‘We
mourn
the
lives
that
have
been
lost,
soldiers
who
will
never
come
home,
whose
names
are
now
etched
in
the
soul
of
this
country.’
‘May
their
families
find
strength
in
the
nation’s
gratitude.’
‘So
tonight,
and
every
night
forward,
we
hope
for
less
silence
born
of
tension,
and
more
silence
born
of
peace.’
Border
Security
Force
personnel
carry
the
mortal
remains
of
BSF
Constable
Deepak
Chingakham
who
lost
his
life
in
Pakistan
firing
in
Jammu
and
Kashmir’s
RS
Pura
sector.
Photograph:
ANI
Photo
These
are
uncertain
times
for
many
of
us
Indians,
and
Alia
Bhatt
voices
it
in
her
latest
post.
‘The
last
few
nights
have
felt…
different,’
she
writes.
‘There’s
a
certain
stillness
in
the
air
when
a
nation
holds
its
breath.
And
over
the
past
few
days
we’ve
felt
that
stillness.
That
quiet
anxiety.
That
pulse
of
tension
that
hums
beneath
every
conversation,
behind
every
news
notification,
around
every
dinner
table.
‘We
have
felt
the
weight
of
knowing
that
somewhere,
out
there
in
the
mountains,
our
soldiers
are
awake,
alert,
and
in
danger.
‘While
most
of
us
are
tucked
into
our
homes,
there
are
men
and
women
standing
in
the
dark,
guarding
our
sleep
with
theirs.
With
their
lives.
‘And
that
reality…
it
does
something
to
you.
Across
the
country,
in
Imphal,
BSF
Constable
Deepak
Chingakham’s
mother
weeps
for
her
son.
Photograph:
ANI
Photo
‘Because
you
realise
this
isn’t
just
bravery.
It’s
sacrifice.
And
behind
every
uniform
is
a
mother
who
hasn’t
slept
either.
A
mother
who
knows
her
child
is
facing
a
night
not
of
lullabies,
but
of
uncertainty.
‘Of
tension.
Of
silence
that
can
shatter
in
an
instant.
‘On
Sunday
we
celebrated
Mother’s
Day.
‘And
while
flowers
were
being
handed
out
and
hugs
were
exchanged,
I
couldn’t
help
but
think
of
the
mothers
who
raised
heroes
and
carry
that
quiet
pride
with
just
a
little
more
steel
in
their
spine.
‘We
mourn
the
lives
that
have
been
lost,
soldiers
who
will
never
come
home,
whose
names
are
now
etched
in
the
soul
of
this
country.
May
their
families
find
strength
in
the
nation’s
gratitude.
‘So
tonight,
and
every
night
forward,
we
hope
for
less
silence
born
of
tension,
and
more
silence
born
of
peace.
‘And
send
love
to
every
parent
out
there
holding
prayers,
holding
back
tears.
‘Because
your
strength
moves
this
nation
more
than
you’ll
ever
know.
‘We
stand
together.
For
our
protectors.
For
India. Jai
Hind.’
Photographs
curated
by
Satish
Bodas/Rediff