Ajay Godara (22), a resident of Arjansar village in the Lunkaransar area of Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, has died in the Russia-Ukraine war. The news of his death was conveyed to the family by the Indian embassy in Moscow on December 9.
Ajay had gone to Russia on a student visa to pursue a language course on November 28, 2024. According to family members, he studied for 10 months, after which someone allegedly recruited him into the army with the promise of a job and sent him to the warzone.
Prakash Godara, his cousin, told The Indian Express that September 22, 2025, was the last time the family had any contact with Ajay.
Prakash said, “He was deceived, forcibly recruited into military activities and sent to the war zone. In Russia, he was lured with promises of a safe job, including kitchen-related work, but was instead pushed into military training. Ajay gradually realised he had been trapped and that his life was in serious danger.”
About four months ago, Ajay recorded two videos in which he appealed for help from his family and Indian authorities. In the videos, he said he was promised three months of training but was sent to the war zone near the Ukrainian border within just four days. In one of the recordings, he expressed fear for his life, saying that something entirely different had been promised and that the video might be his last.
His body arrived at his village on Thursday, where his last rites were performed. Since the news broke, the family home has been filled with mourners, and relatives, neighbours and villagers have gathered to offer condolences. Ajay left behind his parents and sister.
The family said they had approached Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Cabinet Minister Sumit Godara after Ajay’s videos surfaced, hoping for intervention to bring him back safely to India.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
