Soldier fights for the nation, not for rewards: Mizoram Governor
“A soldier does not fight for reward but for duty, honour, and the belief that his sacrifice will serve the nation,” said Governor of Mizoram General Dr Vijay Kumar Singh (PVSM, AVSM, YSM) on Thursday.
He made this observation at a symposium at the Delhi Vidhan Sabha to mark the 108th anniversary of the War Conference (Yudh-Sammelan). The theme of the symposium was “Pratham Vishvayudh aur Bharat”. The speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Vijender Gupta presided over the programme.
A commemorative book, “Proceedings of the War Conference held at Delhi 27th-29th April 1918”, was released by the Governor. Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Smriti Vijay Goyal, Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht, MLAs and a delegation of ex-servicemen, besides others, were also present at the event.
Speaking on the legacy of Indian soldiers, Dr V K Singh reflected on the immense yet often under-recognised contribution of Indian troops in global conflicts. He noted that over 1.3 million Indian soldiers participated in World War I, with nearly 74,000 laying down their lives, whose names are commemorated at India Gate.
The Governor underlined that Indian soldiers did not fight with a “slave mentality,” but with a deep sense of duty and honour, drawing inspiration from the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita. He stated that soldiers fought not for personal gain, but for the honour of their units and the hope that their efforts would benefit the nation.
Citing examples from the Sino-Indian War, he highlighted the extraordinary resilience of Indian troops who continued to fight despite severe shortages of equipment and resources.
Highlighting India’s global military legacy, the Governor pointed to the role of Indian forces in theatres such as Europe, East Africa, and the Middle East, including the historic liberation of Haifa, commemorated at Teen Murti Haifa Chowk.
