AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 72 of 170 ARMED FORCES VETERAN OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION CHENNAI (Established 1994) Patron: Lt Gen C Sundara Rao, PVSM, Tele: 2490 1185 President Vice President Secretary Treasurer AVM V Krishnaswamy, VSM Tele: 2234 4434 Capt (IN) H Balakrishnan Tele: 2491 0140 Cdr S R Prasad, Tele: 2536 4008 Lt Col M Narayanan, Tele: 2492 8546 No 4 of 2003 NEWSLETTER #04/2003 4 th Aug 2003 Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. ~ John Wooden Dear Veteran, From the Editor’s Desk There are quite a few interesting items one would like to touch upon – but then space a limiting factor which we have to keep in mind. The first is the 26 th Jul, which passed off almost unnoticed – a day which NDTV observed as Kargil Diwas – a day to remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces four years ago. There was a brief note in the print media hidden in some non decrepit place to say that ‘due to a thaw in relations the Government desired not to observe the day’. Some of us have very strong feelings on the subject as expressed by Brig VRP Sarathy, VSM, who has this to say on the subject: “I am not suggesting that Army (or Defence forces) is “holy cow” and should not be discussed! By same logic its achievements should not go unrecognised/unremembered! In all fairness there was a tremendous groundswell of affection shown to Army during Kargil war, which was unprecedented! In fact the Pak media did get rattled and reported as to how Kargil war had united the entire length and breadth of India, implying that any war option to capture (Indian) Kashmir was unviable! But is there any logic or justification, not to recall Kargil Vijaya Divas just to appease Pakistan, which has not (and will never) stopped killing our men both in and out of uniform, day in and day out? Fernandes visits Akhnoor after killings of Vaishnodevi pilgrims and assault on Army unit and says that “Pakistan does not do such things, only some factions do”! I agree with Inder Malhotra (The Hindu, page 13; 30 Jul). The Government is totally insensitive to cancel Kargil Vijaya Divas “celebrations” and it hurts more when reason given is that it may affect the ongoing peace-initiative!!! Why are men in uniform who have done nothing to merit this kind of callousness are treated this way?!!!