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| Kargil martyr's last wish nurtures an orphan's life | | | Agencies
pune, , July 28: On the 15th anniversary of Kargil victory, Colonel V N Thapar will be in a village of Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir, fulfilling a promise made to his martyr son Lieutenant Vijayant Thapar of reaching aid to a girl orphaned by terrorists.
Lieutenant Vijayant Thapar of 2 Rajputana Rifles attained martyrdom during the Kargil conflict. His 72-year-old father recalls the promise he made to him. "In one of the last letters Robin (Lieutenant Thapar's nickname) wrote to us, he mentioned Rukhsana and urged us to send her Rs 50 per month to support her family." The tradition that started 15 years back continues.
Colonel Thapar said "Rukhsana had lost her speech when her father Mohammed Akbar, a woodcutter, was shot dead by militants in front of her eyes in her village in Kupwara district of J&K. Her life took a positive turn when a company of 2 Rajputana Rifles moved into her school in Kandi village. The 22-year old officer met her through the principal of the school and grew fond of the child." Thapar added that his son's affections and efforts paid off when Ruksana got her speech back.
"Rukhsana is a shy girl and seldom speaks. She has passed class XII and can write her name in English. In her past meetings with me, she is either accompanied by her mother, brother or the village head. Five to six years back, she and her family members were threatened by terrorists and were forced to spend some days in the forest," said the retired colonel.
Vijayant used to contribute a small amount of money each month to the girl's family towards her education. Minutes before going on his last operation, the young officer, probably on a premonition, wrote to his family and asked them to take care of her. "Contribute some money to an orphanage and keep sending Rs 50 to Rukhsana every month," Vijayant wrote minutes before he was going to lead his men into battle on the night of June 28, 1999.
"When Vijayant told his mother for the first time to get some dresses for Rukhsana, most of us were stunned. All our doubts, however, were laid to rest when he said the girl rises barely to the height of his knee," recalled Colonel Thapar. Summing up the unique relationship, he said "people point to a number of examples highlighting communal amity. For me, the case of Vijayant and Rukhsana is the quintessence, as everything was voluntary." |
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