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0.5 war front (A SMALL STORY) -

                                          "0.5 war front"

This is a realistic story, basing on ,"how Indian citizens contribute in war times and how they participate in 0.5 war front?"

The humid air hung heavy in the lecture hall as Smitesh Gawali stood, his voice resonating with a nervous energy. "Sir," he addressed the grizzled veteran, Brigadier Sharma, "We all admire the courage of our soldiers, our civil servants. But what about us? How can someone like me, aspiring to a career in the private sector, contribute to the defense of our nation?"

Brigadier Sharma, a man whose eyes held the stories of countless battles, nodded slowly. "An excellent question, Smitesh. The answer, young man, is simple: learn to fight."

The hall buzzed with murmurs. Learn to fight? Was the Brigadier suggesting they all become soldiers? Sharma silenced the room with a wave of his hand. "But not just on a battlefield. India's defense extends far beyond the border. It resides in the very arteries of our nation – our infrastructure."

He paused, his gaze hardening. "The 1965 war serves as a chilling reminder. While our brave soldiers fought valiantly, traitors within sabotaged roads, hindering troop movements, jeopardizing lives. That threat, Smitesh, remains real."

He projected a map of India onto the screen, a spiderweb of red lines crisscrossing the country. "Look at this. Hundreds of thousands of kilometers of highways, railway tracks, high-voltage transmission lines, and millions of kilometers of optical fiber cables. We have about 1.5 lakh kilometers of highways with thousands of bridges in between. We have railway tracks 1.3 lakh kilometers. We have extra high voltage transmission lines 1.8 lakh kilometers. We have optical fiber cable network into this ground which is 36 lakh kilometers. These are the lifelines of our nation. An attack on these is an attack on India itself."

"Our armed forces are stretched thin, patrolling our borders, maintaining internal security. They cannot be everywhere, protecting every inch of our infrastructure." He looked directly at Smitesh. "This is where you, the future leaders of our nation, step in."

That day, a seed was planted in Smitesh's mind. He couldn't stop thinking about it. He wasn't cut out for the army, but the Brigadier’s words resonated deep within him. He started researching, reading about infrastructure security, sabotage tactics, and community defense initiatives. He learned about the different types of sabotage, from simple tampering to sophisticated cyberattacks.

He found others who felt the same way. A small group, initially just five students, began meeting in secret after classes. They called themselves "Rakshaks" – protectors. Smitesh, driven by unwavering patriotism, became their leader.

They started small, organizing patrols around key infrastructure near their college – a vital railway bridge, a high-voltage substation, a vital fiber optic junction box. They learned basic self-defense techniques from a retired army officer who lived in their neighborhood. They coordinated with local police, sharing information and reporting suspicious activities.

One rainy night, their training was put to the test. While patrolling near the fiber optic junction box, Smitesh and his team noticed a van parked nearby, its engine running. Two men were huddled around the box, their faces obscured by the shadows.

Smitesh knew this was it. He signaled his team. They approached cautiously, their hearts pounding in their chests. As they got closer, they overheard the men discussing cutting the cables. They were clearly saboteurs.

"Police! Stop where you are!" Smitesh yelled, his voice trembling but firm.

The men whirled around, startled. One of them reached for a crowbar. Smitesh reacted instantly. He used the self-defense techniques he had learned, disarming the man and bringing him to the ground. The other Rakshaks quickly subdued the other saboteur.

They held them captive until the police arrived, alerted by one of the Rakshaks who had stayed back. The police investigation revealed that the saboteurs were part of a larger network attempting to disrupt communications across the region.

News of the Rakshaks' bravery spread like wildfire. They were hailed as heroes. Smitesh, no longer just a student with a question, was now a symbol of civic responsibility and patriotism.

The Rakshaks' success inspired other communities across India to form similar groups. People from all walks of life – software engineers, doctors, farmers, teachers – joined the movement, learning to protect their local infrastructure.

India's defense had expanded beyond the battlefield. It had become a nationwide effort, a collective responsibility. And it all started with a simple question from a student named Smitesh Gawali, and the powerful answer: learn to fight. Now, thousands stood ready, not in uniform, but in their hearts, determined to defend the arteries of their nation, a silent, watchful army against the shadows within. The true defense of India, it turned out, lay not just in its soldiers, but in the vigilant eyes and courageous hearts of its citizens.

The  stark Reality of war' is very annoying for ordinary citizen. the local govt has to  conduct mock drills in for items for effective civil defense .

Common Measures every citizen should follow under the guidance of local govt - 1.Operationalization of Air Raid Warning Sirens 2.Training of civilians, students, etc, on the civil defense aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack. 3.Provision of crash black out measures 4.Provision for early camouflaging of vital plants / installations 5.Updation of evacuation plan & its rehearsal

Jai Bharat

 

 

 

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