Sodiers reminascences

SOLDIER’S REMINISCENCES

Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao

Having gone through decades of marching past
With body and mind thoroughly worn out and lost
It is high time to do thinking on years gone away
After loosing all the former charm and clout on the way

I was in the academy learning the service frills
Where I learnt ‘YES SIR’ and was doing the drill
Precious years have vanished into blue sky
While tired body has shriveled without a cry

Traveled around the country as a spinning top
After every two years non-stop
Traveled in the trains without reservations
And bore the brunt if insults and pain

Slowly and steadily the service was spent
While the soul turned weary and badly bent
Sleepless nights were the order of the day
And has to pass through the inevitable promotion fray

Glorious years of youthful age have passed
While values in service were trespassed
Waited tired to the hilt for the fateful day
To call it a day and be out of the useless fray

While in army the soul had to be shut
Army act causing great hiccups
Mixing with civilians was seen as a crime
Career was like a house devoid of mortar and lime

Risked the life and limbs in course of duty
And lived for the traditions which were mighty
Felt the perils of war with a smiling face
While the country was being managed to bring disgrace

Glorious years of freedom withered away
While those on top made fortune come what may
People’s verdict had no sway
While the leaders conduct was out of the way

Under the name of traditions army has slept
Poor Indians all these years just wept
The army was made a holy cow
Morale of the men was really very low

Scores of scams are the order of the day
Political crooks are all in the fray
Skeletons from cupboards still roll out
And army has no worthy candidates for passing out

Riding an auto was once a taboo in army
And the standards have greatly dwindled day by day
Officers once were to travel only by a car
And liquor however is plenty to flow in a bar

Cadre review has ruined the status of army
And the poor majors go around with heads growing bald and gray
Generals with sword now do duties of former majors
While officers are down the protocol with faded blazers

There was a time when Army had a glorious day
One had to watch today with greatest dismay
The chief was number three in Protocols
And now the generals are pushed aside as punctured footballs

Alas! The soldier is revered only in war
Heroes are held high at the top of altar
God is remembered at time of a crisis
After the war guys are left away from an oasis

Years of effort in army is down the drain
The fact is simple pungent and very plain
Once one is out of service, he is like a rat
Some although knowing blink like a treacherous cat

There is no doubt army is great
Here one has to reconcile to his fate
Yet one has to uphold prestige of the nation
While he withers away eating free ration

Army has to do great introspection
Nothing would come out of routine inspections
All those who are out of service
Would soon perish as a machine devoid of grease

Prof Col ( Retired) Dr K Prabhakar Rao