Am I right about Martyrs?

I still remember my first utterance of the word – Martyr when I was in my school days. I was told that we had only four martyrs at that time. Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand what a martyr really was. I didn’t know what were those contributions that made them legend. I often used to ponder. While thinking about them what used to bother my unripe sense was the ending of their lives. I had lots of empathy for their pain that they suffered for their offering to the nation. Ironically, now when I am well known about the word, I am again confused. Thus, I thought of reviewing my perception. It turned out to be the necessity because something unusual took place in the mindset of Nepalese people. It occurred when our government decided to declare the dead Tarun Dal leader Shiva Paudel , a new Martyr of the nation.

A martyr always maintains his sky-scraping principle despite the peril of losing life and the possessions. 

I was taught that a martyr is a person who sacrifices his/her life for the welfare of the country. He bears the affliction for holding his head high. He prefers death to luxurious life that his living can offer. A martyr always maintains his sky-scraping principle despite the peril of losing life and the possessions. His belief is his asset. He is a real hero and idol for the common people for ages. He never dies rather his death is commemorated. He grabs the death that makes him a star, and thus everyone wants to pursue the same death. This is his moment. These features label him as a Legend that people hardly forget. This is all I have about a martyr. But what made me surprised was the decision of announcing a jailed man a martyr. This is a slap on the face of law and justice. This portrays the clear picture of dusty politics of country. They have tainted the respectability of martyrs as well. Being a cadre of a political party doesn’t make him/her a martyr. Similarly, enlarging the list of dead cadres doesn’t earn any reputation for those so called political parties no matter what they fight for and how they introduce themselves. The latest example is set by the Nepali Congress that compelled government to cast a bitter and bizarre verdict never seen before.

The happening ended not only me but all the civilians to wonder once again. I am not biased to any political parties hence the question I have raised is the query of the entire nation. I am just articulating the notion. Majority of the people cannot accept this. This could be seen on the wall of many facebookers on Monday. The social networking sites have emerged as large platform for public opinions on any matter of social concern. All Nepalese Fb pages had shown their strong disagreement to the move. Many of them had shared the pictures stating that if he/she dies even at the service of nation, they would not like to be called a martyr. This is really pathetic and shameful to us. Such move cannot produce any positive message to the children and their understanding about our real heroes. Rather it spreads the negative connotation.

Since most of the people discontented with this declaration, I am assured that I had a great schooling and my teacher taught me well about martyrs. But he couldn’t teach me that the definition may vary in upcoming days.