Army wives await homecoming of their heroes

JAMMU, JULY 17: The war may be over for the soldiers who fought fiercely on the icy ridges of Kargil, Drass and Batalik. But back home, t...

JAMMU, JULY 17: The war may be over for the soldiers who fought fiercely on the icy ridges of Kargil, Drass and Batalik. But back home, their families are up against an emotional upheaval that will end only when they are assured of the safety of the heroes.

That Pakistan has finally succumbed to the Indian assault and called for the withdrawal of intruders from this side of the Line of Control (LoC) has come as a welcome news for the families of the Armymen, especially their wives.With the conflict virtually ended, Army wives, particularly those who have received no word from their husbands fighting in the Kargil sector, are eagerly looking forward to the return of their mates. Various ways to celebrate their homecoming are being planned by the ecstatic wives who can hardly hold back their tears of joy.

“As soon as he lands here, I will gift him a kiss on his forehead for his bravery which has made me and the nation proud,” said Poornima Bharadwaj, whose husband Major S Bharadwaj has been a part of theplatoon that recaptured the Tololing heights from the enemy. It was during this operation that Major Vikram Batra sacrificed his life.

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Put up in the family quarters in the Army cantonment area in Jammu, Poornima is scanning every newspaper and listening to each news bulletin to keep abreast of the latest development on the front. Her husband has been in Kargil from May 31.

While Poornima has been lucky to have information on her husband, Shalani along with many others haven’t been so fortunate. Not having heard a single word from their husbands, they do not know if their spouses are dead, alive or missing. But all nurse a hope of the safe return of their husbands. “I don’t know whether my husband is alive or not. But with each passing day, my faith in God grows stronger. I am prepared to face any kind of tragedy,” said Shalani. It is this faith that has kept the family going, she added.Shahsi Dutta does not know about the whereabouts of her husband, Harjirai Dutta, a Naib Subedar in 13 JAK Rifles. Inhis last letter addressed to the family, Dutta had informed about the deployment of his platoon in the Drass sub-sector. Since then, there is no communication between them.

“I don’t want my husband to shun his duties and rush back to the family. But every moment I long to hear a word from him. However, this separation will give me the strength to take care of our children, who constantly inquire about him”.

Also fighting the battle with emotions are the women in uniform. Anubha Rathore, a Captain in Ordinance and presently posted in Jammu expressed worried about the well-being of her husband, who is posted in the Drass sub-sector. “The days are easy as I am busy with my office work. But evenings are nightmarish. Every time I see the body of a martyr, my heart sinks. I am waiting for the moment when Danvir will return so that I can hug him so tight that even if he goes away again, the feeling of having him near me lingers on,” she said.

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