Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan

Dear Madam,

    I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

   This is how Abraham Lincoln wrote to a mother of five whose all sons died in war; a historical letter expressing condolences. A tragedy and a letter both part of the history but with terrific blend of patriotism, emotion, sensitivity and above all showing us what Abraham Lincoln, the leader, was. Today from the podium of the memorial service organized to pay tribute to those who died in the 9/11 terror attack on world trade centre, read Gorge Bush, the same letter. He was then the President when attack took place. The service was attended by Obama and Bush. Thousands mourned the lost dear ones. Hundreds died in the attack that shook the world and changed the way, the only super power was looking at the terrorism. That one incident took the terror, which America had no inhibitions in sponsoring for her own interests, directly at her door, which the Americans considered safest place in the world.

    The letter read by Bush and written by Lincoln was the inspiration behind the fantastic movie Saving Private Ryan by Spielberg. A classic war film takes us very close to the horror the war is and men of great character. Coming across the news of death of three brothers, the general there reads the same letter. The mission to save the fourth, Private Ryan, starts, led by Captain Miller. A super movie moves us inward. Private Ryan survives but Miller and his team lay down their lives. While dying Miller says to Ryan “…. earn this. Earn it.”  

     Many civilians died in the 9/11 terror attack, and also fire fighters, security officers. Mr. Bush could not find words more apt than in the letters to express the bereavement, simultaneously inducing the patriotic fervor. Ten years on, the images of plane crashing on the world trade centre still evoke terror in America. Remember there hasn’t been a major attack on American soil in these years. What about us? We continue to have attacks, blasts leaving behind the trail of blood and agony. We also have gallant men fighting for the country, putting country first and own life last. There are many examples of young men of twenty three, twenty four making supreme sacrifice for all of us like Capt. Punit Dutta, Captain Vikram Batra,……….. What their bereaved family gets in return, frustration, pain and looking at the scenario in the country a huge hurt with a question, is this what my son died for?

    The historical mother in USA lost all five sons. Our history is replete with stories of mothers happily sending sons to fight for the country but the question is not how many sons a mother has lost in the war? The question is not how many sons of a mother are in the armed forces? The question is not how many young men are willing to join army? The question is not of saving the only surviving Ryan as in the movie? The question is are we sensitive enough to understand the sacrifice they are making for us? Question is, is our system giving what is due to them? The question is, are we making this country, for which they died, a better place to live? Do we care for their sacrifice? They have given us life, are we ready to earn it?

    These men are different. They are exceptional. At a time when they could have enjoyed all the luxuries of life, they willing adopted a life dangerous and tough, to defend our country. What we all forget is none of them ever thought of what there their sacrifice would be worth to people of  India, they simply did it, we forgot it only to be remembered occasionally. These men are a class apart. They will always do it for us in the highest tradition of our armed forces. They are highly motivated men. They will never bother about their welfare.

    Abraham Lincoln himself wrote the letter of condolence, the General in Saving Private Ryan did not want to write one so he had a mission to save the lone survivor. Pain of losing a son or sons is beyond words. Why wait for few deaths and then try to save the alive? Why can’t we try for a world that prevents further occurrences of letters like this?  Why should a mother lose a son? Question is not whether we succeed, it is do we have a frame of mind suitable to it? Do we easily  take an emotional ride owing to rhetoric of our leaders? We are in debt of  these men and their families, are we ready to accept this honestly? Come an enemy these men will fight but can we make their families proud looking at the state of the country that the sacrifice of their son hasn’t gone in vain?  

Are we going to try to save our own Ryans without waiting for loss of brothers?

Losing five sons is a terrible loss.

Is losing the only son any less?

The image of Major Sandeep  Unnikrishnan  struck my mind.

I could see nothing afterwards………