ARJUNWAD (Shirol, Kolhapur), Nov 5: Are glory and grief two sides of the same coin. Yes, at least in the case of Bagdi family from this tiny village on the banks of Krishna river, as the Bagdis lost their younger son, Sambhaji, who fell victim to the snipper firing of militants after killing one of them at Brenwar in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.Twenty-four-year-old Sepoy Sambhai Bagdi, serving with the 5 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion of the Indian Army, died on November 3, after being severely injured in a counter insurgency operation carried out by Indian Army at Brenwar on October 29. His body was brought to his native village here this morning and was cremated with full military honours as the residents of Arjunwad paid tributes to its dear son.Sacrificing life in the service of motherland is not new to Kolhapur, and certainly not to Shirol taluka. Just 20-25 kilometers away from tiny Arjunwad is Sainik Takli, a village from which one person in every household is serving the Indian Army and the youth here grow up with that extra bit of fighting spirit in their blood and guts.So was Sambhaji, who as a kid loved fishing in the calm waters of Krishna river and participated actively in kabaddi tournaments at taluka level, recalled Pandurang Babar, an old friend and now chief of Shiv Sena unit of the village. In February 1995, he was recruited in the Army and after stint of training at the Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre at Ahmednagar, joined 16 Mech Infantry Regiment and was later on deputed to 5 Rashtriya Rifles, informed Subedar Udaybhansingh, who accompanied Sambhaji's body from J&K to Arujunwad to The Indian Express.Recounting the battle at Brenwar, where Sambhaji fell victim to the firing of militants, Subedar Udaybhan Singh said that a group of militants had holed up in one of the houses in the village. He himself was leading the unit as the troops surrounded the village in outer and inner quarters. ``We appraoched the house where they were hiding and ordered them to surrender. Instead, they began showering us with bullets. And as the fighting ensued Sambhaji killed one of them with his gun. As we were proceeding he was hit in the throat. The injury damaged his brain and Sambhaji died on October 3,'' Singh stated.The Bagdis were immediately informed that their son had fallen a ``battle casualty.'' It was a shattering blow to the family.Hoardings describing glorious death of Sambhaji Bagdi have been displayed at the entrance of the village. However, a look at the Bagdi household, makes one realise the horrors of death. With a dhoop burning in a corner of the room, Sambhaji's speechless father Bhimsen stares blankly at the walls. His mother does not even show up and his elder brother Shankar sits with his head in knees at the entrance of kitchen.Basappa Maliga, also an ex-serviceman and a relative of Bagdis is consoling them that Sambhaji's was the supreme sacrifice and his death not in vain. Villagers gathered advise them that a framed photograph of Sambhaji should be displayed and the Bagdi's just listen, listen endlessly.
