Wake up India!!!

India, popularly known as the sub-continent. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the largest democracy in the world. India is home to one of the richest and the most ancient civilizations, which existed over 5,000 years ago. It is an amalgam of different religions and of people all over the world. The world’s famous religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here, Christianity and Islam arrived in during the first millennium which shaped our country’s diverse culture. Overall we belong to a society of many languages and many ethnics. But as the days pass by this picture of our beautiful country is on the verge of fading out and collapsing. Reason-Terrorism.

So, who is the founder of terrorism? None. According to me a terrorist is an abnormal person who needs medication. These are people who are provoked in the name of religion. The qualification to become a terrorist is to be a lunatic or a rabid. Only if a person is insane, he would get the thought of harming mankind. They are just left freely in the society instead of being put in the asylum. Our country has become a scapegoat for insane people and their barbarous acts. Who are they, and why are they doing this? What are they going to get out of this? No one knows the answer. Neither me nor you.

Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth all along its history. Since time immemorial, our country was plundered by many nomadic invaders right from the Medieval Period till we were gradually annexed by the British East India Company during the early eighteenth century. Everyone eyed our country, divided and ruled it for their convenience, separated our brothers and sisters from us and ended up in breaking our hearts. Time has passed by and now when we are in the modern age, and when we think our country is free from being captured; lunatics come from different parts of the world and hunt us down. How long is this going to continue? Would there ever be an end to this? What can be done to avoid this? I question myself. We being educated and intelligent people should come up with a solution. We can’t take things for granted. Some crazy people come through boats and gun us down. This is not acceptable. We as Indian citizens should stand against this and voice out for a corrupt-free and safe country. The kind of country we dream to belong.

“Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood will contribute to the growth of this nation to make it strong and dynamic." These were the words said by our 5^th Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Today many of our people are following this path to save our country. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan is one such great person who laid his life to save the country. A young commando who had a bright future sacrificed his life for us, many of us whom he didn’t know. He had a family of his own to take care of. He was just like any of us who was fond of movies, watched cricket and loved driving fast. Sandeep Unnikrishnan had only one mission in his life -- to join the Army. He made up his mind in class 8 and since then worked hard to achieve it. He cleared his exam in the first attempt. He was trained as a Gentleman cadet at the NDA and was a pass out of 94th batch in 1998. He was commissioned as Lieutenant to the 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment in 1999. According to Anirudh Uppal, Inspector-General (Headquarters) National Security Guards (NSG), Major Sandeep had exposure to counter insurgency operations after having served in Jammu and Kashmir for two terms. On completion of training, he was assigned to the Special Action Group (SAG) of NSG in 2007 and participated in various operations conducted by the elite force. During the 'Ghatak course', the most difficult course of the Army, Major Unnikrishnan topped the course, earning an "Instructor Grading" and commendation from seniors. The gallant officer of the team commander of 51 SAG was deployed to clear Hotel Taj Mahal of extremists on November 27. According to many of his friends, he was a determined person and had a never give up attitude. This reflected in his last words “Don’t come up, I shall handle them” and yes he did handle them, and in the process left all of us. Sandeep is a born soldier.

The prestigious `Hut of Remembrance’, at the National Defence Academy (NDA) has a list of NDA pass outs who laid their lives for the nation. Sandeep’s father quoted that Sandeep used to take them to this place whenever they visited NDA and say, ‘I won’t die a dog`s death. If it happens cremate me at the municipal crematorium. I will die like a lion and my name will be carved forever at this hut.’ He also said, one day, he would be among those valiant soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. He lived to his words. Now the valor shown by India’s son - is remembered and honored in the prestigious 'Hut of Remembrance' and his name is being added to the Academy's 'Scroll of Honor'. Recently during the visit of Sandeep’s parents to IMA, a Commandant said Sandeep had lived up to the credo of the IMA which says: "The safety, honor and welfare of your country come first, always and every time. The honor, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next. Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time” and he had truly lived up to it. If you look into his eyes, they are full of life and had a spark. Sandeep was dedicated to what he was doing. He would be remembered every day by one and all. But how many more Sandeep’s are we going to lose and how long is it going to take before we confirm that our country is safe?

It was not even a fortnight after the 26/11 terrorist attacks have taken place; one could see fireworks and celebrations going on as the election results have come out. Is it the time to celebrate? Is anyone genuinely concerned about our country? Think about the people who lost their dear ones. Feel the pain they are going through. The specious politicians are never concerned about us. All they are bothered is to remain in power so that they can make more money and their generations together can survive. They are busy in letting out their children or relatives from jail if they are convicted for murder or rape or accidents. No doubt our country is rich in heritage and culture, but is still very poor because it is being led by useless rather brainless politicians who are feeding on us like vultures.

I was watching the Lok Sabha session on television, that’s where all the fools fight, when our so called leaders were leaving the session, many of them needed help from others to take them to their BMW’s or Benz cars. They could hardly walk. When they don’t have the energy to walk, where do they have the energy to lead the country? And they are our role models. It is a shame. How capable are they to lead the country? He could as well sat at home and watched some religious channels or national geographic channel rather than coming out and troubling the security personnel and us. We are the ones who are facing torture from both sides, which is from the politicians as well as the terrorists. We are trapped in our own country.


In Stone Age, man used to hunt animals for food, clothing or shelter. In modern age, man is hunting man, but for what? Reason unknown and will not be known too. We are human beings not scapegoats that whenever a maniac feels like hunting, comes to India via boat or hijack a plane and kill us. Time has now come for us to raise our voices and stop the atrocities that are going on. We have been very patient all along and have taken whatever has come our way. Going forward it will not be the case. It is time for us to wake up and do whatever we can to avoid our innocent brothers and sisters being killed. Yesterday it was Sandeep’s turn. Today it could be mine or yours. No innocent man should sacrifice his life for the act of a heinous being.

A famous Irish dramatist, and a socialist spokesman, George Bernard Shaw once said, “You'll never have a quiet world until you knock the patriotism out of the human race”. This would be quiet true in our case. Especially after the 26/11 attacks, we Indians We would never be quiet, until you knock the patriotism out of us. If at all a situation arises where I am supposed to give my life for my country, I would be the first one to line up and would of course regret like Nathan Hale, a martyr soldier of the American Revolution, who said "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

Friends, as we all know that a pen is mightier than the sword; all I did was just to pour out my feelings, vent my anger and frustration in the form of an article. If anyone feels the same as I do, I would be glad that I could make an impact. If not, then I would try hard to make one.

- May the soul of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan rest in peace. Jai Hind

Submitted by : Indira Raj Rednam