An olive green recession – The Hindu

It is February 12, and as the winter afternoon sun casts a shadow on the Nathowal martyrs’ memorial in Punjab’s Ludhiana district, two men stand in front of a plaque bearing the names of 16 soldiers who left this village and never returned. The monument is a reminder of what this village has always been: faujian da pind (Soldiers village in Punjab).

Sudagar Singh, a retired havildar of the Indian Army’s Sikh Light Infantry, stands near the monument as he pays his respects and remembers the sacrifice of the soldiers of his village. Of the approximately 1,400 homes here, almost one in every two households has a member who is either retired or currently on armed forces and paramilitary duty. During the Kargil war, more than 40 people from the village were serving in the army, two of whom were martyred.

Village people gathered right next to the monument. They sit in the sun to enjoy its warmth and share daily stories. Sudagar joins them. The discussion revolves around the development of a portrait museum of the martyrs in a room next to the existing monument, with the aim of inspiring future generations. A parallel conversation is surfacing in the village about how few young people are now joining the army.

“The olive green uniform has been the identity of Nathowal for decades. Many families encouraged their sons to join the armed forces and took great honor and pride in it. But over the years, families have become more inclined to push their children to seek better opportunities here (in India) or abroad,” says Sarpanch (village head) Jaswinder Singh, a former Head Constable in the Border Security Force (BSF). One of the purposes of building this martyrs’ monument was to motivate men to fight for the country.

“About thirty years ago, about 70% to 75% of households had people from the armed and paramilitary forces; now it’s 20% to 25%,” says Jaswinder, with a few elders rushing to the museum and hoping that displaying photos and stories of yesterday’s soldiers might somehow inspire tomorrow.

In January this year, the Indian Army issued an impassioned appeal to youth in Punjab to join the Sikh Regiment, highlighting the regiment’s honors and awards. The press release stated that the “real strength” of the regiment lies in the youth of Punjab. The 180-year-old formation took part in both world wars. Its motto is a quote from the Sikh Guru Gobind Singh: Nischay kar apni jeet karo (Secure your victory with determination).

“Despite some manpower challenges, the Sikh Regiment continues to demonstrate high standards of performance and consistently meets the high expectations of the Indian Army,” the communication said, echoing what many officers had whispered.

Tested by fire

Standing at the memorial where the names of Nathowal martyrs are engraved and preserved in black and gold letters, he talks about the reasons behind the decline in army enlistment. Sudagar has not stopped believing in the army, but as a father, he is worried about his children’s future.

Pointing out that job security could not be ensured after the central government’s Agnipath plan, he said, “I am a proud soldier and always wanted my children to serve their country. After the Agnipath plan was implemented in 2022, I stopped advising my son to join the Army.” One of his children is studying at university and the other is in the 5th grade.

Under the Agnipath scheme, young soldiers are enrolled for 4 years, after which 75% of them will be sent home with a severance package. Only the remaining 25% can remain as permanent soldiers. “What if my son doesn’t get into the 25% bracket? This is my biggest fear. He will come back and start looking for a job again,” says 53-year-old Sudagar, who took early retirement in 2017.

Her son Aishpreet, 21, nodded. “Instead of starting a business first, spending four years and then looking for a new job or career again, it is better to invest a few more years in studying, get a degree and then settle into a permanent job,” says Agnipath about his plan.

Gurdev Kaur, wife of Hakam Singh, in Nathowal village in Punjab’s Ludhiana district. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

A short walk from the memorial site, members of Hakam Singh’s joint family are in a somber mood. His health is deteriorating. When 82-year-old Gurdev Kaur, who is sitting next to her sick husband and cannot hear very well, catches the words, she says: He has 5 sons and 10 grandchildren. Two of his sons were in the army; None of his grandchildren are like that. The military still does not recruit women into its combat branches. “Three out of 10 are in Canada and three are in Dubai,” he says.

Hakam’s elder son, Sukhpal Kaur, one of his daughters-in-law, now 26, whose wife works as a laborer in Dubai, says with tears in his eyes: “The younger one, who has finished school now, wants to go to Dubai as she thinks the Agnipath plan will not provide her with a stable future. Soon, only my daughter and I will be left here,” she says.

economic migration

While Nathowal’s narrow streets and every second house tell a story of service, modern aspirations have motivated scores of youth in Punjab over the years to travel abroad in the hope of a better life.

According to a study by Ludhiana-based Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Punjab is experiencing a steady increase in migration: around 13.34% of rural households have at least one member abroad. Migration from 1990 to September 2022 was taken into account. Measuring the trends, causes and consequences of migration from rural Punjab, the study noted: “As stated by families of migrants, the main reported factors behind overseas migration are low income, fewer employment opportunities and corruption.”

Honorary Naib Subedar Harjinderpal Singh (retired), who served in the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment formed in 1941, said, “I wanted my son to be in the army, but he wanted to go abroad. After school, he completed a course as a plumber at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and went to Canada two years ago. He works in a cosmetics factory there.”

He adds that many of his son’s friends have gone abroad, mostly to England, Australia and Canada. “If there were good decent-paying jobs here that could support a family, then I don’t think many of our young people would flee abroad. Governments seriously need to offer better employment opportunities.”

It is the birthplace of Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, a Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra in Ludhiana’s Isewal village. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

He remembers 1986, when he entered the army. “We were about 15 friends who joined the army together. I’m planning to move to Canada soon to be with my family,” he says, bowing his head.

At the memorial site, Navy Warrant Officer Gurdeep Singh (Retd) is also concerned about immigration. One of his sons is in Australia; the other works in a private company in Ludhiana, one of the industrial cities of Punjab. “Physical fitness has taken a hit among many young people. I think drug use may also be one of the factors,” he adds.

Hakam’s son Harvinder Singh, a retired Subedar of the Army’s Bombay Engineer Group (BEG), feels that one reason for the exodus is that parents want to send their children away from the drug-plagued State. “My son and daughter wanted to go abroad after completing their university education. They separated about four years ago and now they are both working and earning well in Canada,” says Harvinder.

Subedar Honorary Captain Gurdeep Singh of 7th Sikh Regiment (Retd) says he motivates young men in his village to join the Army. “I have trained 30-35 men to enroll in Agniveer in the last few months. But I don’t know how many have been selected. The physical test in army selection is a bit difficult and it is a fact that many people fail the test these days,” he says.

Last year, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also pointed out the lack of Punjabi youth in the Sikh Regiment. At an event, the Prime Minister said that the Commander-in-Chief of Western Command had informed him of these concerns. Maan attributed the famine to migration and the problem of drug addiction among young people.

vikas.vasudeva@thehindu.co.in

Edited by Sunalini Mathew.