Basundi puri,gudi return to Salaskar household after 4 years

Salaskar died on the night of November 26,2008 during the terror attacks on Mumbai. Four months after terrorist Ajmal Kasab was executed,his family,comprising his wife and recently-married daughter,celebrated its first festival in over four years.

Kasab was one of the two terrorists who ambushed and killed Salaskar and two other senior IPS officials,former ATS Hemant Karkare,and additional commissioner Ashok Kamte on the road leading to Cama Hospital.

The family had decided to celebrate Gudi Padwa only after Kasab,the lone terrorist to have been captured alive and brought to trial,was brought to justice. “How do I say it? Should I use the term a little…maybe yes,” says Salaskar’s wife Smita. “It’s in some way a little justice for us after the terrorist was sentenced and executed.”

She recalled how Vijay would wake up early and prepare the gudi.

“He loved it the most. It symbolises victory. For him,Diwali and many other festivals were spent at work,sometimes very late into the evening. It was only Gudi Padwa where he would wait to have traditional lunch of basundi puri. The execution of Kasab,and later Afzal Guru,showed the government’s stand on such matters and for us it was significant. For us this gudi symbolises victory,” she says.

“This year my daughter and my son-in-law took charge. It was a very satisfying day,” she adds.

She says the day just went through quickly. Her hands did shiver while making the dish. “It still is difficult for me. Memories of this day came rushing and I had to keep a smile on my face. It’s mostly tears inside. For a wife it will always remain difficult,” she said. “He loved traditional Indian sweets. How he would wait to have it on this day.”

Salaskar’s daughter Divya,who married a family friend in an arranged marriage this February,says it was a very emotional moment to see the gudi going up the bamboo stick.

“It was emotional. There is no other way I can explain it. I have seen my father doing it all my life. Today I did it. It took a lot of courage. A lot,” she says.

“I still will not call it closure. It is too big a word. But yes,it is symbolic for us today. In a way that morning when we heard Kasab’s execution it helped us to adjust… that the system had shown movement and the terrorist was brought to justice. Look at it as a daughter of a slain police officer. It is significant. When the gudi went up today,that is the thought that helped me. Victory.”

The family held a prayer for Salaskar before they moved on to lunch. “It had all his favourites. In our hearts it was for him,” added Smita.