Our soldiers are the ultimate heroes. The Kargil conflict has focussed on their bravery. Up there, in the biting cold, amidst the firing, the only comfort they have is the letters they receive from home. Sometimes the bad news precedes the letters that convey their well-being. he near and dear ones are left with nothing but memories and a few scraps of paper. Second Lt Rishi Malhotra was killed fighting militants in Kashmir in 1994.While on mission, he wrote as often as he could. The letters were warm with concern for his grandfather and his parents. Ravi Malhotra, Rishi's uncle, shares some of hisletters . On April 18 1994, exactly a month before he laid down his life, Rishi wrote his last letter to his grandfather. ``Respected Papaji,'' begins the letter. " I hope this letter finds you in an improved healthy state.'' He continues,`` I was lucky to get through with my call to Pune yesterday." The young officer was preparing to come home on leave. In his words," I am not sure I will get leave during the first week of May, but chances are bright and hopefully I shall be in Pune on May 1."Malhotra met everyone when came. When he left the city, little did his family know that he would come back soon - wrapped in the tricolour. He was concerned about his grandfather's health and repeatedly asked him to take rest.His obvious affection reflected in the letter. "You still haven't told me what I can do for you while I am here. You have been obliging everyone, now give me a chance to do something for you." Another piece of correspondence talks of how cut off he was from the outside world. He says," I have moved from my battalion's location along with a company of troops for protection duties for a month. But it may be extended. Sitting here, we do not get any information about the outside world - totally cut off. Only yesterday, we got a newspaper and I read about the earthquake. I trust all is well for the family.''Also among the letters was an obituary- written by the grandfather.With profound regret, we inform that our beloved Second Lt Rishi Malhotra, s/o of Mr and Mrs Ashok Malhotra , brother of Manish, was killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir. Funeral with military honours at BEG cremation ground at 9.a.m. on 22.5.94. In grief, Malhotra and Sabharwal families.Here's saluting those who keep the tricolour flying through their sacrifices.
