The army might be a vocation for us which people choose voluntarily. But to even serve the country and protect its pride and honour is one tough decision to make, given that death can come to fetch you at any time, any moment. Nevertheless, the passion in the eyes of these men and women is not invisible, such as the dedication of these extraordinary people.

These men protect the country’s borders 16,000 feet above sea level at temperatures around -50 degrees at the Siachen Glacier. They beat the scorching heat of Rajasthan, where the average temperature is around 50 degrees. At Jammu and Kashmir, one needs to be on duty 24*7 for days without proper rest under severe cold conditions.

We always imagine them fighting the enemies, but we are unaware that it is not the only obstacle they have to deal with. Memory loss, pulmonary oedema, frostbites, crevasses at such high altitudes are the most common problems. In addition, the army in the North-East faces extreme language barriers as it becomes tough to comprehend certain things when you are not aware of the local dialect.

You have to face a new challenge every day here, away from your home, away from all the comforts of life you can afford. Yet, they know they can survive all the odds physically, mentally and emotionally. That’s how they are trained, trained to be fearless on the battlefields and extreme gentlemen off the ground.

The love for their motherland is immeasurable, and that is what keeps them going. This is not enough to describe the atrocities and hardships they and their families go through, but the least we can do is never to question their integrity. A thousand salutes to all those who have laid their lives for the sake of their countrymen.

JAI HIND