When Bullets Fly, Only Soldiers Remain Standing: Why No Celebrity, Caste Leader, or Politician Will Come to Your Rescue

GG News Bureau 

Poonam Sharma

At times of national distress, when borders are under tension and invading armies pose threats to our independence, one brutal fact comes through: it is neither the movie stars, nor the cacophonic caste politics players, nor the photo-opp ministers, but our soldiers – sons and daughters of humble homes, drawn from every caste, creed, and community – who stand to face the battle. 

Notice your surroundings. When did the last film star, caste-based MLA, or pampered minister stand at the frontlines? The answer is self-evident. In the current era when India is threatened not only by Pakistan but by several fronts, it is the Indian Armed Forces who are providing a befitting reply. The Indian Navy, Air Force, and Army are equipped with mighty weapons such as the Rafale fighter jets, S-400 missile defense systems, and Scorpène-class submarines. These are not just machines; they are the embodiment of India’s determination to protect every inch of its land.

But let us not forget how these defense acquisitions were ridiculed once. When the Modi government initiated modernization of the military, spending more than ₹3 lakh crore on defense purchases, the very same people who pretend to be representatives of national interest fought against it. Recall the so-called activists, the political dynasts, and the coterie of sycophants who raised questions over the Rafale deal? Sonia Gandhi and Robert Vadra-backed leaders, and their yes men from other castes – be they Gujjars, Brahmins, Jats, Yadavs, Sainis, SC, ST, or OBC factions – all caught the bandwagon, repeating the mantra: “Why spend money on weapons?

” They had alleged corruption by the government, that it was giving more importance to defense over welfare.

But today, facts are louder than words. Those same Rafale aircraft, S-400 systems, and submarines are India’s defense against hostile forces. Pakistan’s terror surrogates, China’s expansionist moves, and other enemies have been quieted not by empty words, but by the menacing presence of these weapons. Each missile system put into place, each fighter aircraft scrambled, sends a strong message: India will not retreat.

What the critics did not realize is that national security is not a theoretical concept; it needs investment, foresight, and determination. It is ironic that those who criticized the defense purchases are themselves being protected by the same military they doubted.

The actual heroes are not caste-based vote-bank leaders or drawing-room intellectuals, but the jawans themselves. They belong to all backgrounds – Gujjars, Brahmins, Jats, Yadavs, Sainis, SC, ST, OBC – and dress the same way. When they enter the barracks, their caste identity ceases to exist. They fight for India, not a sub-caste or political flag. This is why, when the government spends crores on the defense, we should laud it to the hilt. The money is not a “waste” – it is an investment in the security of our borders, in the pride of our sovereignty, and in guarding the very people who are the members of the armed forces. Each bulletproof vest, each drone, each missile matters.

If we are able to spend lakhs on weddings, crores on cricket leagues, and billions on entertainment, then surely our soldiers’ security must be given much more than that.

Compare this with the condition of civilian rule. Daily, we hear news of corruption – officials caught accepting bribes, panchayat members embezzling money, politicians stockpiling money for development. From embezzling village money to grabbing grazing lands illegally, the list goes on. And for what? Transient gains, ephemeral wealth, eventually ending in shame. Regardless of how much they hoard, it all goes into the same funeral pyre.

Those who pursue ill-gotten gains forget that no amount of money can purchase respect, or a legacy. When the time arrives, it is the soldier in uniform who receives a salute from the nation, while the corrupt politician or official dies in ignominy.

Let this be a lesson: ill karma comes at a cost. Those who betray the public trust, who prioritize personal profit over national interest, will pay – if not in the courts of law, then in the court of fate.

Rather than nitpicking defense expenditure or caste politics, let us concentrate on making our country stronger. Let us support our soldiers, back policies that give importance to security, and urge our youth to join the armed forces. Our military is not an abstract concept; it consists of our brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters.

May the divine protect them with courage, strength, and safety. And may we, the citizens, look beyond our own selfish interests to serve India first. For it is not the celebrity endorsements, the caste rallies, or the crooked bureaucrats who rescue the nation – it is the soldier who stands, if need be, alone between us and the enemy.