Today, the nation is understandably charged with national fervour but it should not take a tragedy of mammoth proportions to bring forth this angst and passion. Think about the soldier daily, even on days when he does not make headlines. Think about the figure on the border, or a remote outpost putting their life in danger every single day.

People in cities say they want to show that they care about our men in uniform. I say that the defence personnel do not ask for much. They only ask that their families and they be treated with respect. A soldier's old mother when she is offered a seat in public transport knows she has your respect. In fact, this should be for all the elderly, but unfortunately I see these values eroding fast in the current generation. This is just an example of how small gestures mean so much to a defence personnel's family.