Unity In Diversity

I am at this family meet for Raksha Bandhan, and the diversity is engaging. It has people from many states of the country with a common link - they are all from the armed forces.

The meaning of community was different when they chose partners to marry. It was a particular lifestyle, an ideology, a commitment that brought them together, and it was a defense services background.

I’m amused when they make a special effort to find topics to talk to us - the only two people from civilian life working in the corporate sector. We are the aliens…

We continue to meet them every year. 

The country is being thrown into divisive politics, and their disappointment is not concealed. They just don’t understand how a person from their unit, battalion or family can be isolated on the basis of a column in the birth certificate - Religion.

The unifying theme of the tricolor, the wheel of forward movement is conspicuous with its absence.

In which direction are we moving?