‘Military village’ Apshinge recalls living through war days with a mix of pride, anxiety
During Operation Sindoor, families in Maharashtra’s Apshinge – where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces – stood united, upholding a tradition of that dates back to the era of Shivaji Maharaj.
It was past midnight, but Divya could not sleep. She kept checking WhatsApp every 10 minutes. Finally, around 1 am, she saw what she had been waiting for – the ‘last seen’ status of her husband. ‘12.55 am,’ it said. She sighed in relief and was fast asleep in a few minutes. Hundreds of kilometres away, at the border, her husband had opened WhatsApp and closed it almost immediately. It was enough to convey the message to his wife: that he was safe.
This was when Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, was at its peak. Unable to speak to each other, the soldier and his wife had come up with this little plan to update her about his well-being which she would promptly convey to his aged parents and three-year-old daughter. “On days there were no updates, I was in deep worry, glued to the television screen for information,” she says.
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.
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“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.”
Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry.
Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune.
Professional Background
Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city.
Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include:
The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author.
Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023)
Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024)
Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative
and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues.
Core Column: "Against All Odds"
Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges.
Recent notable articles (2025)
The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic.
Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer.
Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape:
1. Personal Narratives & Closure
"'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal.
"A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US.
"'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune.
2. Civic & Heritage
"'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs.
"'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties.
3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations
"Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals.
"Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation.
Signature Style
Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan.
She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements.
X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More
Military Apshinge village near Satara. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)