Uttarakhand martyrs keep tradition alive

DEHRA DUN, JUNE 22: Jupa Devi of Akholi village in Pitthoragarh district of Kumaori had lost her husband in the Indo-Pak war of 1971 and ...

DEHRA DUN, JUNE 22: Jupa Devi of Akholi village in Pitthoragarh district of Kumaori had lost her husband in the Indo-Pak war of 1971 and now her only son, Jawahar Singh, a jawan of the Rashtriya Rifles, has laid donw his life in Kargil. Jawahar, who leaves behind his young widow, an infant daughter and a distraught mother has kept the traditional bravery and chivalry of the people of Uttarakhand alive.

He is not alone in doing this. Twenty nine other officers and jawans of the Army belonging to the Uttarakhand region have died while fighting the Pakistani intruders.

There were three officers amongst these brave men. Squadron Leader Rajiv Pundir of vikasnagar in Dehra Dun district died when his chopper was downed by a Stinger missile fired by the intruders in the Drass sector. Major Vivek Gupta of Second Rajputana regiment was instrumental in the capture of Tutoling heights after a fierce fight but died along with six of his men in accomplishing the difficult task. Major Rajesh Adhikari of the MechanisedInfantry belonging to Nainital also laid down his life fighting along with these three officers.

The tradition of joining the Army has been old and a large number of young men from Uttarakhand had fought in the two World Wars and received many gallantry medals, including the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery on the battlefield during the British days. Gabar Singh and Darmayan Singh were the recipients of the Victoria Cross.

After Independence, people of this region have stayed on the forefront in all the wars which the country has fought and stories of their bravery are part of the folklore.

Major8217;s body yet to be recovered

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI: It is an endless wait for the family of Major Sarvanan who lost his life in the Batalik sector on May 29. 8220;My brother is still guarding the frontier,8221; says Doctor Chitra, Sarvanan8217;s sister, a reminder that the late Major8217;s body is yet to be retrieved by the Army.

Earlier, a suitcase of 26-year-old Sarvanan was handed over to the family bypersonneld of the 117 Infantry Battalion. 8220;We are in touch with the Army headquarters and are aware of the difficulties the Army is facing in recovering Sarvanan8217;s body,8221; Chitra said.