This year Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkiya Mahavidyalaya arranged an elaborate programme to pay tribute to the memories of late Capt Ashim Kumar Bhattacharya, alumni of the college on his eighth martyrdom day. It was a little surprising to note that it took the college eight long years to recollect that Ashim was a college alumnus and that tribute should be paid to him on the day. Even if the college knew it earlier, it must have been an in-house programme to remember him on the occasion.

But this year it was an elaborate programme involving the Lt Governor who happens to be a retired soldier himself. What hurts is the callous way our martyrs are used by vested interests to promote their own agenda and to get proximity to the seat of power. Exploiting the patriotic spirit is the most abominable of the acts used to further own self interests.

In the past also in the name of martyrs lots of programmes were arranged to honour those who had laid down their lives in the Kargil war. Huge sums of taxpayers' money were spent on such programmes and after a few months the images of the soldiers were seen lying under a tree or by the side of toilets. The reason is very simple; the object of the programme was never to honor the martyrs or the soldiers, it was plain and simple an effort to get close to the Lt Governors, get themselves registered as front runner patriots with an ocean of love and respect for the soldiers who lay down their lives for the sake of the country.

The Lt Governors find themselves in a fix when approached for such programmes. They can't afford to refuse since it would send a wrong signal. The only way out is to accept the invitation and be a part of it. No doubt the soldiers deserve the highest respect that a nation can pay. But it should be something tangible, something permanent that would stay put and will be remembered year after year. No hypocrisy!

Capt Ashim Kr Bhattacharyya was insulted once earlier also. In a fit of patriotism, a park was construction in Janglighat where there was no space for a park. It was merely a footpath that was converted into a park. Prof Ram Kapse might have rued the day he agreed to inaugurate it. However, the park was inaugurated with great fanfare and within a year it was severely damaged by tsunami. Nobody thought of rebuilding it again. Every day the councillor who was a party to the project passes that way. The PBMC made a garbage dump at the gate of the park instead. (see LoA; July 28).

It hurts our sensibility when we see the disrespect shown to the martyrs. The heads of state would have to find a way to discourage such hypocritical approaches.