‘Learn from Indian Army which follows only one Dharma, How to be an Indian’

“Citizens of our country must take from the Army two things. First, it must be known that Army has no Mazhab. It has only one Dharma ‘how to be an Indian’. When the country has problems of self-confidence, look at the Army. This will change your belief. Secondly, if one has Josh, Hosh must also follow. Leaders in Army have Hosh to serve and then Josh follows automatically,” exhorted Lt Gen Sayed Ata Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, (Retd), while addressing the gathering of over a thousand young boys, girls, parents of Praharis, former Defence Officers and their wives, during the programme organised to felicitate Veer Patni Mehjabeen Akhtar, wife of recipient of India’s highest peace time Gallantry Award Ashok Chakra (Posthumous) LNk Nazir Ahmed Wani SM** at Maharshi Vyas Sabhagruh, Smruti Bhavan, Reshimbag, Nagpur, on Sunday.

LNk Nazir Ahmed Wani , a Kashmiri soldier, was martyred, fighting with terrorists in Kashmir, whom he neutralised and lost his life while saving his officer. Mehajabeen Akhtar was presented with a trophy, a cheque of Rs 51,000 and a bouquet at the hands of Lt Gen Sayed Ata Hasnain, in the presence of Shama Deshpande, President of Prahar Samaj Jagruti Sanstha and Brig Sanjay Nand of UMANG Sub Area. Gen Hasnain’s speech was full of Josh and one that infused a spirit of patriotism in the youngsters, who heard him in rapt attention and later had some questions to ask.

Gen Hasnain informed the youngsters about how difficult and challenging it is to fight a proxy war in Kashmir, specially when the soldier himself is a Kashmiri. Wani’s sacrifice showed that even a Kashmiri, who considers India as his motherland does not shy away from laying down his life. He also made it clear to the aspirants of a Commission in the Army that one should not look at career in defence services as a job and what he will get. It is a way of life, where an individual sacrifices his all. He further added that late Col Sunil Deshpande, VSM, has tried to give back to society, the values he had imbibed in the Army. This great example must be replicated and a city like Nagpur must have several such institutions, to propagate the values”. Mehjabeen Akhtar, Veer Patni of martyred LNk Nazir Ahmad Wani, said, “I decided to come to Nagpur because Nagpurians wanted to honour me and pay respects to my late husband for his sacrifice. My husband always thought of the country and his officers,” she opined.

Brig Sanjay Nand, expressed his happiness over Uttar Maharashtra And Gujarat (UMANG) Sub Area becoming a part of the Prahar Movement. He also praised the good work being done by the Sanstha specially by Flt Lt Shiwalee Deshpande and mother Shama Deshpande in taking the work forward, started by Col Sunil Deshpande in a big way. Earlier, Flt Lt Shiwalee Deshpande, Trustee , Prahar Military School, welcomed all those present and also introduced the two dignitaries seated on the dais. Prominently present amongst the Defence luminaries were Lt Gen Ravi Thodge (Retd) and his wife, Maj Gen Anil Bam (Retd) and wife, Maj Gen A Deo (Retd), Brig Gaopande(Retd), Col M R Pimpalkhute (Retd), Col Vipin Vaidya (Retd), Col Raman Date (Retd) and many others.