26/07/2021
I was a school going kid back in 1999. Not mature enough to understand war and the results
My father was posted in 16th Jat Regiment in somewhere Srinagar. There were no mobile phones. Dad used to call mostly on Sundays. I have seen those typical letters from Dad (Sandeshe aate h type). We all except Papa were at home on summer vacation. And then the news of war put everyone in tension. Since I'm hailing from Jhunjhunu. There is atleast one guy from every family belongs to Indian army including 3 from my own family. One of my grandpa(Joint family) was war hero (1971)
My father promised us to be there at home with us during that summer vacations. Due to the hostile situations and the priority of duty he couldn't join us. My mom told us about his helplessness and the urgency of duty. I was a kid, innocent kid unaware of what was going. There were no DTH/Mobile phones and I'm from a small village there was no cable system. DD metro and DD1 were the only channel. There was a programme named Aankho Dekhi hosted by some Nalini Singh. She used to wear big black spakes. it was the only way to get news about War. used to broadcasted around 9pm. She used to gave statistics of War. The causalities, name of martyrs and from where he belong. I have seen my mom and sisters in tension during the whole programme. Since there was no direct or indirect contact with papa all news were delivered by Nalini Singh. Meanwhile the most horrible thing had started happening. In my surrounding there was at least one dead body started arriving everyday. Those young lads, many of them were only son, joined army recently, got married or having toddlers and got martyrdom at this young age.
My locality is Jat dominant and Since the Jat regiment was deployed to the war having most soldiers from my district Out of every Two martyrs in Rajasthan one was from Jhunjhunu Relatives used to visit home and asked us not to worry about. But I was unaware of anything but scared. One day we were cleaning our house. Me and my sisters. My dad have been posted to Siyachen priviously. The extreme cold desert. He served there for approx 9 months. And he has a photo coming back from Himalayas in giant beard and long hair. He kept it as a souvenir of done mission.I took the picture in my hands, wiped out the dust stared into it for a while and again put it where it was. There were flowers in the garden, I plucked a few made a garland and did most silly s**t in my life.
When my elder sister saw it, she yelled at me. I was scolded by all. I didn't know what does that mean. I put that damn garland on my father's picture.
It fu**in boosted their tension. Everytime in such situations, people look on the negative side. I don't know why ! But it's principle human nature.
Schools were re opened, one of my sisters went to hostel. We were occupied wid studies. Bt fat Ankho Dekhi was a must watch.
And that constant fear. Many of my relatives lost their loved ones. Their was a environment of sorrow.
But soldiers were not in the mood to withdraw. They kept fighting, they kept avenging their friends' sacrifice. Despite odd condition came the day 26th July . When we got that greatest news. My deserving victory was ours. Our soldiers did it. India had won once again. My father came home and told us the story of valour. About the lost friends, his eyes used to get wet. But one can easily notice that fire in the heart, that courage in his voice.
Those were the heroes who laid down their lives for motherland, for us.
Lest we forget. Long live India 🇮🇳
