‘Military village’ Apshinge recalls living through war days with a mix of pride, anxiety

The family was one of the 30-35 others in the village who spent those days with mixed feelings: of anxiety, as each of these families had a member posted at the border, and pride at them having kept alive the tradition of the village. The very tradition that has earned it immense fame, respect and the name – Apshinge ‘military village’.

Long tradition of military service

“Since the time of Shivaji Maharaj, this village has contributed soldiers who have fought for the land’s honour and even laid down their lives. Every household here has had a member who is or has been part of the military or paramilitary,” says Tushar Nikam, sarpanch of the village, as he proudly points to a memorial constructed by the British in commemoration of 46 soldiers from Apshinge village in Maharashtra’s Satara “who went to the Great War 1914-1919”.

Military Apshinge village near Satara. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

A little further, another memorial is dedicated to those who fought the post-Independence wars of 1965, 1971 and Kargil – the names numbering around 115. The village with a population of about 3,000 has about 250 serving and 500 retired soldiers at present. “Many homes have only women and children as the man of the house is serving in the Army. The entire village gives them emotional support and looks after them, especially during times like Operation Sindoor, when these families were under much stress,” adds Nikam

For Priyanka, the wife of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan posted at the border, the worries had doubled this time around. A working woman, she had travelled from Satara to Punjab with her two children on a few days’ leave, in anticipation of spending time together as a family. “The day I reached, Operation Sindoor started. I couldn’t go to where my husband was, nor could I return to Apshinge,” she says.

For almost two weeks, she lived in Punjab with her children, hearing the drones fly overhead while sitting quietly during the blackouts at night. Her worries for the safety of her husband was compounded by the fear for her life as well as that of their children. Divya finally met him much after the ceasefire was announced, a day before they were to return to Apshinge.

“But for my husband, this was a very small sacrifice. He was just glad to have got the chance to be a part of the action, and make his country and village proud,” she says.

Training the next generation

Located in the heart of the village is Vijeta Career Academy which was started a few years ago by a retired soldier. It trains men aged between 18 and 25 from all over Maharashtra to crack the Army recruitment examination. Over the last three-four years, a growing number of women too have joined the academy, their hearts set on joining the police service after undergoing rigorous physical training at the academy.

At the edge of the village is a small two-storeyed house with the nameplate ‘Late Rashid Mohd Shaikh, Retd NB/SUB. BEG’. Shaikh, says Nikam, was the first soldier from the village to be martyred after Independence. Inside the residence, his widowed daughter-in-law Hazra lives with her children, tending to the farmland given to the family by the government after Shaikh’s death. Her 17-year-old daughter stands by shyly and reveals that she is studying to join the Army Nursing Corps examination. “Come back in a few years. We will have an army of our girls in the military too,” smiles Hazra.

Meanwhile, a small bunch of soldiers who are currently in the village on leave are helping with preparations for the Independence Day function, which is always a big day at the village. Says one, “But of course, we are always on standby. One call and we will be on our way back on duty immediately.”