Why I wrote the book – 'Fallen Few?"
Today, when I look back, I acknowledge that my upbringing was simple but full of values and ethos which has been my pride always… from childhood I was inspired by only real-life heroes.
Two chapters of my childhood oriented me towards the Army are:
One: A serial – 'Param Vir Chakra' - the Greatest of the Ultimate Brave.
It had a deep impact on me and my perception of a leader.
Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valor during wartime. It is granted for 'most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy'.
The medal has been awarded 21 times, of which 14 were posthumous and 16 arose from actions in Indo-Pakistani conflicts – a saga of real grit, valor, and chivalry.
Two: Early in my childhood, I read a poem in my English book: The Princess: Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead - based on a fallen soldier. The lines touched me deep inside and lingered long.
Home they brought her warrior dead:
She nor swooned, nor uttered cry:
All her maidens, watching, said,
'She must weep, or she will die.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
Unknowingly in my teens, I discovered that the Army was deep in my heart already – my first love.
Inspired by the 'Fallen Soldier'- his daredevilry and courage, I always wished to cherish and celebrate those mighty and brave together with the countrymen and also wanted to see how the nation felt for and conducted a fallen soldier – Our pride & honor.
But as I grew things changed, I tasted reality.
On the Fallen Soldiers - Media just said – "Few Army-men killed in the border area… soldiers' dead bodies brought to the state" – It always lacked inspiration.
I used to observe that whenever people are skimming a newspaper nonchalantly, a call of duty used to go unnoticed, unacknowledged and no one bothered.
"A nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure."
President Abraham Lincoln
I was broken, I longed to do something for the 'Fallen Soldiers' and I decided to become a soldier first and know what it takes. So, I chose Army - to serve the nation with honor and pride and I had a resolve that one day I must do something for the 'Fallen Soldiers - the fallen few'; if nothing at least write a story on them and tell the way it should have been told with pride and honor- their stories, their saga, their lives.
Often, I used to wonder, how will a soldier feel when he is abandoned even after his ultimate sacrifice? In the flow, some emotions arose - deep and eclectic. These emotions gave me a few words; few words together gave me a few sentences and with these few sentences a story happened. A story on the "Fallen Few."
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