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Hardships Faced By Soldiers On Our Borders

We do not know about the great sacrifices made by our Indian soldiers at the borders of our country. Here is an article by Major General Jitendra Singh from the Indian army, who tells us the hardships faced by the brave soldiers at the front with only one aim – देश प्रेम 

“Safety Honour Welfare of your Country come first always and every time.”

This is part of the Motto of the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun. With this sacred vow in their hearts, thousands of Young Officers are commissioned into the Indian Army each year. As they fan out for service in all parts of the country, this spirit is kept alive and passed on from generation to generation. Is it, then, any wonder that the motivation for Service to the Nation is very high in the Defence Forces.

WHAT DO THE SOLDIERS HAVE TO FACE

Today a large part of the Army is deployed on our Borders, which are approximately 4000 kilometers long, and our troops are facing hostile neighbors all along. Apart from the enemy, our soldiers have to face very harsh terrain, and severe climatic conditions; and all these without any developed infrastructure in the forward areas. Our soldiers are not divorced from National Objectives, and understand the tremendous task of Nation Building within the country’s limited economic resources. Therefore, the troops bear the infrastructural shortcomings stoically.

THE TERRAIN

The terrain where the Army is deployed, is mostly mountainous. The high mountain ranges rise upto 18000 feet on the Siachen Glacier, and are an average of about 14000 feet in Ladhak. Temperatures in higher reaches go down to minus 40 degrees during winter months. Life on these mountains is a struggle at best of times, and becomes more miserable in the face of a hostile enemy and during bad weather.

On the borders, about half the manpower of every unit is spending time outdoors, on patrolling, guard duties, escort parties, road opening duties, etc. Imagine their hardships when they have to perform these duties unwaveringly in extremely bad weather, and when there is many feet of snow all around. Standing in the snow for long hours in wet shoes causes cold injuries, which can leave scars for life.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Roads, housing, water supply, electricity etc., are generally of indifferent quality.

  • Roads: The closer you get to the border, the worse the roads get. Vehicles take much longer than normal to get to their destination. Journey is accident prone and is under threat of terrorist attacks (as was seen in the case of Pulwama attack in J&K in 1918). Close to the border, at most places, journey is performed on foot, carrying the stores on your head, or on mules if available.
  • Living Accommodation: Units on the front do not have the luxury of living in houses or proper hutments. The troops stay in makeshift ‘bashas’, shelters or during high alert, in their weapon emplacements.
  • Water: Water, in most cases, has to be carried from designated points to the forward posts, either on mules or by the soldiers themselves. This poses an additional strain.
  • Electricity: Electric supply is generally non-existent ahead of the Headquarters and bases, and rightly so. Lights are a security risk at night, they tend to keep the troops indoors for longer periods, and degrade the night-fighting capability of the soldiers.

RATIONS

Napoleon had said, ‘Army Marches on its Stomach’. Our Army feeds its soldiers very well. Even in the forward areas a regular supply chain is functioning efficiently. Breakdowns in supplies due to bad weather or enemy action is looked after by placing adequate reserves within easy reach of the forward troops.

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Medical facilities in the Army are generally good. But, in the forward areas a lot is dependent on first aid, and prevention based on hygiene and sanitation. Doctors with the forward troops rely on speedy evacuation of patients to bigger hospitals, rather than treat them forward. Helicopters are easily available for evacuation of casualties.

MOTIVATION AND MORALE

With continuous deployment of such a large force in our Border Areas, under very trying conditions, morale is likely to be affected adversely, unless it is addressed carefully. History is witness to the mutiny in Alexander’s Army on the Indus, and the breaking up of Napoleon’s Imperial Armies in Russia.

LEADERSHIP

Officers of the Indian Army are a highly dedicated and committed group, who fight and live with the troops in the forward areas. They lead from the front, and not by remote control. They share the privileges and sacrifices with their men alike. When deployed in eyeball to eyeball contact with the enemy, our soldiers find their commanders braving the elements and standing amidst them in the trenches, night after night. This shared equality fosters comraderie and brotherhood which has no parallel. Under such officers, the troops will endure any challenge for a long time.

FAMILIES

Every soldier has a family back home, and he is worried about their welfare. Brooding about family problems, converts the problems into demonic proportions. To bring them to the fore, the commander keeps communicating with the men, and engages them in healthy conversation and  activities, such as volley ball and football etc, where possible. Soldier’s problems are represented to the local civil authorities for resolution. Lately, the civil authorities have been neglecting such representations. Commanders send the men on leave as often as possible, so that they can have proper rest and relief, solve their domestic problems, and be with  their families and children for some time.

SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE

Despite the hardships, all officers and soldiers have a high sense of sacrifice for each other. It has been seen that the soldiers share their rations, their shelters, and even their blankets and cold weather clothing, with those in need. An outstanding example  was once seen when a wounded soldier told the doctor that the wounded soldier lying on the neighboring stretcher should be evacuated by helicopter before him. Life in the border areas is   replete with such examples.

RELIGION

When the ‘chips are down’, and bombs are falling, everyone picks up the rosary (‘mala’) and starts reciting God’s name. In such times of danger, religion helps the individual to overcome his fears, and perform his duties properly. Soon every soldier realizes that there is higher purpose, which is more precious than his life. In forward areas in all units a place of worship is earmarked, in which all troops congregate for periodic prayer meetings.

There are numerous problems and hardships for troops in the border areas, but all soldiers look upon these as a challenge in carrying out their vow of upholding the Honour and Safety of the Nation.

This Post Has 18 Comments

  1. Sonia

    आपकी करुणा व प्रेम को करोड़ों नमन है

  2. Sonia

    बहुत ही सुंदर लेख है भगवत भक्ति के साथ देश भक्ति भी सिखाने के आप्के अनंत अनंत शुक्राने है ??

  3. praveen

    A heart touching article shared by our guru bhagwan ji showing all parts of a soldier’s life. it is so inspiring that they face many problems but they do not have any fear.
    shukrane guru bhagwan ji ?

  4. Radha rani

    भगवान जी बहुत मार्मिक आर्टिकल पढ़ने को मिला। हमारे जवानों के त्याग, मेहनत,देश भक्ति, निष्ठा को नमन है,वो वहां जागते है तो शहर में एक बच्चा सोता है।हम अपने घरों में सुरक्षित है।
    भगवान जी आपकी भगवत निष्ठा में,आपके aura में हम सब सुरक्षित है।आपका विश्व प्रेम व त्याग अकथनीय है।आपके आदर्श से सीखकर मुझ्से भी कुछ करा लो प्रभुजी।सदा ही नमन।

  5. Rajinder

    सच मे हमारे देश के सैनिक कितनी कठिनाइयों और समस्याओं का सामना करते हुए हमारे राष्ट के सम्मान के लिए हर समय खराब मौसम,में गीले जूते पहन कर लम्बे समय तक बर्फ में खड़े रहकर, और बहुत गर्मी में पसीने से तर हमारे राष्ट्र की सुरक्षा के लिए अपना पूरा जीवन दे देते है।
    फिर भी उनका देश प्रेम बना रहता है
    आपने हमारे लिए सत्संग की इतनी सुंदर वेबसाइट बनाई चारों ओर से सभी जानकारी आप हमें देते है
    आपका
    ह्रदय से धन्यवाद है।?

  6. Surinder bajaj

    सतगुरु भगवान जी आप जी को हृदय से नमन है।बहुत ही ह्रदय को छूने वाला लेख है हमारे देश के जवान अपनी जान की परवाह किये बिना हमारे देश की रक्षा करते हैं अपने परिवार से दूर रहते हैं रक्षा करते हुए जंगलों और पहाड़ों पर रहते हैं हम अपने जवानों के आगे नतमस्तक है।आप जी के अनन्त शुक्राने है जो आप हमे हर परिस्थिति से अवगत कराते हो

  7. Ananya

    This article is truly very eye-opening.
    It teaches us so many things
    हमारा भारत और भारतीय सैनिक सच मुच बहुत महान हैं।
    जय हिंद।? Millions of thanks to our great Army.??
    With our Mentor’s grace , we understand that we truly have numerous reasons to be thankful to God.
    हे नाथ! आपके बहुत बहुत शुकराने हैं। ?

  8. Anu

    हमारे देश की आर्मी की लाइफ की hardships की सारी तस्वीर इस ब्लॉग के जरिये से जानने को मिली।
    Water, electricity, चिल्ड weather, सैक्रिफाइस ऑफ home सभी कुछ जानकर thrilling हुई।
    Thanks to our mentor for sharing this blog so that we come to know all these points।
    Heartly prayer and peace vibration for our army for our country

  9. Pramod kumar bansal

    बहुत इंस्पायरिंग आर्टिकल्स गुरु भगवान जी,
    हमारे देश के जवान हमारी सलामती के लिए अपने घर से दूर देश की सीमाओं को रक्षा करते है।
    अपने देश के जवानों को हमारा सलाम।
    ए बिग सैल्यूट to हमारे गुरु भगवान जी जो अपने motivative आर्टिकल्स द्वारा अपने देश के लिए कुछ करने का हम मै जनून पैदा करते है।
    आपके करोड़ों करोड़ों शुक्राने है।

  10. Savita Churiwala

    Guru bhagwan ji ke anant shukrane hai ese article se humara bhi desh prem badta hai ?

  11. प्रवीण मेरठ

    सतगुरु भगवान जी को कोटि कोटि नमन है हमे यह जवानों की बहादुरी की जानकारी कराई देश के जवानों को सलाम करता हूं

  12. Soni Gupta

    Thank you Guru Bhagwanji for sharing this inspiring article. ? _
    I feel so very grateful to all my country’s soldiers for all sacrifices .
    Proud to be an Indian. Bharat Mata ki Jai.
    ????

  13. Anju Rana

    A big Salute to Guru Bhagwan ji for sharing this article…… showing the difficulties our soldiers have to face for the sake of our country and it’s fellow beings. This teaches us to be thankful in each and every situation and we should pray for their well being.
    Jai Hind.

  14. Ritika pal

    Very heart touching article Bhagwan ji.
    So much difficult conditions our soldiers face with such a high sense of sacrifices.

    In winters when temperature goes to 4-5 degree
    We say ” बहुत ठंड है इस साल”
    But they work in – 40 degree temperature.

    Thank you so much Bhagwan ji for sharing this article with us
    by which we come how much difficult situation our soldiers face

  15. Shikha Bansal

    Guru bhagwan ji ke anant anant shukrane hai
    Proud to be an Indian
    Soldier are very strong n stagal life
    Proud of you
    Guru bhagwan ji ko hirday se koti koti naman hai ??

  16. Bharti

    Very inspiring . .. By your grace Guru Bhagwanji, learnt through this article that when our eyes are fixed on honour and safety of our nation than spirit of sacrifice comes naturally. Sending prayers and strength to our soldiers. A big salute to Our Divine mentor for helping us learn the hardships faced by our soldiers and also to all our soldiers. Bharat mata ki jai.

  17. Sonia Malhotra

    What a tough life our soldiers live for sake of us and our country.
    Proud to be an Indian.
    Jai Bharat.
    Guru bhagwan ji you always gives us versatile knowledge. Millions thanks to you ??

    1. Anju Rana

      A big Salute to Guru Bhagwan ji for sharing this article…… showing the difficulties our soldiers have to face for the sake of our country and it’s fellow beings. This teaches us to be thankful in each and every situation and we should pray for their well being.
      Jai Hind.

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