The man behind the soldier:
5 of 20
Hav (Gnr) K Palani
State: Tamil Nadu (Madurai)
Age: 40
Survived by Parents, brother, sister, wife, a son and a daughter
Oh where do I begin about this man!
1/n
#GalwanValley
#Martyrs
I felt sad reading about the others but I wept reading about his life.
You see Palani belonged to a very poor family. As a teenager, he aspired to join the army and did so once he finished his twelfth standard exams.
2/n
#GalwanValley
#Martyrs
He was the eldest son of the family and had responsibilities that had to be taken care of.
And he did it too.
He first got a BA for himself through distance learning mode. Next he foot the bill for his younger brother's education, who btw has joined the Armed forces too. 3/n
He educated his sister and bore the expenses of her wedding.
As far as his immediate family was concerned, he ensured his wife didn't give up on her academic pursuits and encouraged her to go for B.ed and post graduate studies.
4/n
His son is 10, daughter only 8 years old.
(I have shared the pic of him with his wife and children. The matching shirts of Palani and his son will make you smile. )
5/n
#GalwanValley #martyrs
After 22 years of back-breaking toil in extreme climatic conditions, all to ensure that his nation was safe, Palani finally managed to save enough and get a loan of 17 lakhs to build his own house.
6/n
#GalwanValley #Martyrs
Last January, when he visited his family he was very very keen and wistful about wanting to be there for the Griha Pravesh which was scheduled for June.
7/n
#GalwanValley #Martyrs
But Covid19 and the tense situation at the border made it impossible and his family moved into their new house without him on the 3rd of June.
As a villager fondly recalls, "He loved cooking and would cook for everyone whenever he was home."
8/n
#GalwanValley #Martyrs
Last Saturday, when the phone rang in the Palani household, they knew who it was as it was a routine, Havildar K Palani would speak to his wife and two children regularly. 9/n
#GalwanValley #Martyrs
He told his wife he wouldn't be able to call for a few days as they were moving towards the border for a while. She was worried. But he had assured her there was nothing to worry about.
10/n
#GalwanValley #Martyrs
He was wrong though.
There was plenty to worry over.
To weep over.
To break one's heart over.
💔
11/n
#GalwanValley #Martyrs
P.S: I will post one condolence message every day for each of the 20 martyrs. I am not going to group them together in tribute and remembrance as they have been grouped together in death.
#GalwanValley #Martyrs
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