Indian Prisoners of War

15 Aug 2007, INDIA celebrates its 60 years of freedom; it’s the time to rejoice, the time to remember those, who gave us this freedom and also those who protected it from vested interests. India and Pakistan are marking this day by releasing prisoners of each others countries. It is indeed a very noble way of celebrating our freedom however while reading the news, my eyes were trying to find, if the prisoners freed were Prisoners of War (POW). But no, the free Indian prisoners from Pakistan were mostly fishermen and rest civilians, who had illegally crossed the borders.

I didn’t know much about POWs, until I saw this amazingly heart touching movie… 1971, Prisoners of War by Amrit Sagar. This movie is obviously about POW from the 1971 India-Pakistan war. It’s a flawless movie portraying the struggle of POW planning to escape from the prison, and what happens in between.

The climax especially would leave anyone awestruck. There are very few movies that are de-glamorized yet entertaining. And above all, an eye opener, which leaves a deep impact on the viewer. From that time on many occasions, I have thought what must be the state of these POW now.

Wish the kind of awareness hockey has got, after the movie Chakde…India, even the POW issue could get after 1971 POW…!But sadly didn’t read any such news about it, anywhere.

As I read the article about the freed prisoners, once again I restlessly look if there is any news about them. From 1971 to 2007, these army men are paying the price for keeping us safe and to think about it, what if there are similar POW from the Kargil war. According to some of the Freed Indian Prisoners coming from Pakistan, quite a lot of POW are still present in Pakistan’s secret cells. About 36 years later they are still waiting for someone to reach out to them. Some have lost their mental balance some their eyesight.

Illegally under imprisonment in Pakistan, their families must have lost hopes of their return. On the completion of 60 years of Independence; Let us pray for their Well being and hope they are soon united with their loved ones. With such patriots suffering in another land, how appropriate is the 60 years celebration??

A poem, dedicated to these POW

Dedication to POW

Archies Comics family has a new Indian member... Raj Patel

Archies comics came into existence in 1952, and I have been reading it since 1980’s. It had always been my favorite book, based on it there are also cartoon videos but never liked it that much. The blend of humour, logic and the connection with real life has been amazingly perfect, in Archies comics. There are so many stories I can think of even now and laugh, which at the same time makes so much sense.

In one of such stories, one of Veronica Lodge’s pair of pants were accidentally torn in the college. After which she is embarrassed to no end and is lost about what she should do next. When her Friend Betty suggests she should walk as if nothing as happened or she will draw people’s attention towards her; Veronica does exactly that. She walks to the classroom, with all her confidence.

When other girls in the college see this, they think if Veronica Lodge is wearing that, then obviously it must be the latest trend. And next day all the gals are wearing trousers which is full on one leg and short on another. Funny but when today I see ripped Jeans I get a feeling that this is what must have happened with the person who introduced it!

Now Archies comics would be, more dearer to me because they have brought in an Indian Character Raj Patel. From what information I have collected, sounds like, he would be presented in a positive way. Raj’s Father, Ravi Patel is rich and famous, and a Doctor by profession. The family includes Raj’s Mother Mona Patel and sister Tina Patel.

Hopefully, this character stays in Archies forever and is not just momentary.