Soldiers don’t make news

It is interesting to note that in the reams written about India’s 60 years of independence, few words were expended on the jawans and officers of the defence forces, who continue with their eternal vigil on our remote borders. Have they not contributed to what the nation has achieved in these last six decades? If one went by the media coverage, the obvious conclusion was that they had no role in nation-building. So they were neither feted nor even remembered. When the next war comes round, or even the next disaster, perhaps the media shall again sing paeans to the prowess of the armed forces and make amends. In a country which does not have even a war memorial for our war dead, this is unfortunately par for the course!

Consider for a moment the stuff we read in our newspapers and see on our television screens. The focus, generally, is on the country’s economy. The remarkable strides we have made in our economy do merit top billing. They need to be duly recorded and we are all proud of the nation’s progress. Then there are views and analyses on how India is doing in various fields, including in governance, politics, education and health. Corruption is big, and rightly so. Much newsprint is used in focusing on the three great obsessions of the media: Bollywood, sports luminaries, and those who adorn the society columns.

The news kaleidoscope is peppered with quotes and sound bites of the ‘People Who Matter’: actors, politicos, actors again, CEO’s, artists, actors again, culture-vultures, sportspersons, academics, professionals, actors again, and the like. But nobody really bothers to seek the opinion of those in the armed forces.

One can only be grateful for the few formal occasions when the men in uniform make it to the headlines. As, for instance, when gallantry awards are announced. These, of course, are always dutifully reported by the media.

This time three Ashok Chakras (the highest non-war bravery awards) were awarded. All of them, posthumous. I hope this simple fact nudges the collective consciousness of our media, and tells our countrymen and women that those who constitute the armed forces in the country continue to keep the nation secure by fighting terrorists, insurgents and infiltrators on a daily basis, often losing their lives and limbs for the safety and security of the country. India urgently needs to put them on the national radar.

The writer is a former vice chief of army staff and, currently, director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies.