Spare a thought for those who stand and serve

In the great theatre of human civilization, where skyscrapers rise into the clouds, lights blaze through the darkness, and societies buzz with relentless motion, there exists an often invisible presence - silent, steady, and stoic - the security personnel.

- NARAYANAN KIZHUMUNDAYUR

These men and women, often unnoticed and uncelebrated, stand like sentinels in the shadows of our lives, safeguarding our homes, offices, banks, schools, and dreams. Yet, paradoxically, those who guard our lives and properties remain themselves unguarded - vulnerable, neglected, and forgotten.

This is not just an occupational irony. It is a social tragedy, a human rights concern, and a collective failure of empathy. To understand the grievances of these unsung heroes, one must first understand the invisible burdens they carry and the silent sacrifices they make.

Walk past any gated community, commercial complex, or hospital, and you are likely to see a man with grey hair, slightly hunched shoulders, and a tired smile. That man, often past the age of sixty, is a former soldier, police officer, factory worker, or government employee who has completed one lifetime of service and has now entered a second one - not by choice, but by compulsion.

Retirement, in its ideal form, is meant to be a reward for years of labour - a time for rest, reflection, and peace. But for many retired individuals, pensions are insufficient or nonexistent. Rising medical expenses, inflation, family responsibilities, and the burden of survival push them back into the workforce. And the only job they are often deemed fit for is that of a security guard. They do not complain. The soldier who once guarded national borders now guards residential gates with the same sense of duty. The man who once managed a file desk now checks ID cards. But deep within, there is a wound - a quiet humiliation of having to stand for hours, salute disrespectful youngsters, and work under people who may be half their age but twice as indifferent.