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Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH, February 7: It was with pride and sorrow that Dr. Ved Vrat Sharma and Dr. Krishna Sharma saw their son’s photograph in a newspaper on January 26. Major Rohit Sharma, their only son, had been decorated with Shaurya Chakra. Posthumously.
The medal came as no surprise for the Sharmas, who feel that their son deserved Ashok Chakra, the highest military honour during peacetime operations. But what pained them was the manner in which they learnt of the award. No one called them up. Nor were they invited to attend the award-giving ceremony.
Says Dr. Sharma: “In November last year, I had written to the Defence Minister, asking him to invite us to the ceremony. So this was the least we were expecting.” Major Sharma’s commanding officer did ring them up to congratulate them. But that was all.
The 30-year-old Major Sharma of 8 J & K Light Infantry was given the medal for exemplary bravery during an anti-insurgency operation, at Malkot village in Poonch district, on June 17, last year. Rohit succumbed to his injuries during the encounter in which he killed two terrorists.
Though nearly a year has passed, the Sharmas are yet to come to terms with the death of their only son. Tears well up in his mother’s eyes as she says: “I wish he had got the award in person. He had always wanted to be a highly decorated soldier. He would tell us how wonderful it would be if he could get an Ashok Chakra.”
In 1993-94, Major Sharma had been recommended for Sewa Medal for his role in an anti-insurgency operation in upper Assam, she informs.
The varying versions of Rohit’s death also continue to haunt his parents. His 65-year-old father feels that Rohit could have survived had he received medical aid on time. His mother wants to visit the place where he was killed, meet Sepoy Vikram, who was with Rohit when he died, and find out the last words that he said.
Rohit’s parents are also bitter about being `orphaned’ by the Army, the institution that their son reverred. They are not treated as his next of kin and were refused the Next of Kin card (NoK card). However, after repeated requests, the local Army authorities have issued them a CSD card, though this is not the normal practice.
Though they hasten to say that money cannot lessen the grief, the couple are bereft of the financial security that their son provided. There is no denying the bitterness in Dr. Sharma’s voice when he says: “The Army provides all the benefits to the wife. Does it have no responsibility toward the parents who are financially dependent on their wards?”Perhaps the Army expects the young widow to take care of them. But Dr. Sharma says: “We get along very well with Rohit’s wife, Nivedita. She did continue to live with us for quite some time after his death. But she left after receiving a compensation of Rs 15 lakh from the Army, besides the monthly salary of Rs 13,800 that she receives.
They are, however, quick to add that they don’t nurse any grudge against her. “She is entitled to start her life afresh. But we miss her, for she was like a daughter to us. She too would assure us that she was like our son, but after September she has not visited us,” says Dr Sharma.
Says Dr. Sharma: “Rohit’s commanding officer says she told him that she did not want to return to us because of the depressed atmosphere at home.”The local Army authorities helped Nivedita gain employment as a teacher in Vajra Army Public School.
Despite the pain, the couple is determined to keep the memory of their son alive. Their future plans include adopting a village. Says Dr. Sharma: “That will give us something to look forward to. My only prayer to God is to give us enough strength to do some good to others”.
