Vinod Kanwar was only 20 years old when she lost her husband in the 1999 Kargil War. But even after that painful loss, she showed great courage and chose to send her only son to join the Indian Army.

Now 46, Ms. Kanwar proudly spoke at a special ceremony held to honour the families of martyrs during the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas in Rajasthan on Friday.

Her son following his father's path

Her son, Tejvir Singh Rathore, was just six months old when his father, Naik Bhanwar Singh Rathore, died on July 10, 1999, while helping to recapture Point 4700 during the Kargil War.

Now, Tejvir is training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.

"My son Tejvir Singh Rathore was only six months old when his father became a martyr. He did not even see his father," Ms. Kanwar said.

She said she never hesitated in allowing her son to join the Army.

"Tejvir will be the third generation from my family to join the Army. My father was a soldier, my husband laid down his life for the nation, and my son will also serve the nation," she said.

Ms. Kanwar believes that the country always comes first.

"We have to think about the nation first and protect it. We cannot be selfish," she told PTI.

Though she accepted that the death of her husband was a painful moment, she is proud of his sacrifice.

Naik Bhanwar Singh Rathore was born on September 3, 1977, in Hirasani village, Nagaur district, Rajasthan. He joined the Army in December 1994 and served in the 7 Para battalion of the Parachute Regiment, a special unit known for its brave para commandos.

About Kargil Vijay Diwas

Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on July 26. On this day in 1999, India successfully ended ‘Operation Vijay’ by pushing back enemy soldiers from high-altitude areas like Tiger Hill and Tololing in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir.

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