piyush jha

One of the most enduring images of Kashmir is that of the South-Indian soldier standing guard over native Kashmiris.

What goes through the mind of this man from the south, as he stands on a highway thousands of miles away from his home, staring at people, searching for anyone who looks like trouble? Does he understand the people he guards? Does he know the wrong one from the right? What does he read in their eyes when they look at him?

I spoke to a few of these soldiers and officers. When I asked them what they thought of this land that was quite alien for them, they stared back stoically, and said, “This is our country too”. Their take on the “Kashmir issue” was the regular “We are only doing our jobs”.

I decided to probe further, but surreptitiously. I spent a day watching a South-Indian soldier on duty across the street from my hotel. I sat in my room all day observing him through my semi-shut hotel room window, and noting his every action.

He stood at the same spot all day, staring at people with his expressionless eyes, taking a break only for a quick rolled Roti. During the day, he stopped four people and questioned them with a semi-stern face. However, whenever a bunch of school kids would pass, he would become a soft, smiling, crinkly-eyed friend. He spoke and joked with these kids. On one occasion he let a passing schoolboy touch his gun, then snatched it way in mock anger, bursting out in a laugh as he saw the boy’s shocked face. The boy gave him a friendly salute, and went on his way. The soldier went back to staring at passersby. But, this time his eyes were a little softer.

Towards the evening, I strolled up to him and offered him some biscuits. He refused politely. A little embarrassed, I tried to make conversation with him. He sort of hesitated every time before he answered my questions, never taking his eyes off the street. I realized that I was disturbing him, so I decided to leave. As I was leaving, I asked him the final question, “Where are you from”? “. “Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu”, was his reply.

As I began to write my script, this soldier kept coming back to mind. Thus, was born Lt. Col. Rajesh Rao, the South-Indian army commander of the area that Sikandar lives in. On one hand, Rajesh Rao uses force to bring peace, while on the other, he believes in giving people second chances. Although, quite young, his years in Kashmir have given him the ability to see beyond the obvious. However, his job is made difficult because he has to steer through the under-currents, of the political and religious kind.

After I had finished narrating the script to Madhavan, he sat back and told me he had been a diligent NCC cadet in his growing years, and had wanted to join the Army. Somehow, he didn’t follow that dream, but ended up becoming a film star instead.

For years he had wanted to do an Army man’s role in a film. Although, he’d been offered many a role, he hadn’t quite agreed with the characterization.

I sat back wondering where this was leading. Till he smiled and said, that’d he had loved the role, and believed that Lt. Col. Rajesh Rao was a character that was made for him.

And so, Madhavan from Chennai, Tamil Nadu traveled to Pahalgam, Kashmir, quite like the “Unknown Soldier” from Kanyakumari who perhaps still stands guard on some street in Kashmir.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 at 9:52 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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