Author: Sourav Sanyal
Publication: NDTV.com
Date: August 3, 2006
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?fromtimeline=true&id=90986&callid=1&template=kargil
Kargil Divas is one official day when we remember
the martyrs of 1999.
A Kolkata school decided to step out of the
boundaries of official observations to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice
of one of its own students of the class of 1991.
Major Shyam Sundar, would have turned 30 on
Thursday, was the only one who wasn't there for his birthday commemoration
in person.
The soldier, who laid down his life battling
militants in dense forests of Poonch on March 5, Shyam, as he is fondly called,
was there in every heart gathered at the memorial service organized by his
school.
"This boy is a source of inspiration
to our students and teachers too. In this growing world of materialism and
consumerism, very few students are looking for careers to serve the motherland,"
said P Soujanya, Principal, Andhra Association School.
"And this story would be motivating our
teachers to give examples of this boy and we could always tell our students
look guys this is what you should do, serve your motherland," he added.
Pride and sacrifice
For his parents, who came all the way from
Chennai, a heart-rending remembrance of their son was Shyam's photograph in
uniform.
It was a reminder of his ultimate sacrifice.
That perhaps is his parents' only consolation and source of unbridled pride.
"Today my morale has been boosted so
much. Morale was already there but today it is doubly boosted because his
soul will be resting in peace, because so many people, young and old are blessing
him," said P Panchapagesan, Major Shyam's father.
"A mother is a mother. If I had another
son, I will send him again," said P Lakshmi, Major Shyam's mother.
General Shanker Roy Chowdhury lent them a
helping hand. And chose this occasion to remind the government that it definitely
needs to do more for families of martyrs.
"These are privileged people. The government
must deal with them on that basis. The people of India remember their heroes,
they know them, they have a place in their hearts for them, the government
must do more," said General Shanker Roy Chowdhury, former Chief of Army
Staff.
August 2nd, 2006. The Andhra Association School
in Kolkata has found its new hero.
Till now, only two photographs - that of Sarvapalli
Radhakrishnan and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru - adorned the walls of the headmistress'
chamber in the school.
But today Major P Sundar joined their ranks.
All in the hope that others would follow in his footsteps and do the nation
proud.
