Pilibhit, September 17 (IANS): A group of villagers in Pilibhit has built a bamboo bridge for the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) troopers, about 200 meters from the Uttar Pradesh-Nepal border. The 25-meter-long and 1.2-meter-wide bamboo bridge on a deep-water channel has been built by the Bamanpur Bhagirath village head, Gurdev Singh, with assistance from the locals. Ajay Kumar, Commandant, SSB’s 49th Battalion, said, “A bridge was urgently needed for the frequent, prompt and unhindered movement of SSB patrolling pickets, especially during the night. The bridge will assist us in keeping an eye on any encroachment from the Nepalese side into the Indian territory, as was reported in June this year. ...

 

The construction of the bridge was initiated on September 10 and it was completed in just five days at a cost of Rs. 50,000/- on the water channel known as Sutia drain. As the village panchayat had no provision for the construction, the locals were encouraged to contribute. The money was contributed by villagers. The bridge holds importance as it provides a vantage point to the troopers patrolling the border, and particularly after a row over the construction of a road between pillars 38 and 39 by the Nepalese side.

THIS is a great but not an isolated example of how the common people often come forward to help the Armed Forces. Even as the Indian troops stand tall and strong along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh -- or anywhere along India’s long international border, for that matter -- they often get a tremendous helping hand from the local population in unimaginable ways. Realising what the common people often do by way of help, many Armed Forces Commanders find their voices choking as they describe the level of people’s willingness to make their contribution to national security and defence.

 

In Ladakh, the common people have been stuffing busses with civil supplies, including water -- a precious commodity in the Himalayas -- and ensure that the Indian troops do not run short of those at any time. On countless occasions, the common people of Ladakh trudge for miles with supplies to the Armed Forces braving terrible cold and climbing hardships. Ensuring that the enemy does not spot their movements, the locals often navigate their way through very difficult terrains and ensure prompt supplies to the soldiers on vigil.

 

As he describes elaborately how the local people help the troops in very many ways, the legendary Mr. Sonam Wangchuk’s voice cracks with pride. “Such a cooperation is available only to the Indian troops, and not to the Chinese or the Pakistanis,” he says. He then offers a long list of occasions when the common people rendered invaluable help to the troops in combat conditions. Not only does he talk of some of the scene in the old movie Haqeeqat -- made against the background of the Chinese invasion of India in the winter of 1962 -- where locals are shown making significant contribution not just by carrying supplies but also carrying out actual scouting and combat duties.

 

That portrays the real-life story of how two local girls stand by the small unit of Indian soldiers led by the dour, unrelenting Jaswant Singh (played by superstar Dharmendra in the movie). So iconic was that battle that the place has been named Jaswantgarh. But that story would not have been complete without the contribution of two local sisters Sela and Noora.

 

Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, often described as the Lion of Ladakh, also asserts how the locals helped the Indian troops during the Kargil conflict and made possible what may be impossible victories. And then he again asserts, “Such a help is available only to the Indian troops, and not to the Chinese and the Pakistanis”.

 

These incidents of people’s contribution to the troops’ efforts is a matter of India’s pride, to say the least. Over the years, a cultural ethos has got woven around this and the locals every where in the country chip in with whatever help they can render to the fighting troops, boosting their supplies as well as morale. These incidents swell our chests with pride, making us realise the actual strength of India’s troops often aided so capably by the common people who go out of way to accomplish feats that would stun anybody.

 

This symbiotic relationship between India’s Armed Forces and the common people has been immortalised in literature in very many ways. In books and films, all those acts of people’s bravery and courage look so wonderful. But when the local people actually step out of the comforts of their homes and render whatever help they can, they actual strengthen the troops in a manner beyond words.

 

That has happened in Pilibhit as well when the locals collected a big sum of Rs. 50,000/- to construct the much-needed bamboo bridge that the Sashastra Seema Bal jawans can use for an effective check on any undesirable movement into the Indian territory from the other side of the border. Technically, the bridge is just 25 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, but actually its importance is well beyond words.

 

The pictures of the bridge show that the villagers have done a fine job that will facilitate urgent troop movements. Bamboo is a tough material and the bridge will have a normal life of at least thirty years in full strength. But the actual importance of the project has to be weighed not in bamboo but in gold and diamond.

 

For, what matters most is not just the bridge, but the people’s readiness to stretch themselves beyond words to make possible feats of exceptional criticality. This face of India has its people’s signature etched on it. That makes it special, very special!