There is a bombardment of all kinds of forwarded messages on WhatsApp—fake and real. While many forwards may be dismissed as downright silly, there are some that leave a deep impact on you. While meandering around a plethora of WhatsApp messages, I came across a post that haunted me: “War is where young people who don’t know each other and don’t hate each other but kill each other, by the decision of old people who know each other and hate each other but don’t kill each other.”
However, I doubt if the recent India-Pakistan conflict fits into the above definition of war. The seeds of the current conflict were sown when Pakistan-sponsored terrorists mercilessly killed innocent tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. The dastardly act of terror sent a wave of anger and anguish across the country. Electronic and social media went ballistic with inflammatory rhetoric, putting pressure on the government to react immediately and decisively. However, the government chose to act in a calibrated manner, launching ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7. Terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan was struck at nine different locations. What started as a ‘measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible’ action against terrorist bases escalated into a warlike situation with retaliatory drone attacks by Pakistan.
While our men and women in uniform made us proud by countering every attack and making decisive counter-attacks, the so-called nationalist social media warriors were busy intensifying war rhetoric through messages full of bravado and jingoism. In the midst of the conflict, when drone attacks were successfully thwarted by our robust air defence system, I was appalled by a boastful forwarded message on WhatsApp that described the decimation of enemy drones by Indian missiles as a ‘spectacle’ for enjoyment. How can we equate war with entertainment?
War is not a movie to enjoy or a spectacle to watch and applaud. Army personnel are not actors performing on a film set. They are people in flesh and blood; someone’s loved ones, someone’s ‘sindoor’. However, it would be wrong to limit the image of army personnel only to men, for women, too, serve in the armed forces on the call of duty. Contrary to what many may visualize war as a video game, where you remain safe while hitting targets and killing the enemy, real war has serious consequences. There are losses and casualties, death and destruction on both sides. War may be inevitable in certain situations, but there is nothing glamorous about it. War leaves permanent scars that are difficult to erase.
All along, I had been praying for the conflict to end, but when it actually concluded on May 10, it came as a bolt from the blue. I had my afternoon nap rather late that day , as I was glued to television watching war updates until about a quarter to five. As soon as I got up at around 5:30 in the evening, I reached for my mobile to check WhatsApp. The first message I found was Trump’s tweet announcing the ceasefire. Yes, it was on WhatsApp that I learned about the suspension of hostilities. My first reaction was one of disbelief. Given the credibility of WhatsApp messages, I was not sure of its authenticity. I texted, ‘Fake or real?’ Without waiting for a reply, I immediately switched on the television and got the confirmation.
We should have been heaving a sigh of relief that the conflict didn’t escalate into a full-blown, prolonged war, which would have cost dearly in terms of men and material. However, a sort of discontent began to unfold on social media. Thanks to unreasonable expectations stoked by disinformation, the army of social media warriors turned their ire towards Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who, along with Col. Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, was the face of media briefings during Op Sindoor. He was subjected to vicious trolling by the army of warmongers on social media.
The cessation of conflict should have been welcomed by everyone, but it was not. As I was trying to figure out the reaction to the ceasefire, a WhatsApp forward gave me much clarity on the issue: “The enthusiasm of most people for war is directly proportional to the distance of their homes from the borders.” How true! Those living on the border under constant threat of shelling will never support war. However, I would like to add that not just physical, but emotional distance also matters. If your loved ones are in the armed forces on the front, you pray for peace and not war.
(Published in ALIVE magazine by Delhi press in June 2025)
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I agree more than 100%with every word that you have written. Yes INDIA had all the right to self defense and that is why OPRETION SINDOOR was launched very meticulously and with aim to destroy terrorists and their basic establishments /infrastructure. It was stragicaly very well thought of attack carried out with precision causing hardly any damage to civilian population and for that we all need to applaud our Government and Armed forces in one vote and the outstaing success of our forces should make all of us proud irrespective of our elegance to any party, cast or religion but you are right Rama the war mongers and trolling groups do not let that happen .There certainly should be some policy to check and balance the nonsense being done through social media on the pretext free speech. Individual freedom is welcome but not on cost of National interest.
Thanks dear Neelam . Grateful to you for always being the first one to give your insight.
It is an apolitical article , neither to do with the narrative of the ruling party nor with the tirade of the opposition. It is my thought processes how it evolved during the course of the recent conflict .
Rama the longivity, intensity, target selection, effect on international relations, reactions from the countries with no interest and from countries with direct or indirect interest all together is the deciding factor. The factors mentioned above are also related to effet on the post operative strategies which the country would face in assorted fora. The financial effect vis a vis the length of operation as also the exposure of the country’s defensive capability all are borne in mind in such operations. Trump may for all the reason could have tested the warm water for he was keen on Nobel prize and his own asset was damaged.
Grateful to you Narinder for giving your expert comment.
I am quite naive in technical matters, though I understand the critical deciding factors in a war . I have written this article purely from a perspective of a common citizen.
Thought provoking, well articulated article Rama. You always write something to which all of us can relate. You are right , Rama. There should be some limit to WhatsApp jingoism
Thanks Alka for your kind words. Indeed it is gratifying that my write-ups resonate with my friends.
Yes Alka , I agree patriotism has tuned into jingoism on social media including WhatsApp. Many of the jingoistic posts originate from the IT cells of political parties .
Rama dear, very true whatever you have written. Most of the times, social media particularly whatsapp messages are really disturbing. There is nonstop forwarded information. You have explained it so well as if all of us thinking on the same lines but you write on behalf of all the us. Keep writing. God bless you.
Thanks dear Neelam for the appreciation. Your encouraging response gives me the confidence to write.
Rama, your article resonates with the feelings of almost all the citizens.
Those few days were so harrowing for all of us. Unfortunately the social plays a very negative role in spreading misinformation, and forwarding such messages is very harmful for the social fabric
Thanks dear Mrs Jyoti. It is indeed a matter of pride for me that you read the article and found it worth commenting upon.
I agree social media is being used to create misinformation and hype . This time we have seen how this army of social media warriors turned their ire against foreign secretary and two women officers from armed forces who were the face of media briefings during the conflict. All because the outcome was nothing close to the hype they had been fed with .
Rma.. Your article…
Meandering Around whatsapp War Msgs…
Is a complete Paper on the issue itself..
Covering every inch important role of Whatsapp Msgs.. Especially during emergencies when one needs costant touch with them..
Devastating Wars n causes n repurcussions…
Well wrote.. People who fight n are killed pay price with their lives for decicsions of political nature..
Also our safety from distance of war matters.. Physically n emotionally..
Recent.. Sindoor Operation…
How can any Indian would remain indifferent…!!!!
Social media flaring up hate.. Missile.. Drone.. Ceasefire.. What energy these Msgs carry…?????
Simple living person would read n react with double of poison..!!!
Since evolution… Powers of Demon n Devtas remained active much harming around…
In d name of Ceasefire.. N Operations.. Only a big % of population below poverty line.. Living minus members n relationships…
Just as National Telecasts.. Newspapers with fixed Daily Editions… Can these Msgs be shared but with scrutinies.. Tight Laws.. Some Code…??????????
Or FB.. Instagram.. Whatsapp… Are roaring lions left unrealesed out of Jungles..????
Hats off to your covering Issue with great sensibility..!!!
Be blessed..
Thank you much di for reading my articles with interest and giving your insight. In fact , I don’t feel satisfied till the time you read and share your views .
Ever grateful!
U have written the article articulately. I don’t know what to write. U have described the after effects of War so elaborately . Actually from the very beginning I ndians have hatered towards Pakistan. Ppl could not digest the fact there is cease fire. This is visible on matches , war or whatever transaction we do with Pakistan. In fact politicians r to blame they always say in their speerches opposite party is in favour of Pakistan or China . Ppl have bought this Narrative. They want pakistan should be crushed at any Cost even if it’s at the cost at defence personnel. We can check this animosity through dialogue not through war .
Romila , you have a point . The enmity between the two countries has been there since long which is evident everywhere including in sports . The leaders in the two countries have deepened this divide especially Pakistan Generals.
This time there has been a grave provocation in the form of Pak sponsored terror attack at Pahalgam .
Thanks dear Romika for sharing your views.
Deeply thought,sensitivity felt , well worded and excellently written
article dear Rama ! I am totally disinterested in politics but wish and pray that Trump with his unpredictable behavior and statements should not push the world to next global war…
I an sooo happy you liked the article. Thanks dear Mrs Dhawan for your kind words . Feel motivated . 🙏🙏🙏
Ma’am, I am not active on social media platforms. I observed the same views ,the people I met.
They were shocked and disappointed by the sudden close of war ,that too by DGMO level of talks.Expectations were high..Many wanted POK back, all hardcore terrorists to be killed,Balochistan to be independent and destruction of enemy’s nuclear site.Things are not as easy as it seems.Every act has national and international effects.
As it is always said War should always be the last option.
Absolutely right Garima. People’s disappointment was in direct proportion to their expectations. The blame is on social media together with electronic media that created hype and made exaggerated claims. No wonder, many felt cheated when the result didn’t match their expectations.
Very sensible sensitisation of Operation Sindoor dear Rama . Dot on conclusion about physical and emotional fall out of any war on people . It truly is inversely proportional to physical and emotional distance between warring sides . Although war is over but sting is still on ! Most people have boycotted Pakistani dramas on OTT or anything having ng reference to that country which was part of our bigger India once upon a time .
Well done Rama ! Keep writing . You have brilliant mind , acute observation and ofcourse powerful way of expression
Thank you so much dear Vini for boosting my morale. Your thoughtful well written comment is always a wonderful value addition to my writing.