However, Naib Subedar (Retd) Ramrao Mohite, who served the Regiment of Artillery, has other matters on his mind. The family tradition of serving the Army for eight generations has been threatened by his son who works as a labourer on daily wages, something which the old man can't accept.

But for the young, joining the Services is not everything. They would rather discuss jobs in the city, the need for proper roads and, more importantly, a public toilet. ``Our fathers have served the nation well. But look what they have got in return. The government has not done anything for us. We have been let down. Look at this dusty track. And we managed this only after persistent efforts,'' complains Chandrakant Keshavrao Mohite whose elder brother is an ex-Serviceman.

In Talbid today, theyoung, who have been brought up on a diet of tales of valour, are rebelling. They now see a whole, wide world outside their little village. A world full of opportunities, means to realise dreams.

People now discuss politics animatedly. Some see shades of Lal Bahadur Shastri in Atal Behari Vajpayee. ``Vajpayee has done what no one else could have done. Shastri and Vajpayee have been our only tall leaders,'' they say.There are others who point out that you can't belittle Pawar. ``He is the only national leader from Maharashtra. As Defence Minister, he got our pensions hiked. He has done a lot for the jawans. Not only for Maharashtra but for the entire country.''

Politics has entered homes where once only heroics on the battlefield was the staple diet of discussions. Talbid is changing and the people looking beyond the poll plank of Kargil.

Vishwanath Hiremath