Bullet-riddled wallet keeps her son’s memories alive

Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service 
Jammu, July 25 

Kanta Devi, mother of Kargil martry Udhay Maan Singh, has made it a routine to go through a bullet-riddled wallet of his son to keep the memory of the martyrdom of his brave son alive.

Udhay was carrying the wallet when he attained martyrdom on July 5, 1999, while fighting with Pakistani soldiers to liberate the Tiger Hill during the Kargil war.

“Every morning I go through the wallet of my son to remind myself of the supreme sacrifice he made for the motherland,” said a teary-eyed Kanta Devi. Bullets fired by the enemy soldiers had pierced through the wallet which the martyr’s family has kept in the pooja room. 

A native of Shamachak village on the outskirt of Jammu city, Udhay had joined 18 Grendadiers of the Army at the age of 18 and had attained martyrdom at the age of  21. 

“Udhay always wanted to serve in the Army ever since he was a child for which he worked hard and achieved his goal at the age of 18”, the proud mother said, adding, “In his memory we have dedicated our ancestral house at village Shamachak in which his uniform, national flag, medals and other items have been preserved to give inspirations to the younger generation and to keep his memories alive”.

On the night of July 4, 1999, the 18 Grenadiers team were given the responsibility to recapture the Tiger Hill along with two other battalions. To evict the Pakistani troops from the hill, these battalions launched an attack and reached the top of the hill, using ropes and other accessories. After reaching the peak, they had to face intense gun firing. In the ensuing gun battle, Grenadier Udhay Maan Singh had received a fatal gunshot and succumbed to his injuries. He was martyred along with his two other comrades on July 5. Udhay was the only son of his family.