An Indian soldier is famous for his valour and military genius. The Indians call him a “Jawan”. A Jawan is really the backbone of the Indian army. A soldier is the pride of a nation. He defends the honour of his motherland with his life and blood.

The Indian soldier is recruited by the recruiting offices across the country. Their recruitment is on the basis of physical fitness, necessary age requirements and educational qualification. The selection process is very strict and rigorous. Post selection the Jawan is enrolled in one of the arms and services of the army. There are arms and services like Infantry, Artillery and Engineers, Signalers, Armoured Corps, Army Service Crops and so on. After selection, the soldier is sent to one of the training centres to get military training.

At the training centre a soldier gets basic military training like drill, physical training and weapon training. Firearms training in range practices, bayonet-fighting and handling of explosives like grenades and mortars are provided to enhance the fighting skills. Here we find the recruit in his gray uniform, heavy black boots, a jungle hat and a rifle slung over his shoulder. Every day the training sessions start at 6:30 A.M. and continue till 11:00 P.M., in which he trains in rifle-shooting, firing and throwing grenades, climbing a rope, negotiation a rope bridge, crawling and bayonet charge. There are occasional route-marches to a maximum of 25 miles, learning the rope bridge walk (walk upon a rope the ends of which are tied to the branches of two trees) etc to enhance their physical and mental fitness. A soldier also learns three Rs, map-reading, current affairs, civics, bayonet training, rifle, light machine-gun, grenade, field craft and jungle training, battle assault courses, physical training, route marches, games and drill. The trainings are completed with mock battles being undertaken to make the solider battle ready. The grand finale is to be part of the special parade, known as the “Kasam Parade”. Here the recruit takes an oath on his religious book, to serve the nation and to lay down his life, if need be in upholding the nation’s honour. After completing these six months, training the recruit becomes a soldier. Then he is posted to a battalion or regiment. Here he undergoes further training.

It is those strong soldiers who stand between us and the enemy and are always ready to lay down their lives so that we all can sleep peacefully in our homes. They are the one, out there bearing the harsh weathers for all of us. So as a responsible citizen of India, we all should salute their efforts, their hard work, what they go through and try to make their life as peaceful as possible by respecting and helping them and their families.

“Atharva foundation” is giving us one such opportunity in the form of an event “One for all, all for one”, where we can relive the life of 10 brave heart martyrs who sacrificed their lives, by narrating their stories to us, and by bring their families so that we could tribute them, felicitate them for their bravery, on, 31st January, 2018 at NSCI- Dome, Worli, 6:30 P.M. onwards. Let’s take one step forward towards soldiers, to see the world through their eyes and be as patriotic, as selfless and as helpful as them. Let’s show them that, now it’s our time to stand for them as they do for us.