Lance Naik Feroz Khan’s Martyrdom Intensifies Patriotism in Muslims!

From the archives…Sixty six years since the partition of India, yet the archaic tension at the border line has reluctantly refused to disappear. The masqueraded enmity between the two nations continues to prevail as the diplomatic talks between the officials on either side failed to ease the violators of peace.

The patriots in the skin of common man mourned the loss of Lance Naik Mohd Firoz Khan, as news of his martyrdom commuted from the Panjani Nallah of Poonch to the matrix of media resources we are plugged into.

Lance Naik’s martyrdom was celebrated in an unprecedented manner as thousands of Muslims joined his funeral procession to pay homage to the national hero. Social media was rife with fervor and tribute to a true patriot whose love for the country warranted him to request a 3-year extension after the end of his 16-year long tenure to continue serving the nation.

In an exclusive interview to Syed Khaled Shahbaaz, ex-army personnel who fought against Pakistan in the previous Indo-Pak wars lauded Feroz Khan’s sacrifice in the interest of the country.

But for Muslims who contribute to only 3% of the Indian army, the distress of Firoz Khan’s loss is eclipsed by the luminosity of his martyrdom which testifies the patriotism running through the veins of the Muslim blood today as it had been the case in yester years and so will be in future.

Although secularism defines best our multi-religious existence, many young Indians are unaware of Muslim heroes in the battle to Indian independence. The historic martyrdom of Tipu Sultan shaheed against English men, Havildar Abdul Hameed’s sacrifices against Pakistan, Lt. Haneef’s sacrifice in the Kargil Waror of several Muslim martyrs seem to be confined in the secluded aura of our hearts, unsung and awaiting their due or battling existence in the deteriorating print of history books.

The 36 year old cancelled his Eid ul Adha holiday, only to come back home as a martyr father to unknowing children, exanimate husband to a wife who was expecting reunion in festive mood and an exemplary Indian to the rest of us.

Once again, a Muslim martyr reiterated that secularism is a precursor to our religious ideologies, and that Muslims respect martyrs even as the world refuses to acknowledge the unprecedented stature of patriotism engineered by Muslims and often entailing Muslim martyrdom that won the country its independence in consequence.

Regardless, patriotism, for once, seemed more apparent in the supporting masses, whose eyes gleamed with pride as he was laid to rest at a local grave yard in Hyderabad with full Military honors.Their pain commixed with pride yet unadulterated in essence. Political leaders of different parties came together to pay their last respects to the hero of 2013.

Lance Naik’s sacrifice will not go in vain. Even as he took to eternal peace, the tricolor covering his funeral ignited a spark of patriotism in young Indians, as well as his own 15 year old nephew who aspires to serve in armed forces. There are several martyrs fighting the battle for peace, ensuring national security, and the survival of humanity – sacrificing their lives so that we could live ours.  Muslims too are a part of those regiments.

Certain communal elements have infected the secular minds with a false ideology that Muslims are terrorists. However, there is an outright refute radiating through Lance Naik’s martyrdom that curbs this destructive momentum.

The article was originally written in October 2013 immediately after the news of Lance Naik’s martyrdom.