to ask, ‘‘Soldier who?’’
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
