My Dearest Jawaan

My dearest Jawaan,

You never asked for this;

You never asked to be the pawn in the hands of a political war;

You never questioned why you had to fight a person who looked just like you.

You were only guilty of loving your country too passionately.

But who will account for your supreme sacrifice?

Is it the cowards who hide away in camps, waiting for the right time to strike?

Is it the minister who was too shocked to react to your descent?

Or is it “we the people” who watch your face flash on a screen,

from the comforts of our heated homes?

But fear not, my dear jawaan,

We see you and we realise;

We realise and we empathise.

We swear that we won’t shed tears,

but we cannot control the blood that boils within us.

and yet, amongst all this, we promise;

We will not forgive, much less forget,

This attack on the soul of our motherland;

We will never let go of this assault on our fathers, brothers, sons – you;

And we sincerely promise that we will not let this pass,

for we will avenge you and make you proud.

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For the Indians who make us proud every day.