Prabir Kumar Mahanty
I was a poor, unblessed-born man,
My boyhood slipped like grains of sand.
Then poverty reshaped my days,
And set my feet on herding ways.
My youth was harsh, yet kept its grace,
A God-loving heart in a nameless face.
Unknown, unloved, by fortune bent,
I bore my fate with quiet strength.
I chose the soldier’s steadfast road,
To guard the land where borders stood.
There service taught my heart to stand,
Unchained by self, with open hand.
Through trials stern on distant lines,
I learned to still this soul of mine.
Its wandering storms I calmed and bound
With duty’s oath and courage found.
In prose and verse my thoughts took form,
Preserved like embers safe from storm.
Yet hope collapsed, my faith ran thin-
I cast my words to fire within.
But from those flames a lamp was born,
A gentle light no dark could scorn.
May weary hearts, in grief confined,
Find strength within this voice of mine.
Let none despair when nights are long,
For dawn is pledged to rise in song.
Through every loss the soul shall know
Its hidden light was meant to glow.
䷆
The Righteous Soldier
To defeat the wrong and protect the right,
A soldier stands guard, with uniform tight.
A border’s guardian, from heaven sent,
He walks with honor, his spirit bent
On duty’s call, eyes clear and bright,
A steadfast soul in darkest night.
Not for himself does he stand or fight,
But for peace and justice, pure and right.
In choosing this path, he gives his all,
Sacrificing life to answer the call.
Through storms of war, in battle’s tide,
He holds his ground, calm and dignified.
So let him march, let him stand tall,
For in his courage, we find all
A hope, a shield, a burning flame,
Our righteous soldier, true in name.
राष्ट्ररक्षा-समं पुण्यं, राष्ट्ररक्षा-समं व्रतम्।
राष्ट्ररक्षा-समं यज्ञं, न हि तस्मात् परं शुभम्॥
अर्थात्:-
"राष्ट्र रक्षा के समान कोई पुण्य नहीं,
राष्ट्र रक्षा के समान कोई व्रत नहीं,
राष्ट्र रक्षा के समान कोई यज्ञ नहीं है,
उसके समान कोई शुभ नहीं है।
Operation Parakram
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| MAJ JAMES THOMAS. KIRTI CHAKRA (Posthumous) |
Major James Thomas, posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, was a dedicated officer in the Indian Army and a good friend of mine. His sacrifice occurred during active duty on the Line of Control (LOC) in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on January 28, 2006, a day marked with solemn remembrance.
In recognition of his extraordinary bravery, indomitable courage, and unwavering commitment to duty, Major James Thomas was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second highest peacetime gallantry award. The award was conferred in a solemn ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on April 11, 2007.
Duty Unto Death
Vande Mataram
I felt deeply privileged to be part of the organization that stands as India’s First Line of Defense, with its own Air Wing, Marine Wing, and Artillery Regiment. Our real-life experiences were vividly portrayed in the film *Border*
The film's storyline centers around Longewala, initially a BSF post and a crucial strategic point during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. This location played a pivotal role in capturing extensive territories and served as a key theater of war on the western front. "Border," is a cinematic adaptation of the events that unfolded during the Battle of Longewala in 1971.
Notably, the song "Sandese Aate Hai," featured in the film, became a cultural phenomenon, emerging as one of the most beloved Hindi songs of that decade.