Comments on: Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead: Travelogue of Australia and New Zealand

By: Shoma Abhyankar

Shoma Abhyankar — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 13:35:33 +0000

In Pune they have cemetery of British soldiers but in our own country people question the sacrifices of soldiers and have the audacity to comment that armed forces are just doing their jobs. Other countries honour their men in uniform for wars fought years ago while our soldiers fight everyday at border…. Thankless country we are.

By: Rohan Athalye

Rohan Athalye — Tue, 20 May 2014 16:39:27 +0000

Beautifully described Sir. Vivid and touching indeed.

My father had been to Japan and there is a similar museum they have maintained to capture the horrors of Heroshima and Nagasaki. When the tour guide describes things within the museum, it becomes difficult for the guide and the tourists to hold back their tears...

I presume you may have experienced something similar...

By: Vivek Patwardhan

Vivek Patwardhan — Sat, 10 May 2014 17:11:05 +0000

Deepak Pokhriyal's comment is reproduced below with his consent:

Thank you for a wonderful piece. There is a factual correction though; the Indian armed forces has fought more wars for others than any other country. My father’s regiment itself, the glorious Kumaon, has been fighting wars since its raising as the ‘Hyderabad contingent’ during WWI . If I recall my military history, the first was the battle of Megiddo(Turkey) during the First world war. Since then the Burma campaign, Malay war, Iran, Battle of Singapore… the list is endless. Other units of the Army, and indeed the Air Force and the Navy have also been fighting international wars.
That apart, there is always an indescribable feeling of yearning when visiting memorials, cemeteries and other remembrances. One instantly remembers all that is noble in the profession of arms; the passion with which we believed in the values of country, code and camaraderie.
Many years ago, I visited the Kohima cemetery. It has the words of John Edmonds (made famous and now called the Kohima epithet)…. When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow, we gave our today’. These words resonate with me every time I remember those pristine rows of graves (I was surprised to know that even till date, the Government of UK contributes to its upkeep). I only wish that we as a nation were less apathetic to our men (and women) in uniform.
Anyhow, that’s a topic for some other discussion.
Regards
Deepak

By: Muralidharan Natarajan

Muralidharan Natarajan — Wed, 07 May 2014 13:47:27 +0000

Patwardhan Sahib, Very innovative way of recording a travelogue. The interactive narrative with Lulu, makes it perhaps easy to bring out the subtleties in the story. As usual impressed!

Muralidharan, Bangalore

By: Muralidharan Natarajan

Muralidharan Natarajan — Wed, 07 May 2014 11:36:04 +0000

By: Aquil Busrai

Aquil Busrai — Wed, 07 May 2014 10:24:53 +0000

This is the first time I am reading this blog series … found the whole piece absorbing. This one on war memorial is touching.

By: satchitananda

satchitananda — Wed, 07 May 2014 09:27:15 +0000

Very moving Vivek. You have done real justice to the topic with your words. True! Shame on us Indians who do nothing for our war widows and our martyrs.

By: Himanshu

Himanshu — Wed, 07 May 2014 07:37:15 +0000

Touched. Just great.Thanks a lot.
True, any one of your type would go in to tears.I also felt like that.
An Irish poem-Some one's darling was translated in Gujarati by Zaver Chand Meghani-Koi No Ladakvayo…On your return I will share. It seems to be the most fitting poem to be placed at the bottom of that Sculpture…Great Sir. Himanshu M.Bhatt Surat

By: Gauri

Gauri — Wed, 07 May 2014 07:35:13 +0000

A very nice tribute to the soldiers, Vivek kaka.
Wish we had a war memorial too. How many have laid down their lives.....
Shame on our politicians who have no regards for those who make the supreme sacrifice of their lives, literally on a daily basis.
Have you seen the British war memorial at Khadki, Pune? It is still maintained by the Brit. In fact Prince Charles on his last visit did visit the memorial to pay his tributes.

By: Kavi

Kavi — Wed, 07 May 2014 00:55:01 +0000

War memorials leave a lump in my throat. The most poignant artefacts and remnants of war, I saw in Berlin. Reconstruction and reuniting a divided nation, takes years!

http://www.kaviarasu.com/category/berlin/