Colonel Niranjan Kumar of the NSG’s bomb disposal squad sacrificed his life fighting terrorists who wanted to take hold of Pathankot IAF base. The braveheart leaves behind his proud parents, brothers, wife and a 18-month old daughter.

Lt Col Kumar, a resident of Kerala was a member of the bomb disposal squad. A grenade that had lodged into a dead body went off while he was trying to defuse it during the combing operations. Four jawans were injured in the blast.

As the nation bids adieu to martyred Lt Colonel Niranjan, here is a tribute to him written by one of his coursemates. This letter penned by Lt. Colonel Niranjan’s batchmate will make you think hard about the state of pain our soldiers live in.

“My Coursemate, my Sutta Pal, Barrack-Type and Punishment-Type.

Wish I could turn back the clock for you, Moron!

I would have ensured that instead of CDSE you would have cleared your Civil Services Exam.

Your daughter would have had a father to watch her grow up. Your wife would have had a husband to grow old with.

And you would never had to fight to get a decent pension (Not that you would have needed one – everyone knows the price of a Babu’s signature).

I wish that you had not been a warrior, a leader of men and a guardian of an ungrateful nation. I wish you had been a pen-pushing Babu who charged you just for doing his job.

I wish that you had not been an Officer And A Gentleman earning a hardship allowance of Rs.32000 in Siachen. Instead you should have been a blood-sucking Babu earning Rs.72000 HARDSHIP ALLOWANCE for enjoying the salubrious climes of Shillong or Guwahati.

Or I wish that you had been a Corporate Honcho, who earns thrice your salary for doing one-fourth of what you do.

I wish that you had been an AAM AADMI for whom nothing matters beyond the next increment,the next mobile phone or the next vehicle that he is going to buy.

I wish that you had been anything except what you chose to become – A Real Man, A Professional Soldier, A Leader Of Men, A True Son Of This Ungrateful Nation, Sworn to protect it at all cost.

I Wish…I Wish… But You Are No Longer There….

So I can only pray that in your next life, you decide to do something worthwhile.

Something… Anything…. Just Don’t Repeat The Mistakes You Made In This One..

R.I.P Brother… We’ll Meet In The Afterlife !”

We cannot deny that Indian soldiers are so easily denied of their rights when all their lives goes into protecting the rights of fellow countrymen. May the soul of Lt. Colonel niranjan rest in heavenly peace.