Children set the agenda: get powerful and avoid war

Rakesh Rocky

Chak Baja (Rs Pura Sector), January 17: Jai Hind on their lips and peace in their hearts, they want India to beat Pakistan, but prefer peace. "We should be so powerful that we beat the enemy without war," said Barqat Ali, a class six student here.

As tension mounts on the borders, patriotic subjects have been the central idea of programmes in schools. In skits, students defeat enemies and militants, and in songs they give the message of bravery.

While it's understandable how militancy has affected the impressionable minds of these children, somehow, the message from them is always peace. "We do not like war," says Sarabjeet, a student in Sun Shine Public School.

In fact, a few of them even think that wars are created by politicians. "Ye nete karvate hain jhhagre," said Satnam.

These students presented a skit in the village on Thursday in the presence of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who unveiled the statue of martyr NK Dev Raj Sharma. From the 18 Grenadiers, who had fought bravely against the enemy in the Kargil war before being killed in battle on July 5, 1999.

With such examples amidst them, these children obviously reflect the same valiant spirit. The theme of the skit was patriotism, in which all the soldiers lose their lives in a militant attack, but keep the tricolour flying high. Yet there is an equally strong feeling for peace in them, perhaps instinctive. "Soldiers have to sacrifice their lives, but it's better to avoid war," said Jaswinder, who played a militant in the skit.

Exposure to the media has only tempered their thinking. "We see all in television. Our parents discuss about the war," said Pradeep Sharma. "There should be war. Though it will claim a lot of lives, there is no alternative. My father says the same thing."

Why, even tiny tots have their own opinion. Rohit, a class one student is strong on peace. "Nahin, larai nahin chahiye," he declares. But they want to see India as a world power in the future. "We want to see India more powerful than America. Have you seen how countries fear them?" said Shashi, who played Bharat Mata in the skit.