Thousands bid farewell to Sergeant Surendra

Time of India

11-05-2025

Jhunjhunu: In the heart of
, a story of profound love and sacrifice unfolded on a sombre Sunday afternoon. Eleven-year-old Vartika stood tall, her young shoulders bearing a weight far beyond her years, as she watched her father's flag-draped coffin arrive home for the last time.Sergeant Surendra Kumar Moga of IAF's 36 Wing, who was martyred in a Pakistani attack at J&K's Udhampur airbase Saturday, wasn't just a soldier; he was the father who braided Vartika's hair every morning, the husband who made his wife Seema laugh, and the hero who followed his own father's footsteps into military service.
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Just five days before fate intervened, he had been with his family in Bengaluru, sharing dreams of a future in administrative services after retirement.As the afternoon sun hit hard across the village streets, Vartika emerged as an unexpected pillar of strength. With wisdom beyond her years, she guided her seven-year-old brother Daksh through the heart-wrenching rituals, their small hands clasped together in shared grief. "I will join the army," she declared, her voice steady despite her tears, "and avenge my father's death."The most poignant moment came when Seema, their mother, approached her husband's body. "I love you," she whispered twice, her fingers gently tracing his face one last time. When she received his uniform, she held it to her heart as if embracing him one final time, the fabric still carrying traces of his presence.Throughout the ceremony, Vartika moved between roles – a daughter in mourning, a sister protecting her younger brother, and a source of comfort for her grieving mother. When Seema faltered, it was Vartika who steadied her, wiping away her mother's tears while holding back her own.The village of Mehradasi became a sea of solidarity, with thousands gathering to bid farewell to their hero. From rooftops and streets, they watched the procession, their collective grief echoing in patriotic chants and tearful goodbyes.In attendance were prominent political figures, including Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa and BJP and Congress state presidents, along with several former and current ministers, MPs and MLAs, who expressed their condolences and pledged support for Surendra's family.As the sun set on that fateful day, Vartika's promise hung in the air – a young girl's determination to carry forward her father's legacy of service and sacrifice. In her eyes shone the same dedication that had driven Sergeant Surendra to serve his nation for 15 years, proving that while soldiers may fall, their spirit lives on in the hearts they leave behind.The state govt's support, including a cheque of Rs 5 lakh, offered little consolation to a family that had lost its pillar of strength. As minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said, "When a soldier sacrifices for the country, his family sacrifices too."