May the Force be with you!

Folks there are innumerable examples of how our forces have saved  lives, both Indian and other nationalities, when natural or man made disasters strike. This post is written with the deepest sense of gratitude to our men and women in Uniform. This post also acknowledges the work of several people who volunteer selflessly without the cover of a uniform such as but not limited to the Rashtriya Swayam Sevaks the various Gurudwaras, Ramdev Baba and many more I am sure I don't even know about.

Himalayan Disaster

When a Magnitude 7.9 on the Richter Scale (exponential scale) earthquake struck last weekend, Nepal was devastated. Buildings fell and became masses of suffocating rubble. Over 3200 people were no more, countless others were missing and injured. The survivors had severe stress levels from not knowing where their loved ones were. Aftershocks continued to instil fear in the hearts of the surviving. Mount Everest was also struck with several landslides claiming lives of climbers, and other tourists. Nepal as always been like a brother to India and it truly hurt all Indians that this small Hindu nation should suffer such destruction.

The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force were called to the rescue. Thousands of Indian tourists and anybody else who wanted to be rescued were flown out on massive aircrafts and choppers to safety. The operation was Aptly called "Maitri" or friendship. NDRF (National Disaster Relief Force)  medics and paramedics were put on the ground. Emergency operation theaters were set up in makeshift tents. An Indian Army expedition whose initial mission was to clean up Mt Everest (Safai) survived the quake. Instead of coming back to safety they pressed on looking for survivors. This is nothing short of heroic. The Gorkhas in the Indian Army (of Nepal) were given leave and plane rides to visit family back home.

The acknowledgement will be incomplete without a note about RSS and Ramdev Baba. Both vehemently hated by Indian Media (Presstitutes).

My parents who used to trek the Himalayas often several years ago have had a couple of near death experiences (Amarnath Yatra and Kailash-Manas Yatra). On all such occasions they have had the good fortune of being rescued by the Forces and fed by the Langars  when they were on the verge of collapse.

Even BSNL pitched in with Local call rates to Nepal. (Note that Idea and Vodafone were busy making IIN Ads and IIN jokes respectively at this time)

Hats Off!

When Saudis started their bombing campaign in Yemen. Indian forces were the only ones (Operation "Rahat") who went in to rescue its citizens. The US citizens in Yemen were told to call out to the Indian Forces if they wanted rescuing. Naturally, India's left leaning and pseudo secular media did not cover this. (Indian Muslims being rescued by the Indian Army). Retired Army General V. K. Singh personally walked through the villages in Yemen, unarmed and on foot calling out Indians to rescue them.

Genocide

For all the people in the world, including several Indians I know who portray a negative image of our forces.(esp because of the Kashmir issue) I want to remind you that this is the only Force standing between you and the receiving end of Genocide.

That's all for now folks, have a great day! (Comments welcome)

~ Milind Thombre