Thousands paid tribute to Major Ketan Sharma, a 29-year-old officer, who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir.
Major Ketan Sharma’s Early Life
Born on October 4, 1987, Major Sharma was commissioned in Sikh Light Infantry as a Lieutenant in 2012 after passing out from the Indian Military Academy Dehradun.
He was transferred to Anantnag in 2017 and joined 19 Rashtriya Rifles (Sikh Light Infantry) as part of the counter-insurgency operations carried out in Jammu and Kashmir.
One of Major Ketan Sharma’s coursemate spoke to The Logical Indian. “Initially, I did not know him or interact with him much. But, one thing I can tell is that he was a very hardworking and a good officer,” he said.
“I received a call from him on the day of the joint security operation in Anantnag. He told me that he got hit by a bullet in the morning. He sent the same text to his wife too. We all were waiting for his reply, but it never came,” he added.
As told by Major Sharma’s aunt, Sunita Sharma, “Ketan could not clear the NDA thrice, later, he did not clear the interview for the Combined Defence Services. After all, it was in his seventh and last attempt that he had made it.”
“We distributed sweets, and there was cheer all around because everybody was so happy about his dream getting fulfilled. But who knew all those celebrations were for this fateful day when he returned wrapped in the tricolour,” she said.
Heart- Wrenching Goodbye Message
Hours before Major Ketan Sharma died in an encounter with terrorists, he sent a picture of himself on his family Whatsapp Group and messaged, “Maybe this is my last photo.”
Era Sharma, Wife of Major Ketan Sharma, spoke to The Times Of India, “Ketan was supposed to call me after returning safely from the cross-firing. In the last conversation I had with him via SMS, I asked him if he was ok and he told me how that his colleague had got shot in the stomach. ‘Vaapas aakar call karna’ (call me when you return), I texted him. He is yet to reply to my message or call me,” she said.
“Ketan would often joke that if he dies, the first call I will get will be from the commanding officer (CO). That day when the CO called, it was as if my ears had refused to hear what he was saying. I kept asking the CO if he was safe, but he didn’t say anything,” Era added.
Sachin, Major Ketan Sharma’s brother-in-law, spoke to The Logical Indian. “Kiara, his daughter, is too young to realise what has happened to her father. We are collecting newspaper clippings to show her later when she grows up what great sacrifice her father had made,” he said.
Last Rites Of The Brave Heart
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat paid their last respects to the martyr at the Palam airport. Later, Major Sharma’s mortal remains were brought to his residence in Delhi.
The brave heart was cremated in Surajkund later and was accorded a gun salute by his colleagues.
The Army tweeted its salutations for the martyred personnel.
#ChinarCorpsCdr & all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of Maj Ketan Sharma, the gallant officer, who was martyred fighting terrorists in Op #Badura (#Anantnag) & offer condolences to the bereaved family #Kashmir #IndianArmy @NorthernComd_IA@adgpi@easterncomd@WhiteKnight_ia pic.twitter.com/0fhpFTKiPV
— Chinar Corps – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) June 17, 2019
The UP government has recently announced a 25 lakh ex-gratia for Major Ketan Sharma’s family and also promised government jobs to the members of his family. The government is also going to name a road after the braveheart.
