Colonel Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, born in Alwar, Rajasthan is the most decorated serving officer of the Indian Army. The CO of the 21st battalion of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) has three gallantry awards to his name – the Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra and Sena Medal – and a Vishisht Sena Medal. He has ascended Mount Everest three times and scaled 14 peaks in total during his service. 

His contribution over the years in anti-terrorist operations and mountaineering is the stuff of legends. What makes his achievements so impactful is that he's known in the inner circles as a true blue patriot and he serves with very high integrity. Therefore, a recent interview in which he explained the core foundational principles of our nation that every politician must propagate is going viral.

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Here's the clip from that interview:

If you had to listen to one man today. #OneTalkToday
Who - Col SS Shekhawat, CO 21 Special Forces, the most decorated serving officer.

Why - In one minute he gives a lesson more powerful than all politicians put together @atahasnain53 @rwac48 @rajeev_mp @ragarwal @priyaramani pic.twitter.com/J08KCE0KGA

This is what Shekhawat said in the interview:

“In the army you live in a very pluralistic, secular society and you act like a unit. I keep saying this, so when I was commissioned and when I joined Special Forces, I was asked by one of my NCO, 'What is your religion, what is your caste?' I said I am Hindu Rajput and he said, 'Bloody chap take a dip in that dirty water'. And so I went in and took the dip and then I realized there is something wrong that I said. So then he again asked and I said, 'Sir my religion is Special Forces and my caste is Special Forces'. He then told me, 'See, you're an officer so your religion is the religion of your boys. If your boy is a Hindu, you're a Hindu; if your boy is a Sikh, you're a Sikh; if your boy is a Christian, you're a Christian; if your boy is a Muslim, you're a Muslim'. So, as an officer you are everything. And so, when we have this kind of template and you apply this template in the country, I think most of the problem will be solved. All the religion are there and all the classes and clans are together and still they are one unit.”

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At a time when communal incidents are at a 3-year high according to Indian government reports, this statement makes a lot of sense for all communities and politicians who look to exploit every issue through agenda driven vote bank politics. And maybe if our politicians do not understand this language then it's time for army men like Shekhawat to enter politics and clean up the mess.