Atul Ghildiyal had a child like innocence, sage like maturity and an iron like will. He was my immediate senior in the battalion. There was a very strong bond between us. At some level I felt as if we were like brothers from different mothers. The fond memories of serving together at Jalandhar are still fresh in my mind. He had an enthuthiasm which was contagious and a spirit of adventure which broke all parameters of sanity; it was only Atul who could keep a variety of pets from pigeons, hens, cockerels to aquarium fish, and it was only he who could dare to drive all night on his mobike from Jalandhar to Dehradun!
He was passionate about everything that he did, whether it was professional army competetions, weight training or playing squash. Comradierie was never bettter personified; we invariably bought identical things,had similar opinions,likes/dislikes, had almost the same attitude.
After the tenure at Jalandhar Atul was posted to 20 RR in November 2000.( RR tenure is a counter insurgency operations). His wife Urmila was carrying their son Anirudh and Atul was saving his leave to be with her at the required time. No one could have imagined that he will not be able to reach his wife and son. While chasing insurgents in a operation, he was hit by enemy bullets.
From right- 2/Lt Atul Ghildiyal, Major Parladh Singh and 2/Lt Ashwani Saini (self) at MFFR (Rajasthan)
The young brigade of the Mighty Third during Centenary Celebrations(from left)Lt Kailash Bisht,Lt Arun Chaubey,Capt A Bannerjee (RMO),Capt Ashwani Saini (self),Capt Atul Ghildiyal and Lt Vinay.
Major Atul Ghildiyal laid down his life fighting insurgents on 18 January 2003. He was awarded 'Sena Medal' for Gallantary (posthomously).Homage can be paid to Major Atul Ghildiyal by clicking here.
17 comments:
Ashwani, thanks for this post in the memory of our unsung hero who laid down his life for the mother land away from the media glare.
On the occasion of the Republic Day of our country, i take this opportunity to present this award to my blogger friends who have made a difference by writing their frank opinions in their blogs as well, as in the comment columns of other blogs. These bloggers have not written any sensational or luscious stories to attract traffic to their blogs, but they have put down in prose as well, as verse, whatever they have felt strongly about, may it be about their personal lives or about a burning issue of the society. The sole purpose of their writing has been to make a difference. I wish that their ideas may fructify and bring a change in the society for better. I salute them all. Ashwani please pick up your award from my blog.
I dont know what to say to this Ashwani. yes, i can pay my homage, but what compensates his wife and son??
We salute our army, and such brave men !!
A touching homage to a brother officer.
There should be something better that the Indian army does for our heroes than a webpage with candles to light..
I felt terrible for quite a few days when I came to know and your post triggered the same emotions again.. Thats why I didnt join the army.. Thankless country and people..
No amount of words or homage are enough to salute spirit of those few who do so much for so many.
I am indeed privileged to have been able to visit your Blog
Aswani,
Yes he indeed had a childlike innocence and that 's why he had the maturity of a sage and yes again he had an iron will. I knew him all his life. He was indeed a wonderful friend and a brother and so are you...You knew him well. Not sure if he ever mentioned me....but i knew most f his friends well.
His son was born three months after he laid down his life and is doing well today. We ( his parents , wife , son and the rest of us) have sort of compromised to living without him.
Thanks for posting this. Hope we meet some day.
Best regards
Ajoy Ghildiyal
Balvinder Sir, Mampi,Shail,Karan, Soul Searcher, thanks for writing on this post.
Ajoy,
Thanks for visiting the blog.Your comments on the post touched a cord somewhere..
Are you Atul's elder brother??
Yes, indeed Atul always talked about you with such fondness. Without ever meeting you, I know so many things about you which were told to me by him; when you went to Japan while working with SBI, your marriage which was attended by Atul and Urmila; the bike which he was so fond of because it belonged to 'bhai'..there are so many tid-bits which have become history
Yes Ashwani,
Of course he would have talked of me. We always talked of each other. Dont know why I asked.
We were quite close as brothers and friends. In fact we shared the same best friends from our college days. I like to think we were pretty similiar as brothers are wont to be but as you said he was always a very special person.
I have your mail ID so will write to you soon.
Thanks for the post again. You penned a pretty good potrait of him in just one sentence.
Best Regards
Ajoy
hi,
thanks a ton for this post in the memory of atul mamaji..people like you will always keep him alive in our hearts and its great to know that all remember his sacrifice for the nation...
pooja thapliyal
Hi,thanks a lot for this post. I had heard so much about late major Atul Ghildiyal from my friend. I had always wanted to know more about him and thanks to you,now I know so much about him. I pay all my respect and homage to the brave-heart who laid down his life for the country and it is due to people like him that we , the people of the country can sleep in peace. Salute to the brave hero of the soil...
i hope you upload some more of his pictures and stories
VISHAL SINHA
Ash,
Thanks for the post about your paltan's great hero who made the supreme sacrifice. Dont know how I missed it earlier. Felt like kicking myself.I go through your blog regularly (though I may not be commenting !). I know what the bonding is like between subalterns in the unit and your anguish is plain to see. I knew some 'Ghildiyals' in Dehradun/Mussoorie long back. Wonder if they were related ??
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