News Analysis India

Tag: Nayak Deepak Nainwal

  • Following late husband’s footsteps, martyr’s widow set to join OTA

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: A tragedy can break an individual or a family. It can also steel their resolve to fight back. Jyoti Nainwal belongs to the second category.

    Widow of a soldier in the Indian Army, she is set to follow in the footsteps of her late husband by joining the Officer’s Training Academy in Chennai.

    Things were very different about three years ago, when Nayak Deepak Nainwal succumbed to injuries suffered during action in Kulgam of J&K. It was May, 2018.

    Deepak’s death almost broke the family and left Jyoti distraught. After grieving for a while, she decided to take up the mantle of her late husband for the sake of her children.

    “I told myself Deepak would not want me to be like this. He would like me to face the world bravely. I decided to join the army,” said Jyoti, who has a Masters degree in economics.

    Crediting the Indian Army, her family and in-laws, Jyoti wants the youth of Uttarakhand to chase their dreams.

    “Indian Army supported me throughout. I was allowed to take care of my husband for 40 days when he was in hospital. I learnt during this period that Indian Army not only takes care of its brave soldiers but also their families. Deepak told me I had potential to be in the army. My mentors, in-laws and brothers worked with me at every step,” said Jyoti, who will join the academy on January 29.

    Deepak had taken three bullets while fighting terrorists in Kulgam on April 10, 2018 and died on May 20. Deepak’s grandfather Sureshanand Nainwal was a freedom fighter.

    His father Chakradhar P Nainwal was in the army and fought the 1971 war.

  • ‘He’d like me to face world bravely’: Kulgam martyr’s widow set to join Indian Army

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Jyoti Nainwal (32) will soon start her training at Officers Training Academy in Chennai. Mother of a 5-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter, her husband Nayak Deepak Nainwal was injured in April 2018 in Kulgam of Jammu & Kashmir in action and succumbed in May 2018. 

    The demise of Nainwal broke his family leaving Jyoti distraught. However, she decided to take up the responsibilities and not give up on her children and family. 

    “I told myself that Deepak would not want me to be like this. He would like me to face the world bravely. I decided to join the Indian Army. I hope this will make him happy wherever he is,” said Jyoti, who holds a postgraduation in Economics. 

    “Indian Army supported me through and through. I was allowed to stay and take care of my husband for 40-days during his hospitalization. I learnt during this period that the Indian Army not only takes care of the brave hearts but their families too. Deepak told me that I have got the potential to be in the Army. My mentors, in-laws and brothers worked with me at every step to get me through,” added Nainwal who will be joining the academy on January 29, 2021.

    Naik Deepak Nainwal took three bullets while fighting off terrorists in Kulgam of Kashmir on April 10, 2018 and left the world on May 20, 2018.

    Jyoti who got married in year 2011 recalls, “He often used to reiterate- ‘These are very normal wounds. I will recover soon. Don’t worry’. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. More than myself I was petrified what to tell my children- Lavanya and Reyansh who were waiting for their father to come home. Together, with everyone’s support, we decided to keep him in our memories forever.”

    The family of the martyr has been dedicated to the country for three generations. Deepak’s grandfather Sureshanand Nainwal was freedom fighter while his father Chakradhar P Nainwal is retired from the Army and was part of the action in 1971 war with Pakistan. 

    “I am proud of my son and my daughter-in-law. I am blessed that I am part of such a family where people elder to e and younger to me have sacrificed for the country,” Jyoti’s mother-in-law Parvati Nainwal said.