Mewat village bids adieu to its ‘bahu’
Sumedha Sharma
Tribune News Service
Gurgaon, March 29
Kurthala village in Mewat district was abuzz with activity today as it got ready to bid adieu to its “bahu” (daughter-in-law) Lieutenant Kiran Shekhawat, country’s first woman officer to die in the line of duty.
Lt Shekhawat, along with Lt Abhinav Nagori, was on a Dornier aircraft that went down on Tuesday night off the Goa coast.
She was cremated with full military honours today as her family, villagers and local leaders and politicians watched with teary eyes. They were proud of the martyr.
It was around two years ago that she had married Lt Vivek Chokar from Kurthala. He is also a navy officer. Owing to their separate postings, they had not got a chance to live together.
“She was to be posted in Kochi, Kerela, and my son was also going there. All members of the family were awaiting the reunion of the couple, but all dreams has been shattered. The only solace being she became the first woman martyr in uniform. She made Mewat proud, a place which is yet to accept women as its integral part,” said Lt Shekhawat’s mother-in-law.
“It was her routine to go for sorties during the night. Usually, she would call me before taking off and after landing. She called me at 6.30 that evening. That night, I waited for her call, but got the news of the crash. For every single moment in past three days, I prayed that she is rescued, but my worst fears came true. As a fellow officer, I am inspired by her because her end has established her as an inspiration for women officers,” Lt Chokar said.
