Around 12pm, the same day, I was returning to my room, after meeting the Swami at the RKM mission office that was about a furlong away. I met the same three men from the SSB who had just started their lunch. It was a cemented platform used as a play area by the RKM who often conduct sports activities for school children and youths. Though the swami had suggested them to use the dining hall, these men of action and alertness were comfortable enough to sit in the open place for having their lunch. Their lunch boxes had been delivered to their place. They cordially invited me to have lunch with them. For the kind of activity they perform, and the size of the box they get for lunch, I would have felt guilty, if I would have had even a morsel of food from their share! When one of them insisted, I just sat along with them. I shared some of my experiences of visiting the abode of Matha Vaishno Devi. Within minutes they were almost done with their lunch.
One of the jawan said, "it is another 10 years of service before being retired if this body exists till then." Ah! What a statement! this shows that our spiritual roots knowingly or unknowingly stays in our very blood. He referred to his body, not himself. Since, it is his body that perishes, not himself - the Atman!
They get retired early - somewhere between 32-40 years of age. And that is why they are honourably referred to as the Jawans. It is not only in army. Any physically intensive and mental alertness intensive work including sports involves early retirement. One has to find alternative jobs if required for managing the financial commitments for rest of his life.
He said, he liked to spend time with children. He even narrated his story of an assignment in a school where he spent good amount of time happily, with children.
Since there was still several years before these men retired, I put across my question as a generic one - "Since Jawans retire early... usually, how would they spend their time post retirement.?"
These are the men, our heroes, who are considered trustworthy, unbiased, disciplined, those who are above any religious/comunity narrowness and men of alertness.
One of them said, "We don't know anything other than this work - more of physical, about safeguarding... So generally we would join as security manager in some companies, physical excercise trainer in schools, etc.
Discipline, patriotism and self confidence are the three key things that lacks in our country by and large. And these are the men who are the embodiments of these qualities.
I said, "I wish every citizen of this nation serves the army at least a few years! That way, we can not only seek the real unity in diversity, but also a stronger nation in all respect. While that is not possible yet, at least you can bridge that gap!"
The worst part of our education system is it has three components in it that are not treated the same way - curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular. Patriotism must be a mandatory subject along with sports and music. Today, Unfortunately, it doesn't even occur in extra curricular activities at the least.
The other Jawan said "Yes, I agree... But how can it be done?"
I suggested, "See, take yourself for example, you anyhow like to spend time with children. And you said, the only thing you know is this ( their job at hand ). That is your greatest strength. Once you are retired, you could certainly conduct some workshops to the children such that you enhance their adventurous skills, discipline and their confidence. Apart from that you can give some presentations, talks about armed forces, patriotism and the sacrifices your men have done to this nation. Such talks can be given at various schools, colleges and corporate offices on a regular basis. Imagine, if almost every retired jawan is involved in such activities in their surrounding areas. Also, while you talk, you can also offer to conduct the workshops/training sessions similar but scaled-down version to the one you would have done during your army training!"
I thought to myself - what if there was an institution that could help bridge this gap between our jawans and other institutions like schools, etc so that this process becomes wide spread and effortless?
On the other hand, we should push the government to make policies such that it not only helps the Jawans to lead a respectful retired life, but also spreads and enhances patriotism among the citizens.
One of the jawan said, "it is another 10 years of service before being retired if this body exists till then." Ah! What a statement! this shows that our spiritual roots knowingly or unknowingly stays in our very blood. He referred to his body, not himself. Since, it is his body that perishes, not himself - the Atman!
They get retired early - somewhere between 32-40 years of age. And that is why they are honourably referred to as the Jawans. It is not only in army. Any physically intensive and mental alertness intensive work including sports involves early retirement. One has to find alternative jobs if required for managing the financial commitments for rest of his life.
He said, he liked to spend time with children. He even narrated his story of an assignment in a school where he spent good amount of time happily, with children.
Since there was still several years before these men retired, I put across my question as a generic one - "Since Jawans retire early... usually, how would they spend their time post retirement.?"
These are the men, our heroes, who are considered trustworthy, unbiased, disciplined, those who are above any religious/comunity narrowness and men of alertness.
One of them said, "We don't know anything other than this work - more of physical, about safeguarding... So generally we would join as security manager in some companies, physical excercise trainer in schools, etc.
Discipline, patriotism and self confidence are the three key things that lacks in our country by and large. And these are the men who are the embodiments of these qualities.
I said, "I wish every citizen of this nation serves the army at least a few years! That way, we can not only seek the real unity in diversity, but also a stronger nation in all respect. While that is not possible yet, at least you can bridge that gap!"
The worst part of our education system is it has three components in it that are not treated the same way - curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular. Patriotism must be a mandatory subject along with sports and music. Today, Unfortunately, it doesn't even occur in extra curricular activities at the least.
The other Jawan said "Yes, I agree... But how can it be done?"
I suggested, "See, take yourself for example, you anyhow like to spend time with children. And you said, the only thing you know is this ( their job at hand ). That is your greatest strength. Once you are retired, you could certainly conduct some workshops to the children such that you enhance their adventurous skills, discipline and their confidence. Apart from that you can give some presentations, talks about armed forces, patriotism and the sacrifices your men have done to this nation. Such talks can be given at various schools, colleges and corporate offices on a regular basis. Imagine, if almost every retired jawan is involved in such activities in their surrounding areas. Also, while you talk, you can also offer to conduct the workshops/training sessions similar but scaled-down version to the one you would have done during your army training!"
I thought to myself - what if there was an institution that could help bridge this gap between our jawans and other institutions like schools, etc so that this process becomes wide spread and effortless?
On the other hand, we should push the government to make policies such that it not only helps the Jawans to lead a respectful retired life, but also spreads and enhances patriotism among the citizens.
