Resist and Master

Thought Thought (Day 52: 21-Aug-2013)

fear and feel courageous.

Sandeep had to take leave of his family and join the army the next day. History had it that all of his fore-fathers had been part of the military in one way or the other. One of his great granddads too had led the land force of King Rajendra Chola. His father had laid his life for his motherland in the Kargil war, when Sandeep was just 6years old. Being an army man was like a family business to him.

Though Sandeep was prepared for this day since the day he was born, he had grown up missing his dad. But it was the pride of their clan to be in the force and he did not want to be the first one to break a tradition. He groomed himself for the role and was recruited into the armed force.  Though he was excited to serve his country, he was all tensed since the way his father breathed his last haunted him.

It was a custom in his family to read an old manuscript, left behind by his fore fathers, before the son in the family was to join the military. Today was Sandeep’s turn. He knew that it was a much revered book in the household and had been an heirloom, but had no clue of what it contained. When he opened the book, there were pages of the heroic acts by all of his great granddads. And the last few pages were a letter to Sandeep from his dad. In it he had written about his own doubts about joining the army and few more incidents which he had appended when he had come home before his return to Kargil. The last line in the note left to Sandeep made him feel stronger, braver and more determined to become part of the serving force.

It read, “Sandeep, I am adding few blank pages to this book so you could come back and write all the experiences you had while you were in the military. I know you would make a name for yourself, the entire nation would know about your service and that you would make all of us proud. You could do all this if you know how to handle your fears. If I am not around when it is your D-day, collect the dog-tag I had worn during my tenure. It will help you through your difficult times. I am already proud of you, son.”

And behind the dog tag it read “Courage is not absence of fear, it is the resistance and mastery over it”.