On February 14, 2019,
when the sun was slowly gliding down the orchards of Pulwama, a sudden
explosion abruptly forced it to set in red. A day which usually twinkled in
love was instantly turned black. This transformation was born out of a horrific
act of terror that sent ripples across the country.
A Tragic Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day of 2019, which planned to spread the
fragrance of love across the parks and party halls, instead, painted the roads
and pavements of Pulwama with blood. The night, which was supposed to be passionately
lit by crackers, instead, was lit by candles in an act of solidarity. The rose,
which was supposed to be in the hands of a lover, was despondently left on the tomb
of martyrs.
At approximately 3.15 pm in Lethapora area of Pulwama,
a convoy of 78 vehicles with more than 2500 CAPF jawans travelling on NH 45 to
Srinagar, was targeted by a terrorist outfit. Suddenly, a car carrying more
than 300 kilograms of explosives rammed into one of those convoys, causing a
huge blast that killed 40 CRPF personnel and injured many. Subsequently, a Pakistan-based
militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, claimed responsibility for the attack. They released
a video of the assailant, Adil Ahmad Dar, a 22-year-old boy from Kakapora area
of Pulwama, who joined their group a year earlier. Dar’s family recalled last
seeing him in March 2018, when he left his house on a bicycle one day and never
returned.
While this attack was severely condemned by both the
Indian and the international communities, the incident itself, which coincided with
Valentine’s Day, has revealed the hidden cost of the widely celebrated love.
Love
and Blood
Love and peace, often hailed as universal human values,
are not truly universal; they are neither accessible nor affordable without a significant
cost. The tax for the warm peace enjoyed by the citizens of the country, is unfortunately,
collected from the service of the dutiful jawans. And the tragedy is that such
a heavy price is not paid in a single transaction, but made every day in tears,
sweat and blood along the freezing Indian borders. And major incidents like
Pulwama vehemently expose one such day to the world; while other days, filled
with several minor misfortunes, often are undeclared and silently go unnoticed.
Every morning, while students usually pack their bags
with stationery, the Agniveers load their rifles with bullets. Unfortunately, some
radicalized youths also load their bags with bombs instead. In a society where
love, patriotism, and radicalization co-exist, it becomes solemnly difficult to
detoxify such a union. While many efforts from outside are in place, and of
course, more checks could be proposed, it is all futile unless and until we all
realize something within. The love, the celebration, the freedom of thought and
expression, all arise from the blood spilt on the borders every day. And every
morning, if we remember such a profound selfless act by someone we haven’t
seen, and recall why they are doing so, we might live a life where the cost of
peace might eventually disappear.
So, Valentine’s Day celebration elsewhere may signify the serenity of love alone, but in India, it also becomes a reminder of the silent sacrifices and the gratitude that must not be forgotten. Thus, there is no doubt that the Indian calendar will remember February 14 as a day of love and blood. But the real question lies here–are we willing to remember this day, every day? The answer will determine the fate of our future!
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