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Could have been You, Could have been Me

The Picture that horrified India. Photo Credits - PTI


44 lives lost in an instant, so that the rest of us could live in peace. It could have been you and me, but we sit in the comforts of our homes, mostly oblivious to the perils of our brothers and sisters who have chosen the harder way of life.

The Day the Country will never forget


A small town in the state of Jammu and Kashmir became a household name overnight for a very tragic reason. On the day specially dedicated to celebrating Love and the matters of the heart, the town of Pulwama was drenched in the colour of blood.

On a day dedicated to the purest of emotions, a deafening blast rocked the Valley of Kashmir, as a Suicide Bomber ran a vehicle full of explosives into a CRPF bus. Valentine's Day in India would never be the same again.


The inital reports said that at least 44 lives were lost in an instant. 44 men traveling in a bus, people of flesh and blood. People with families and dreams and aspirations. It could have been you and me, sitting together or separately, chatting away or daydreaming. Can you imagine being in a journey in one instance and being blown to pieces in the next?

There are many questions left to answer, even in a state of mourning. The country might be divided in the opinions of her people, but her people are unified in their anger towards the incident. The heinous act sent a shockwave throughout the country and the response from the average Indian was overwhelming.

Every citizen felt for their departed Brothers, however, not everyone would have felt the agonies of the families. The sufferings of the departed souls cannot be measured in words, but the lifelong pain inflicted in the families they left behind is in no amount less.

The Pains of Separation

Imagine little children suddenly being told that their father would never return home. Imagine the agony of a wife who learns that her Husband has passed away. Imagine proud parents breaking down at the news of their beloved son's demise. Imagine the state of mind of siblings who have lost their brother.

There are so many emotions involved, so many things that happen away from the public eye. The whole of India is reeling in the pains of the departed lives, but the sufferings of the families are their own. Because only the one who has lost truly can feel the pains of lifelong separation.

The impact is instant, but the effects will last till eternity. Little boys and girls will grow up without the tough love of their fathers, little hearts who will never know how beautiful it is to swing in the arms of their Papa.

Wives, Sweethearts shall live the rest of their lives clinging on to the little bits of memories they have. At the dead of the night, after pretending to be strong in front of the world, they will run their fingers through the old clothes of their husband, and try to gather solace from old photographs. They will immerse themselves in their tears and live the same night again and again, till their last breath.

Parents, fathers and mothers, old and weary, will sit through the evenings and recall the childhood days of their departed child. They will remember watching him grow and transform from a young boy into a man. A man who gave his everything for the country, a son every parent would be proud of. Yet, ask everyone of the family, and they would give their all to have him back again.

Honouring the Lives that are lost

44 men taken away long before their time; it could have been you, it could have been me. We are only alive because someone else is willing to die for us. Somebody's father, someone's mother. Sons, Daughters, Husband, Wives, people we have never met, are willing to sacrifice their lives so that we can live in peace.

Our lives are their parting gifts, so let us lead a life that the departed souls would be proud of. Together, hand in hand, we have the power to ensure that India continues to be a country worth dying for. It won't be easy, but it is possible.

We begin by simply becoming a better person; a better father, a better mother, a better son, a better daughter, a better human being, and by becoming a better version of ourselves, we honour their sacrifices. Let us instill within us the same discipline and zeal to serve the country that drives our fearless brothers and sisters into the pangs of death with a smile.

Not everyone needs to lay down their lives for the country, but the least we can do is build a better world as a tribute to the men who gave their lives for us. It could have been either of us, so it is time to be thankful and strive to build a future where no precious life is snatched away before time. It is the least we can do for the people who gave their lives for us.
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Location: Mangaldoi, Assam, India

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