It takes a lot of courage to stand in the line of fire every single day, not knowing which one is going to be your last. But what's even harder is to see a loved one do that, and not flinch, even when your worst fears come true.?
There is no doubt about the fact that Army wives have nerves of steel.?Today we honor and talk about a few women who chose to walk in the not-so-comfortable shoes of their martyred husbands, and kept their legacies alive.?
We recently told you about Garima Abrol, wife of martyred squadron leader Samir Abrol, who lost his life in the Mirage 2000 aircraft crash. In February she wrote a heartfelt post to the government questioning why these pilots had to die in such circumstances. Her post ended with the words 'I do not want any other sister of the Armed Force family to suffer the pain that I am going through. Words can’t describe how painful it is out here alone without my better half, my BATMAN'. You can read the entire post here.?
Then recently we got the news that she had decided to step into the shoes of her husband, and that she will be joining the Air Force next year.?Garima was lauded for her decision and we can only imagine how much strength and courage it would have taken, to do what she is doing.
Another brave woman is Sangeeta Mall - wife of a rifleman who was killed in action in Jammu and Kashmir while battling terrorists.?
In March 2019 she was commissioned into the Indian Army after passing out from OTA (Officer’s Training Academy) in Chennai.?
Before Sangeeta got married to Shirish Mall, she was a teacher. They got married in 2013. Shishir was part of Gorkha Rifles and was posted in Baramulla sector of Jammu and Kashmir, when he was martyred in 2015 during a gun battle.?
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After her husband died, Sangeeta quit her job. Sushant Mall, Sangeeta’s brother-in-law, talked about her journey to TOI:?“Our family had to face several challenges but now, it is a matter of pride for us that she has become a commissioned officer. We are planning a grand welcome for her once she returns home.”
Sangeeta had a tough life. Apart from losing her husband she also lost her unborn child due to a miscarriage. A few months before Shishir was martyred, her father-in-law - also an ex-serviceman - died.
Sushant also reportedly said, “My mother supported her and encouraged her to study further and do a banking job.” He also said that she was motivated to join the army after she attended an investiture ceremony in Ranikhet in 2016 where Shishir was awarded Sena Medal posthumously. "She worked hard and cleared the OTA examination.”?
Sangeeta was commissioned in the army as a Lieutenant in the short service commission. Salute to this woman who kept strong in the face of adversary.?
Rifleman Ravinder was killed while on duty in April 2015. His daughter was just 2 years old when he was martyred. 3 years later, in 2018, his wife Neeru Sambyal completed her training to join the force after him. Neeru joined the Indian Army as a lieutenant.?
Talking about her struggles and journey, Lt. Neeru reportedly said, "My husband was in the infantry. It was really difficult to accept the reality after he got martyred. But for me, my daughter is my inspiration. I never wanted her to feel the absence of her father and wished to fill for both roles, of a father and mother."
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This motivation led Neeru to undergo 49 weeks of training. She also said, "Being in the army, one has to be mentally strong as there are times when one has to face situations where physical strength won't matter much.”
More power to her.?
For Gauri, marriage lasted for only two years. In 2017, her husband Major Prasad died in a fire mishap which happened near the?Indo-China border in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
She was in mourning for months, but then she decided she wanted to experience the world like her husband did. She quit her job as a company secretary and decided to sit for Services Selection Board (SSB) exams. She applied under the widow category. In her 2nd attempt, the 31-year-old, after competing with 16 other candidates, topped the exams.?
MAJOR PRASAD MAHADIK AND HIS WIFE GAURI/FACEBOOK
She will complete her one year training at the Officers Training Academy and will join the Army as a Lieutenant next year in March.?
She talked to ANI about this and said, "I am a qualified lawyer and company secretary and was employed but after the death of my husband I left the job and started preparing for the armed forces. I was determined to join the army as a tribute to my husband and the uniform which I will wear after commissioning will become ours... mine and my husband's."
This happened in 2014. Priya Semwal’s husband Naik Amit Sharma was serving with the 14 Rajput regiment, and was involved in a counter-insurgency operation near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, when he passed away. She was married to him since 2006 and her little girl Khwahish Sharma was just four years old then.?
Colonel Arun Agarwal, Commanding Officer, 14 Rajput Regiment reportedly said, "Her husband was serving in my unit. In that operation, he lost his life while others suffered injuries. When I learnt Amit had encouraged her to complete degree and then PG, I thought she should become an officer.”?
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She was commissioned into the Corps of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) of Army in 2014.?
The Colonel also reportedly said, "She (Priya Semwal) was qualified and I felt that she will do it. Initially, she had some apprehensions but once she was convinced, there was no turning back. Probably, this is the first time an Army jawan's wife has become an officer in India.”
It is not easy to choose to be with someone whose life you know is in danger every hour of every day. But these strong women who not only chose to be with such men but also follow in their footsteps should get the respect they deserve. Let us applaud their strength and courage by talking about them as much as possible.?