FAITH

Faith is the final quotient for human beings. It’s the beginning and it is the end too. After all, it is the faith which enables humans to pass on their respective batons from the various stages of their lives to the most worthy successors.

The young men and women joining any profession pledge their lives and re-affirm the faith of the Nation into its new generation. The various facets of the training and molding of these men and women are oriented towards ingraining the component of faith into these volunteers. The entry and exit from the portals of training institutions is quick as time flies by dealing with well laid out curriculum. The final outcome is supposed to be a well trained individual on whom the faith can be affirmed. These individuals then go on to don the hats of leaders in various walks of life and steer their followers. Humans have a natural tendency to follow a leader. It is bitter but a known truth that civilizations have always thrived because faith has been bestowed upon a leader. Many a great empires came crashing down because the leader could not steer the conundrum of the proclaimed faith and the conglomeration of humans withered away. Many a times, the leaders dispatch their select followers to spread their version of faith to far flung zones on this planet. Faith does have a tendency to travel as it is extremely capable of influencing the humans under various stages of stress and strains.

The night was dark and cold was bitter. Mercury had refused to climb up and the scent of the prowling intruders had not yet hit the nostrils of young Lieutenant Jimmy. Jimmy was a young Officer in an Army Battalion and had earned his coveted Commission just about 05 months ago. Cheerful and ever smiling, Jimmy was a strapping soldier and had trained at the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy before joining his Battalion. His ever smiling face had helped him to establish his faith with his men. He was quickly inducted into the environment of his Battalion. He drilled, ate, slept and moved with his men to affirm their faith into his leadership skills. It was crucial as the Battalion was in Counter-Insurgency Role and often went into mission modes.

The cherubic Jimmy was participating well in the teams on constant hunt for bringing glory to the historic traditions of his Battalion. The faith had been building up between Jimmy and his environment. One fine morning, the Battalion got a confirmed information about an intrusion from across the border. The ambush had to be laid in different positions and Jimmy got an opportunity to lead an independent team. He was young and spirited. The boys had developed faith in him in a short time. The ambush was laid and the teams at various locations awaited the infiltrators. Each team anticipated action even as the snow carpeted the sector. The night was still and the cold was bone biting.

The ambush look outs saw a movement across the culvert. The infiltrators were sighted as they moved carrying their heavy loads. The challenge was made and the guns erupted sniper fire. Jimmy’s boys took the enemy head on and the fight broke out. The enemy guns were powerful and they carried heavy shelling capability. Jimmy saw his buddy going down as a volley of shots hit him. Next to take the hit was his radio and now Jimmy had a full battle on his hand. He had broken the enemy’s pace but he had to hold them till re-enforcement arrived. Jimmy’s boys were taking in damages but their faith in their Commander kept them going strong. Jimmy looked at his watch. The actions had been unfolding for some time and he knew it was now or never. Lifting his gun, Jimmy got up from his trench and launched an assault on the infiltrators. He had to save his men from further damage. Firing his weapon at the hidden infiltrators, Jimmy took a long leap and landed right amidst the enemies. Bullets were flying from all sides. He was now akin to Abhimanyu inside the Chakravayuh. Akin to Abhimanyu, he had to re-affirm the faith that his Battalion had entrusted in him. Jimmy got up singlehanded but he was big hearted. He won over the 04 infiltrators but not before being fatally shot himself. Jimmy became yet another martyr for the Nation, but, not before re-affirming the faith that the Nation had bestowed upon him. He also re-affirmed the faith of his men, his instructors, his teachers, his friends and his parents. The infiltrators could not penetrate beyond Jimmy’s watch and the snow turned red before turning white again.

Faith is never in question. It is the unequivocal truth. The best mates for the faith are the human will power and courage. Adversity can never be questioned and Murphy has the tendency to counter faith every now and then. It is the faith that always helps to overcome the adversities of life. There is a small gap between victory and loss. A loss can also be converted into victory provided faith is established in its right context.

Every human is born equal. The facets of life take charge the moment the first gulp of planet’s oxygen enters the expanding lungs. The faith starts cementing itself quietly and strongly. Humans have to keep their faith in themselves and in humanity to get going in this myriad world. Jimmy had faith in his men and his men had developed an indomitable faith in Jimmy. He had to save his men from the Harm’s Way and in a befitting manner of his Battalion’s glorious traditions to maintain the honor of the Nation. Jimmy had faith and it was faith that gave him conviction to stand up and charge towards the enemy lines. We all are Jimmy’s in our own lives. There are moments when we have to charge and re-affirm faith. The humanity needs faith more than ever- in humanity itself. So, get up, take charge and re-affirm that faith.