SOLDIERS REMINISCENCES

Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao ( Retd)

Having gone through decades of services

With body and mind thoroughly worn out

It is high time to do some introspection

After loosing all the former charm and clout

Years have gone by when I was in the academy

Where I learnt ‘YES SIR’ and doing the drill

Precious years have vanished into thin air

While tired body has gone through a treadmill

Travelled 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 has to be shut

Army act causing great hiccups

Mixing with civilians is 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 on those top made fortune and money

Peoples verdict had no sway

While the leaders conduct was out of the way

Under the name of traditions army closed eyes

Poorest Indians slept and 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

Officers were to travel only by a car

The standards have greatly dwindled day by day

And liquor however is plenty to flow in a bar

Cadre review has ruined the status of army

Generals do duties of former majors

The poor majors go around with heads growing gray

While officers are down the protocol with faded blazers

There was a time when Army had a glorious day

The chief was number three in Protocols

One had to watch with greatest dismay

And today the generals are pushed as punctured footballs

Alas! the soldier is revered only in war

And god is remembered at time of a crisis

Heroes once held high at the top of altar

After the war guys are left away from an oasis

Years of effort in army is down the drain and crevice

The fact is simple and very plain

Once one is out of service, he is like a rat

Although for some ,the fact would cause hick ups and some pain

There is no doubt army is challenging

Where one has to ignore the self

One has to uphold prestige of the nation

While he withers away as rice flake

Army has to do great introspection

Nothing would come out of routine salutes and inspections

All those who are out of service

Would soon perish as a machine devoid of grease

 

 

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