We Salute our Martyrs

 

Monday Morning Bells - I was 19, when I -got married to Captain Shafeeq Ghori in 1991. It was difficult in the beginning to accept the fact that he was constantly on the move and had to leave me alone for long periods, but he sat me down and explained what it was like to be an army wife. There were no mobile phones back then. I used to spend hours by the phone unsure when he would call. We used to write letters and my husband made sure I received one letter every day for the days he was away from me. I used to write small notes and hide small surprises in his luggage In the years that followed, he had many high-risk postings. Back then, Punjab and the East were all dangerous places to be. He has been to Tripura, Punjab, and Srinagar. He used to be gone for days but by then I had become strong and learnt to fend for myself and our children. I knew he loved the country the most and his kids and wife came a close second. In 1999, he had a field posting in Srinagar, since it was a high risk area families weren't allowed, I moved to Bangalore. June 28th 2001, we spoke for the last time. He asked about our wellbeing, told that he was in the jungles for a military operation. He wanted to speak to the kids but they were running around with their cousins and there was a lot of chaos and noise. I told him to come back to his base and speak to them. I still regret that decision. On July 1st, 2001. Around 6.30 pm, a group of army officers along with their wives came home. Suddenly, a lady made me sit down and told me. "Major Ghori is no more, she said. I thought I heard it wrong. It had to be a mistake. She said they had been trying to reach me since morning but couldn't as I was at my mother's house and the phone lines were disconnected. Major Shafeeq Ghori was martyred in a heroic gun battle with militants during Operation Rakshak. Everything around me fell, crumbled. That day was the day I received my final letter from him. The next day, I went to the airport to receive him for the last time. This time in a box clad in Indian Flag. I broke down. He would always ask me to be strong. He reminded me even on that last day wespoke, but I never imagined a day when he wouldn’t be around. I got his uniform and civil clothes in a boxI did not wash them for eight years because did not want to let that feeling go. His mone is still in his wallet. The letters are still a par of my reading. I have played the role of a father and mother but there were times whenI used to fight back a tear seeing other kid splay with their parents. Today, I work for the welfare of the army martyr families and women empowerment of the martyr widowsin Karnataka. I was 29 when Major Shafeeq Ghori was martyred. People told me to move on.. but Hewas, is, and will always be my Forever. I am, "Salma Shafeeq Ghori"!!!!!! MMB salutes youmam! The nation is indebted to Major Shafeec JAI HIND!!!!

DISCLAIMER:  

The views expressed in the Article above are Nitin Srivastav views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

Courtesy:  Nitin Srivastav and Koshur Samachar-2025, May