Every household in this Ambala village has a military connect
were away from drugs and this had prevented them from becoming physically and mentally weak.
“Their parents are more educated as compared to those in nearby villages. Moreover, the village youths have a patriotic spirit. Every family in this village wants to send its boys to defence forces to protect India’s borders. Nearly 150 youths can be seen doing workout at the village stadium every morning and evening in order to clear the tough recruitment process”, she added.
At least four men from the village have achieved martyrdom so far. One of them was Lance Naik Vikramjit Singh, who laid down his life during a counter-insurgency operation in Gurez sector of Bandipora district in Kashmir on August 6 last year. His mother Kamlesh Kaur said she felt proud when people call her mother of a sahid (martyr). “My son was 6 feet tall and a brave fauji (soldier). My younger son, Monu Singh, is also working with the Indian army. My husband and I had educated our children by working as labourers and now, I can proudly say that they have brought laurels to us. The government and the administration have helped us a lot. I want the state government and administration to build a statue of Vikramjit so that the village can remember his valuable contributions to the country,” she added.
Vikramjit Singh’s wife Harpreet Kaur, 23, said her husband was martyred only eight months after their marriage.
“I have an aim to send my son to the army. I have a nice family. My grandfather had served as a captain in the Indian Army. Struggles are part of life and I am now thinking of moving on. The state has already paid us ₹50 lakh after Vikram’s martyrdom and promised me a government job,” she added.
Hazara Singh, a retired army man, said his both sons, Sony Singh and Avtar, were currently serving the defence forces.
“Army makes us disciplined and responsible person. Now, I am focussing on preparing my grandchildren for army job. I feel proud that I had served the nation. Now, my sons are taking forward this legacy,” he added.
Zoravar Singh, an army job aspirant, said he had been doing the regular workout for past three years in the morning as well as evening hours to clear the physical recruitment test. “I want to serve the nation and defence force is the best way to fulfil my dream. I am eagerly waiting to don an army cap,” he added.