Are You a Sitting Duck in Life’s Battlefield?

During World War II, thousands of British and Allied soldiers found themselves cornered on the beaches of Dunkirk, France. Surrounded by the German army and bombarded from the skies, they had no cover, no clear escape route, and limited support.

They were, quite literally, sitting ducks—exposed, helpless, waiting for either death or a miracle.

And yes, a miracle did come. In what history remembers as the Dunkirk Evacuation, more than 300,000 soldiers were rescued by a spontaneous armada of naval ships and civilian boats. But not without heavy losses: over 60,000 casualties, and a mountain of equipment and hope left behind.

Let’s flip the lens to your life.

Imagine a sudden illness, a job loss, or a health crisis in your 50s. Or reaching your 70s with no retirement income and soaring medical bills.
Do you want to be in that moment—unprepared, exposed, and completely dependent on luck or charity?

Just like Dunkirk, miracles may happen – a kind friend, a generous child, or a government scheme might pull you out. But is that your plan?

Is that your strategy?

Or will you do what soldiers at Dunkirk couldn’t – prepare in advance?

Unlike wartime soldiers, you have time, options, and tools. Your first line of defense is:

1. Life Insurance

A proper term insurance cover ensures that your loved ones aren’t left stranded if something happens to you. It’s your shield—simple, affordable, and essential.

2. Health Insurance

With medical costs rising faster than inflation, depending on your savings alone is risky. A good health insurance plan with a super top-up ensures you don’t bleed financially during hospitalization.

Yet many people keep postponing these decisions, thinking, “I’ll figure it out later.”

But later is when the enemy arrives.

Earlier generations had it different:

• Jobs were pensionable.

• Joint families provided emotional and financial cushion.

• Medical science wasn’t prolonging life so much—nor were chronic illnesses as common.

Today:

• Pensions are rare.

• Families are getting smaller and scattered.

• People are living longer—but not healthier.

• And retirement often lasts 25+ years—longer than even your working life.

If you’re over 40 and haven’t started saving for retirement, you’re already crouched on the metaphorical beach—waiting for rescue that may never come.

You may believe that you’ll downsize your lifestyle, rely on your kids, or sell an asset when needed.
But those are not plans—they’re hopeful miracles.
And miracles, by definition, aren’t dependable.

Your financial Dunkirk is avoidable.
You can:

• Get a term life cover based on your actual liabilities and goals.

• Secure your health with a comprehensive health policy + super top-up.

• Start building your retirement corpus, even if late, using SIPs in mutual funds or other long-term products.

You don’t need to be a soldier to prepare for life’s warzones.

• Assess your insurance gaps

• Start your retirement plan, even if with a small amount

• Ask yourself: “If I were gone tomorrow or retired today, would my family (and I) still stand tall—or be left ducking for cover?”

Because life doesn’t always give you a Dunkirk escape.