Dear Richa Chadha ji,

I cannot explain in words the hurt I felt seeing your tweet. It’s not everyday that you come across such loathsome words from a fellow citizen. It’s not about me being a Fauji. It’s not even about you not being one. It’s the sheer audacity and shamelessness with which you’ve trivialised the sacrifices of those who lost their lives and limbs at Galwan Valley.

In your movies, and this goes out to other members of Bollywood too – you all are very keen to play roles of Armed force personnel. Then your characters become pinnacle of honesty, bravery and values. Some of them die also in the movie, creating an aura of gloom and despair, nudging the viewers to search their souls and grasp the gist of that scene and movie, which is supposed perfect portrayal of a soldier dying in action and a brilliant life cut short.

Simple minded souls like me often buy into that and believe that you and your fraternity have lot of respect for the forces and these movies, apart from a financial venture, are also an extension of same respect and adulation.

But then, after the scene, hero gets up, washes up and goes on to live his life. If he actually cared for forces or not, having done that movie, we will never know. But let’s say the commoners but the charade.

Now, coming to my point – in real life, it doesn’t happen like that. The mockery you blatantly displayed of soldiers who lost their lives in Galwan, not only shows your downright ignorance but also hidden disdain for soldiers. Those men were beaten and bludgeoned to death. And for what ? Coz they were doing their duty of defending us. Because they refused to think “what’s the point ? Why should i risk myself ? Why should I die when some Richa doesn’t even care ?” They didn’t falter, they didn’t hesitate. In overwhelming situations they fought and killed huge number of enemies before laying down their lives.

Their families are never going to see them again. Sons, brothers, husbands and father who will not come back home to share joy and moments with their families. All that is left for the families is a proud feeling that their kin gave his life to save us all and they always have the gratitude of this nation.

And then you come along with your minions in the comments, who laugh and smirk at those soldiers and their families. You don’t even risk a bad script. And you thought it’s cool to mock an Organization which in its entirety is ready to sacrifice itself so you can continue calling India as your country.

I cannot go beyond the norms of social etiquettes and cultured discourse to actually tell you how I feel about people like you. But then let’s say there are some I regard as lowest of the low citizens. And you’re there.

I’m just one man who doesn’t even watch Bollywood movies. So my shunning you or your movies isn’t going to make any impact to your or Bollywood’s existence and life. However, I do hope that some in Bollywood, who still have some decency and love for nation left, call you out on this and your banned and banished from Bollywood.

If you cannot respect those who sacrificed their lives for you, you definitely don’t have the right to play them and earn money and fame.

Jai Hind.

(This article has been compiled from the tweet thread originally tweeted by Maj Manik M Jolly,SM (@Manik_M_Jolly) on November 24, 2022.)