I Am An Indian Soldier

By Prasanjit Das

I am also a child of mother India just like you,

You will definitely recognise me just read this through.

Providing protection to the nation

Is my profession,

Providing safety to you and your family is my responsibility

For which I am working hard every day with my full capability.

Icy winds freeze me on December nights,

Burning me in deserts is the scorching sunlight,

Harassing me is this cruel nature

But I am tolerating, only for our country’s safe future.

Deadly fights

With enemies possessing great might

Reward me wounds which make me weep

But anything for your peaceful sleep.

In Diwali, you burn crackers,

In Christmas, you buy cakes from the bakers,

In Holi, you play with colours,

In Onam, you become Rangoli makers,

You celebrate several festivals

When I and my mates in battlegrounds strive for victory over our rivals

And keep colouring the battleground red

With our bloodshed.

In winters, you enjoy hot and delicious food in your dinner and lunch

When I in mountains get such hard and frozen food that chewing it produces a loud crunch,

You spend time with your family,

Even I too want to give time to my family and lead my life merrily

But I am not getting such an opportunity

Because on my shoulders rests a huge responsibility,

I will have to stay away from my family, at borders, at remote locations,

It doesn’t matters how harsh be the conditions

And keep waiting for the letters

From my family, these letters are the only thing that makes me feel better,

Also the feeling of returning home

It is really awesome

But in my profession

Death can hug me and my mates before we reach our home, our destination,

I have witnessed it, I have lost many of my mates in battles with enemies,

Many a time it was me only who informed about their death to their families,

While informing about their death my cheeks get wet with tears,

Then you can imagine what would be the condition of those people who have lost their dear,

It is very disheartening for a family to receive their dear’s body,

Some families don’t even get a chance to see their dear’s body

Because some of my mates die in blasts, their bodies neither receive funeral

Nor cremation and burial.

These guys deserve deference

But sometimes what they get is only negligence,

This is the fault of the society that it is not recognizing our sacrifices, our nationalism

But it will never affect our patriotism,

We will be always ready to sacrifice our lives with full satisfaction

Because we don’t work for any recognition.

I know the dangers in my job, me staying alive not guaranteed, me returning home not guaranteed,

These thoughts sometimes terrify me

But then I think if I will not then who will protect our country-our mother,

It is my responsibility because I am an Indian Soldier.

By Prasanjit Das