Pataudi braveheart lived by his words, ‘Life should be big, not long’
GURUGRAM: At the age of 22, when most people take early steps into building a career, late Captain Kapil Kundu of the Indian Army's 55 Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry Unit laid down his life in service of his motherland.
On Monday, in his native village of Ransika in Pataudi, Gurugram, the anger and grief were palpable at his residence.
But more so was a feeling of gratitude, for a personality who was a living example of how to lead life in the true sense.
To add to his family's woes, the young National Defence Academy (NDA) cadet was martyred just six days ahead of 23rd birthday on February 10.
After Captain Kundu had lost his father eight years ago, he took upon himself to take care of his two elder sisters Kajal and Sonia, mother Sunita and grandfather Rati Ram.
In spite of these responsibilities, Captain Kundu never let his dream fade and his perseverance got him into the NDA in 2012.
On January 26, Kundu was promoted from the rank of lieutenant to captain and on February 4, he died fighting for the country. The last he spoke to his mother was February 1.
Despite the emotional upheaval, Kundu's family displayed moral courage and the sacrifice of their brave son.
“I am proud of my son. If I had another son, I would have asked him to join the Army and defend the mother land as well,” his mother Sunita proudly says.
Speaking of the passion of a soldier in her son, the aggrieved mother further said, “Kapil had made up his mind that he only wanted to join Infantry. He wanted to take charge and wanted to be at forefront defending his country. As a mother, I feared for the safety of my only son.
“But I knew he had taken the call and did not fear death. He ultimately turned out to be a great son, brother, but more, importantly, a great soldier.”
“I had the misfortune of witnessing my son's death and now my grandson's. Yet, in the end, I am proud of my grandson's sacrifice,” says Rati Ram, Captain Kundu's grandfather.
Meanwhile, Gurugram's Divine Dale School, Kundu's alma mater, held a march on Monday in his honour.
The students took a pledge that in the future they will not only display physical courage in terms of difficulties, but also exercise moral courage.
A recent Facebook post by the 22-year-old martyry read, “Zindagi lambi nahin, badi honi chahiye” (Life should not be long, it should be big).
Those who knew Captain Kundu not only lived his whole life on that philosophy, but even made other realise that's the way life must be lived.