Guest Post by: Fareeha Farooq
I have read many articles after the incidence of Gyari Avalanche tragedy. I have gone through different approaches; all of them are very well justified. I do not think there is anything left to write about it but I feel there are some Ideas and feelings yet to deliver, more homage to pay and some emotions to make up the already existing truths. Therefore, I am writing this just to make up, not to give any new dimension to the running debate about Gyari and Siachen incidence.
The day when I first heard the news of Gyari incidence the very first thing which flashed in my mind with this sad news was some scenes of a famous drama serial “Alpha Bravo Charlie”; a serial which actually made history in Pakistani Television dynasty by breaking all the records of popularity.
Out of three main stories of serial, one story was related to Siachen where a lead character named “Kashif” was being posted; there were many adventures in the Siachen scene, which were succeeded with certain tragedies in the end.
Why I am narrating this story to you? I don’t think it’s needed because I can guesstimate most of us has seen this serial and all have gone through that Siachen tragedy in serial which made us bitterly cry at that time although purely fiction. The whole Siachen story was so beautifully picturized by famous director “Shoaib Mansoor” that everything looks almost real as it was in actually quite close to reality. What he depicted in this serial was that great courage which is required to sustain life in this hardest land of the world, by the officers and soldiers.
The story was inspired from two real incidents and formed into one fiction but still after so many years one cannot forget those soldiers of the serial as their stories were so heart touching and so tragic in the end then how can I forget these actual Heroes of Siachen and real tragedy of Siachen this time.
This time the Siachen tragedy is not merely a part of famous bollywood film or a famous Pakistani serial it is an actual real event. I cannot forget “Alpha Bravo Charlie” serial memorable scenes like where a sipahi (soldier) sitting outside an igloo sing folk song of his language with great glaciers all around. He sings with modified lyrics according to his personal situation as
“Ik phool mootiye da maar ke jaga sohniye
“Snow falls over the mountains of Siachen
But believe me I will never fall down on these Snows”
I cannot forgo those soldiers and their tragic death as depicted in story then how can I neglect the death of those 140 who have died in Siachen avalanche in real. On 7th April, I was suddenly struck with the feeling that all the episodes of tragedies are going to be repeated, there will be miseries of families, wait in the eyes of children of soldiers, some never accomplished dreams that I am going to watch on the Television screen but this will not be a TV.
On the other hand, this sad incidence has brought the idea of “peace talks” between two countries India and Pakistan. This incidence has awakened the thought between both countries officials that this highest war field of the world should now be demilitarized. Keeping the strategic and defense, or I will say egoistic aspects aside, now both countries are thinking to resolve it for Humanity sake because many risk factors and threats will be posed if it will continue as earlier
How many more martyrs will be paid for this barren wasteful land of snow?
Military inhabitants are causing severe threat to the global warming by disturbing the Glacier’s environment with their activities on both sides of frontier, as there are more risk of producing warmth, which will melt the ice and can become cause of massive floods on both lands of India and Pakistan, which will bring massive economical and biological loss. Acknowledging all these facts, as we know there are accelerated efforts from Pakistan side where we see General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani showing consent on removing forces from Siachen area and Nawaz Sharif saying that we should be the first one to remove the arms from this land, has shown bright chances of future peace. I think our brave Gyari soldiers will be responsible for this Peace deed. I regard them not as “Martyr of War” but “Martyrs of Peace” whom death has opened the eyes of officials on both sides and forced them to take some serious actions so no one in future will go through this .
When you people tell me that Siachen should not be a battleground, where people may easily die from hypothermia and edema due to harsh weather conditions – I believe you. When you people tell me that Siachen is wasteful land, which cannot be inhabited – I believe you. When you people tell me that militarizing of this almost arctic although non-polar region will produce havoc of the environment by causing global warming – I really believe you again. However, when you people tell me, “they have died for nothing” then seriously I do not believe. Despite all these facts, I can never regard their deaths as wasteful for wasteful land as they died for a sense of “Patriotism”. A sense that kept their spirits high in such harsh climate and uninhabitable place, they were not there for bread and butter, or like something a salary of few thousands, they were there to protect the lands of their country with a supreme sense of patriotism. Those who claim these deaths merely a tragedy and wasteful, those who are suffering with neglecting syndrome can never understand so sorry for them and their minds.
These soldiers have died due to a climatic calamity not due to a war but these martyrs are holy as they were there for defending their patriotism. If in near future as we all dream, Siachen is going to be demilitarized the credit will not go only to the Governments of both countries but also to these unforgettable martyrs whom courage and bravery took this topic to the desk to be resolved. In the end, I infer the Siachen tragedy is unforgettable we will always remember them as part of reality not fiction this time and salute these immortal martyrs of Pakistani nation.
Fareeha is a Lahore based Writer and Pharmacy student she tweets at @Fareeha_Farooq, and blogs at http://
