Author: Teja Shrikant Lele, Ahmedabad
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 26, 2002
Introduction: If we had to do it
all over again, we would send our son to the Army
There's grief, desolation and a
void that can never be filled. But over all, there is a sense of pride
- pride in being the family of Kargil martyr Mukesh Rathod.
And as troops mass at the border
once again, this family is sure of one thing - they have no regrets. "We
were left with a void that can never be filled, but my son died for the
country. I am proud of that," says Mukesh's father, Ramniklalbhai. "Death
can happen anywhere. So many died in Godhra, so many are killed elsewhere.
But very few die for such a noble death," he adds.
For over seven years, 28-year-old
Mukesh of 12 Mahar Regiment was posted in Jammu & Kashmir. He was part
of a 40-member team on a mission when they were attacked. Hit by a bullet
in the chest, Rathod fell off a ridge and was declared missing on June
4, 1999. Twenty-two days later, his body was found and the family informed
of the death.
Rathod left behind his five-month
pregnant wife, parents and three brothers. "It was barely a year-and half
since he was married. His mother went mad with grief. Our daughter-in-law,
Rajeshwari, was expecting. Her grief was unbearable, it seemed like she
had lost the will to live," recalls Ramniklalbhai. "We asked her to think
of the child," says a family member. "I told her that shaheed ki biwi widhwa
nahin hoti (a martyr's wife is not a widow)," says Ramniklalbhai.
The child, Mrugesh, is now two-and-half
years old. "Every morning, he gets up and salutes his father's picture,"
says Rajeshwari, adding that he wants to be "like his dad".
"My grandson will join the army,"
says Ramniklalbhai confidently. But Rajeshwari is not so sure. "Granted
that my husband was a martyr and I am respected everywhere. But he went
away, leaving us all behind. So much loss ... I knew he was in the Army
when I married him, so I have no complaints. But as far as my son goes..."
she trails off.
"The government has helped us. In
fact, 12 Mahar Regiment is going to take care of the financial aspect if
Mrugesh joins the forces," says Rajeshwari. And as the threat of war haunts
the nation once again, the martyr's father says: "If we had to do it all
over again, we would send Mukesh to the Army."
