Jammu, July 23:
It has been 27 years since the Kargil war. Times have changed a lot, but there is a house in the border village of Baje Chak in RS Pura. Here the picture hanging on the walls, the last letter preserved in the cupboard. The Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated every year, still bring alive the memories of 5 July 1999. Kargil Balidan Naik Devraj Sharma may have attained martyrdom on the battlefield.
The family, which has lived a life full of struggles after martyrdom, has resolved to cherish the legacy of sacrifice, not their weakness.
Nirmala Devi, wife of Devraj Sharma, who was martyred on July 5, 1999 while fighting enemies at Tiger Hill during the Kargil war. It is still holding the last letter, in which she wrote that he will return home on July 5.
Nirmala Devi says that her husband suffered a serious leg injury during an anti-terrorism operation in Sri Lanka.
Due to the increase in pain, he decided to take leave and come home, but as soon as the Kargil war started, he changed his decision. Despite having an injured leg, he voluntarily expressed his desire to go to Tiger Hill. Being proficient in wielding Medium Machine Gun (MMG), he took the lead and attained martyrdom while defending the country.
Nirmala Devi says that life changed completely after the sacrifice of her husband. Raising three young children, their studies and worrying about the future were the biggest challenges they faced. Although there was support from the society and the government, no one can fill the shadow of the father. He faced every difficult situation and raised the children in such a way that today everyone is standing on their own feet. A son and two daughters are now living a happy life with their respective families.
The last letter kept
His eyes still moisten at the mention of that last letter. “Whenever I miss him a lot, I read that letter. It’s as if he’s still sitting next to me today. The family has preserved Devraj Sharma’s photograph, medal, certificate of honor and everything related to him as a heritage. These things tell the story of their sacrifice to the new generation.
