There are so many surveys about social networking sites and all are unanimous that they are the most damaging platform on mental and behavioural health. However, sometimes, all of us see people and read stories, they can make us feel like we are missing out, or not doing enough with our life. They make us realize that we are not perfect and we are doing nothing for the nation and society.
Recently one
such story was in circulation on WhatsApp and Facebook.
Shri Lachman
Singh Rathore was a very graceful and dignified old man. He was a very calm and
composed man. He was standing silently in a corner, a tired old man. He was
wearing white dhoti and kurta. His dhoti was tied around his waist, cradled
just above his naval area. His black shoes were weary but polished. He looks
out at the situation through experienced eyes those have seemed happy and
majestic days only known to him. They light up whenever he speaks of the birth
of sons, or when freedom and nation are mentioned in any context regardless of
the situation.
The helicopter
appeared over the late morning sphere.
All were at the
airstrip to receive Mr Lachhman Singh Rathore who was coming to our Flight Unit
to perform the last rites and cremation of his son, Flying Officer Vikram
Singh.
Only the day
before, Wing Commander Venki Iyer had sent him the telegram, “Deeply regret to
inform that your son Flying Officer Vikram Singh lost his life in a flying
accident early this morning. Death was instantaneous.”
It was the
first time for Wing Comdr Venki Iyer to face and manage the bereaved next of
kin, in this case, the Father of the brave departed officer.
While most of
the bereaved family members insist to see the mortal remains of the body, many
a time there isn’t a body or nothing to show! Nothing remains…
Flying Officer
Vikram Singh’s mortal remains were only a few kilos –scrapped and collected
with great difficulty from that was left in the cockpit. The wooden coffin had
to be filled with wood and other things.
All the
officers and other staff were there at the airstrip to receive Shri Lachhman
Singh Rathor. The pilot brought the helicopter to a perfect landing. Soon Shri
Lachhman Singh Rathore was helped down the ladder. He was a short stature and
frail man, maybe of 80 years, clad in a clean and tidy dhoti.
As Wing
Commander Venki Iyer came near to him, he asked in a calm and dignified
whisper, “Are you Venki, the Flight Commander?” “Yes, Sir.” “Vikram had spoken
a lot to me about you. I’d like to talk to you when you are alone for a
minute.”
The ill-fated
accident took place at Sarmat Field Air Range, near the Jamnagar Airbase,
Gujarat on Thursday, 31 August 2012. In the crash, Flying Officer Vikram Singh
died.
All walked
silently to the border of the concrete platform. ‘I have lost my son, and you have lost a
friend. I’m sure that you have taken every care in arranging the funeral and
last rites. Please tell me when and where you need my presence and what you
want me to do. I’ll be there accordingly for everything. Later, I would like to
meet Vikram’s friends, see his room and, if it is permitted, visit his
workplace. I then would like to go back home tomorrow morning.”
Wing Commander
Venki Iyer was astonished to see the clear perception of the old man in that
devastating hour. A commander could not have given me clearer directives.
The funeral,
with full military honours, was completed by late afternoon. The old man lit
the funeral pyre. It was a heart-wrenching scene.
Lachhman Singh
spent the evening talking to the Squadron Pilots, after the final echoes of the
‘Last Post’ faded away. He visited Vikram’s room with Vikram's roommate.
Lachhman Singh
wished to spend the night in his son’s room instead of the guesthouse that had
arranged for him. Early the next morning after a visit to the squadron area,
the squadron chief took him to his office.
A little later,
the staff car took Lachhman Singh to the civil airfield that needed two hours
drive.
As the staff
the car left with Lachhman Singh to the civil airfield, Wing Commander Venki Iyer
remarked to his Boss, “A brave man he is. Spoke to me like a General when he
told me exactly what he expected from us during his stay here. I have never
seen a more composed man on such an occasion. I admire him.”
The Chief
responded calmly, “Yes, Mr Lachhman Singh Rathore is a warrior in his own way.
He sired three sons and has laid to rest all three of them.
His first son
Captain Ghanshyam Singh of the Gurkha Rifles was killed in Ladakh in 1962 War.
His second son, Major Bir Singh, died along the Ichogil Canal in 1965 in an
ambush. His youngest, Vikram Singh, who had the courage to join the Air Force,
is also gone now. This ordinary looking farmer has contributed and sacrificed
more to our country, defence forces and people than all of the so-called Bharat
Ratnas combined. It seems that Lachhman Singh Rathore and his family belongs to
Rajasthan and settled in Jaipur.
It was a very
a touching and sombre occasion which left all teary-eyed as Taruma, wife of
Vikram Singh, who is also an officer in IAF, saluted the body of her husband,
the last time and Varun, his 10-year-old son lit the funeral pyre at the Adarsh
Nagar Crematorium Ground Jaipur, and performed the last rites according to
Hindu rituals.
The mortal
remains of Singh were brought to Jaipur in Rajasthan by an IAF helicopter and
senior Army and Air Force Officers (IAF) escorted the body. The wreaths were
laid on behalf of Army and Air Force Chiefs. The officers of the district
administration also laid a wreath on behalf of the state government.
Truly, Shri
Lachhman Singh Rathore is undeniably a valiant Indian; in fact, he is more
Indian than anybody else - His sacrifice can never ever be refunded by the country!!
He martyred himself by giving his three sons to the defence forces. He is
almost a Martyr himself!!
But this
the ungrateful nation does not know this great Giant -- India only knows those super-rich and corrupt politicians, cricketers, film stars etc and conferred
Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushans and Padma Shree but nothing for these true
Bharat Ratnas!!
But what about
the ' Losers ' ?? Those who have simply lost their everything for the nation.
Like Shree Shri Lachhman Singh Rathore, father of Three Brave Martyred Soldiers
and Sons.
This story
should be taught in school syllabus ‘A brave father of brave sons’.
How the country
could repay its debt to him. Nobody knows. Perhaps, where nobody pays even the
bank loans and loan waving is a great national festival. We only pray for them
and put a wreath on their coffin and forget.
Please read
this story and circulate it widely who love their nation and care their brave
martyred soldiers.
It may take
time and may not be during our lifetimes but movements produce results to
ensure the pride of place to the Defence Services.
Jai Hind
N.B: This story
is based on the story and details mentioned by Wing Commander Venki Iyer in
circulation on WhatsApp.
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