In 1999 July, I had travelled to Ladakh, on a project.That was the Kargil war period. On our way back to Delhi, almost all flights were cancelled due to bad weather. We, around 40 of us, sat at the Ladakh airport for almost 5 hours doing nothing - sleeping, yawning, cribbing and ofcourse asking this silly question "Any info on the flight?" every ten minutes. Apart from us there were atleast 500 people at that small airport waiting for the weather to clear and the flight to depart.
We had musicians travelling with us and so a quick music n dance n dappanguthu session happened which sorta lightened the mood for the crew which was tired after a 5 hour wait. The others who waited at the airport joined us in the fun.
But suddenly the situation turned grim and there was complete silence. Before we wondered what had happened, we saw a coffin covered with the National flag that was being sent through the X-ray.. That triggered too many thoughts.. Someone at the border, had sacrificed his life fighting for the country, fighting so that people like us could lead a peaceful life...singing, dancing, having fun at the airport.We felt awful.. don't ask us why. It was the sight of a coffin with the Indian flag on, people shouting "Bharat mata ki Jai" as the coffin went through the X-ray, the thought of a jawan/officer losing his life fighting for the country...
Hours later, as we finally boarded the aircraft, the coffin too travelled with us to Delhi and throughout the journey wherever we turned we could see only moistened eyes all around.
Everytime I see this video, it reminds me of my Ladakh trip and the life of an Indian Army official at the border.. braving the severe weather conditions, serving the country... surviving the most difficult battle in the world!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS3qKRa_-gY
Vande Mataram!
