None can opt to choose parents but right from the start, Parents and Teachers taught us to choose the best of the available options. World saluted Mothers on Mother’s Day last week. None ever can undermine a Mother’s Dedication, Sacrifice, Commitment and Love for their wards but still heart goes out for some mothers, who rise above the rest to offer their wards in the Yeomen service of the Motherland. Ever since Panna Dhai, Jija Bai elevated the ‘Mother’ to a cult status or best ‘Divinity’, there have been many who have walked the same path. Fiercely Patriotic, with ultimate dedication to the welfare of the Nation, they nurtured and taught their Sons and Daughters to give their everything in service of the Nation and never to blink, even while making ‘Supreme Sacrifice’. I believe ‘Success, Honour and Fame’ are always the byproducts, of ‘Risk Taking Ability’ and making a ‘Tough Choice’ in face the of crisis. Most often the Toughest Options are the Best Choices. Even Amitabh Bachchan offers multiple options in KBC and only those only, who bite the bullet, win a fortune. One must have Conviction and Courage to accept the challenge. Most Mothers, whose sons Join Armed Forces and grace the Uniform, had options, early in lives, to refrain to inculcate dreams of wearing Uniforms, in their wards but the reason they opted to send their ‘Raja Beta’ in forces can’t be explained by Gods too as these ‘Mothers’ themselves are ‘Divine Incarnate’.

 

No one knows which stories they told their Sons or what they fed to inspire their Brave Sons to live a ‘Fearless Life’. It’s never easy to be a ‘Proud Mother’ of a ‘Faujee’. To accept a fact that, any day her ‘Raja Beta’ might come home draped in “Tricolor’, she raises her level, above that of Gods and continue that way, till her last breath. These mothers never have any selfish interest except to stand beside their Sons, when they get Commissioned after their ‘Training’. No ‘Glory’, No ‘Financial help’ is ever provided by neither the Armed forces nor the Government to these ‘Mothers’. During 1971 Indo Pak war, on 16th December Second Lt. Arun Khetrapal, aged 21 years, deployed with 17 Poona Horses, engaged the enemy on Basantar river banks in Shakargargh Sector. Just Six months into Service, that day in their Centurion Tank named ‘Famagusta’ his team had already destroyed Ten mighty Patton Tanks. His own Tank was hit and had turned into a fireball. His superior Screamed frantically, ordering him to at once evacuate the burning Tank. That moment, 2nd Lt Arun had an option, to Evacuate and jump out or stay inside the burning Tank and Shoot at more enemy Tanks. Without a Blink, he chose to eliminate more enemy Tanks. He radioed his iconic reply to his senior ‘No Sir, my Gun is still working’ and finally for one last time, aimed and shot once more and opted to be of 21 years, forever.

 

He was Honoured with “PARAM VEER CHAKRA”(Posthumously), for his exceptional Bravery and is literally worshipped even today. His mother lived on for Fifty Seven, more agonising years without Arun. My ex-Foreman’s son Ashwin, a Havildar in Army, while Patrolling with his Team, at some forward location in the Valley, noticed infiltration, but his Team was totally outnumbered. They could keep a watch quietly and call for reinforcement but they opted to challenge and take the enemy head on. After a fierce Gun Battle and ghastly hand to hand combat, all the Paki infiltrators were neutralized. Brave, Young Ashwin came home, draped in Tricolor. Most befitting tribute was given by his mother. “Now I can Happily die as Proud Mother of Martyr Avinash rather than my Husband’s wife”. All we could do is stand in rapt attention, ‘Bowed’ our heads and Salute the ‘Brave Lady’, knowing well that for the rest of her life she would live in deep ‘Meditation’ thinking only about her ‘Son’, invoking her supernatural powers to smile inspite of the unfathomable personal loss. ‘Mothers’ sacrifice has been much more than their ‘Lion Hearted’ Sons. “Supreme Sacrifice” was a ‘Great Option’ chosen by these brave men but the ‘Option’ chosen by their “Mothers” was ‘Greatest’. Girte hai Shahsawar hi, maidan e jung mei Voh tifl kya gire, jo ghutno ke bal chale.