
Welcome ‘Sinduri': Bihar couple names newborn girl after Army op
Santosh Kumar Mandal (30) and his wife Rakhi Kumari (23), residents of Balthi Maheshpur in Katihar district, named their baby girl 'Sinduri'.
'Our baby was born on the day the Indian Army successfully launched 'Operation Sindoor'. It was a proud moment not only for us but also for the entire nation,' said Santosh, who became father of his second daughter on May 7. Santosh's wife Rakhi was admitted to Katihar Seva Sadan on May 7 early morning, where she delivered the baby girl after a surgery.
Asked how the idea struck him, Santosh said, 'The airstrikes into Pakistan inculcated a sense of patriotism in me. I immediately decided to name my newborn daughter after the operation. My wife also approved it, and the baby was named Sinduri. May 7 will be a memorable day for the nation as well as our family. We will celebrate Sinduri's birthday every year which coincides with Operation Sindoor.'
The parents want to encourage Sinduri to join the Air Force after completing her studies. 'Though we come from a lower middleclass family, we will leave no stone unturned to fulfil our dream,' Santosh told this reporter over phone on Thursday.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
For role in Op Sindoor, Goan woman earns despatch after leaving corp job for IAF career
Panaji: In the heat of May, Poma Braganca Pereira and Eustaquio Pereira were watching Operation Sindoor unfold over north India's skies while sitting at their cosy home at Porvorim. The couple offered a silent prayer for the men in uniform, particularly the aviators tasked with defending the country from drones, enemy fighters, and surface-to-air missiles. What they did not know was that their daughter, wing commander Maria Ismenia Sancha Pereira, was also awake that night, keeping a close watch on Indian fighter jets. The only woman in her mechanical engineering batch, Pereira chose an uncertain path over a secure career at Godrej, answering the call of duty by joining the Indian Air Force . Her determination paid off, with the 44-year-old mother of two becoming the first Goan woman to earn a mention-in-despatch for her crucial role as an air traffic controller in Operation Sindoor. 'We were watching the news during Operation Sindoor, but we did not know that she was involved. We came to know on Aug 16 when her name was announced, and she sent us a WhatsApp message. When we found out, we were very happy. Her dedication and hard work paid off,' said Poma. Being mentioned in despatches means a member of the armed forces has been recognised in an official report (a dispatch) for acts of bravery or distinguished service in a combat zone, but not to the extent that would warrant a specific gallantry medal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo The mention is a public commendation and acknowledges the individual's meritorious service or gallantry. As a child, Maria excelled in her studies, standing first in her HSSC boards in her school. Known to be hardworking, Maria had one aim — to excel in whatever she did. 'She was a mechanical engineer, the only girl in her batch. Because of her marks, she got selected by Godrej during a campus interview at Farmagudi, but after working for a few months, she decided to apply to join the Indian Air Force,' said Poma. Born to a career educationist and professional footballer, Maria is the first in her family to join the armed forces. She is married to a fellow air warrior, a wing commander from Guwahati, with whom she has two sons. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.


Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Army launches ‘Samanvay Shakti' to bridge civil-military gaps
1 2 3 4 Dibrugarh: Army has embarked on a military-civil integration initiative with the launch of Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025, aimed at promoting cooperation between security forces and civilian institutions across Assam and Manipur. The exercise was inaugurated on Wednesday at Laipuli in Tinsukia district, marking a strategic shift in addressing the region's complex security and developmental challenges through unified coordination. "This exercise represents a paradigm shift in how we approach regional challenges. By bringing together military and civilian stakeholders on a single platform, we are creating synergies that will benefit both security preparedness and community development," said a senior Army official. The initiative has drawn participation from a wide spectrum of organisations, including the Indian Army, district administration, police, intelligence agencies, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), medical teams, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF), Railways, educational institutions, and security personnel from key industrial players such as Oil India Limited (OIL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), and Coal India Limited. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Recover All Your Loss With This Superclass on Option Trading By Mr. Gopal ! TradeWise Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola A parallel exercise is underway in Manipur from Aug 20 to 30, covering critical sectors such as disaster management, healthcare, education, public works, forest conservation, narcotics control, irrigation, road safety, and employment opportunities in the Armed Forces. Spanning 10 days, the exercise aims to enhance operational readiness, streamline communication channels, and refine standard operating procedures through hands-on rehearsals. Special emphasis is being placed on strengthening coordination among state police, Army units, and paramilitary forces, while also advancing infrastructure development under Operation Sadbhavna — the Army's flagship community outreach programme. "Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025 seeks to deepen the bond of trust between the people of Upper Assam and Manipur and the institutions that serve them. It is a vital step toward bolstering security, promoting development, and reinforcing national integration," the official added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.


India.com
14 hours ago
- India.com
THIS Indian village is known as 'village of soldiers', every household has a member serving in Indian Army, its Asia's largest..., located in...
(File/Representational) Largest village in Asia: Despite rapid urbanization and industrialization over the last few decades, India remains largely a rural/agrarian economy, with the country having a total of 6,40,930 villages, a number that has reportedly increased to 6,64,369, according to various reports. But did you know that Asia's largest village is also located in India, which also boasts another unique distinction– its is known as the 'village of soldiers' as every household in this hamlet has at least one family member serving in the Indian Army. Let us find out more about this remarkable village. Where is the village located? The Gahmar village in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh, has earned the distinction of being the largest village in India as well as all of Asia. Located on the banks of the River Ganga, on the railway route between Patna and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Junction (formerly Mughalsarai), around 40 kilometers from the district headquarters Ghazipur, the Gahmar village is spread over about 8 square miles (about 20-22 square kilometers), making it the largest village in Asia. The Gahmar village, known for its large population and rich military tradition, is divided into 22 tolas or pattis, with each of these named after a renowned person or Army soldier. What is the population of Gahmar village? As per various media reports, the population of Gahmar village is estimated to be between 1.20 lakh and 1.50 lakh people, with locals asserting that the figure is about 2 lakh, considering the natives who live in other parts of the country due to work, studies, etc. The figure is abnormally large for a village, because rural regions are generally less densely populated than urban areas. The village has about 25,000 registered voters, and is mainly dominated by the Rajput community, which forms about 60% of its population, followed by Yadavs, Verma, Brahmins, and other castes. Why Gahmar is called 'village of soldiers'? Apart from being the largest village in Asia, Gahmar is also known for its long military tradition, and its believed that every home in this giant hamlet has at least one member who is serving, or has served in the Indian Armed Forces. As per reports, Gahmar village is home to about 15,000 ex-servicemen, while around 12,000 natives are currently serving in the Indian Army or paramilitary forces in positions ranging from soldier to colonel. According to media reports, several families in the village have three generations associated with the Indian Army, and young men are often seen preparing for military recruitment every morning and evening 1600 meter track at Mathiya ground located on the banks of River Ganga. The village is easily accessible because of the Gahmar railway station which connects Patna and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Junction. Story Highlights Gahmar is the largest village in Asia. Each home has at least one member in Indian Armed Forces. Its spread over 22 square kilometers. The village is located in Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh.