Kargil martyr dishonoured

Government official removes board with late Capt. Shashikant Sharma's name on it from power substation in Noida dedicated to his memory

Kargil martyr dishonoured

Government official removes board with late Capt. Shashikant Sharma's name on it from power substation in Noida dedicated to his memory

It's been almost 12 years since the Kargil War, but the apathy of authorities compelled a shattered father yesterday to cry for the son he lost. The issue is not of compensation, but of honour and dignity. 71-year-old retired flight lieutenant JP Sharma was traumatised because late Capt. Shashikant Sharma's name was on Monday dishonoured and inexplicably wiped out from a memorial named after him in sector 31, Noida.

The board with Capt. Sharma's name and photo (encircled) that was
put up some time back.

The building after the board was taken off on Monday.u00a0Pics/shazid Chauhan

In 2004, when the Uttar Pradesh government offered to allot Sharma's family a plot in Greater Noida, and a petrol pump, the martyr's father refused both, for he thought that'd be too costly a gift from the government in return of what was only his son's duty. So, instead, a road in front of the sector 37 Golf Course, a park in the same area and a power substation in sector 31 were named after his son the very same year. Earlier this year, the iron board bearing his name at the power station gathered rusted, so his father asked the authorities to repaint it.

Where streets have a name: The road in Noida sector 37, named after
the war hero. pic/shazid chauhan

Power play
The electricity board workers were generous enough to put up a new board instead of repainting the old one. "We prepared a new board mentioning the name of the martyr and his picture and put it at the top of the building. This we did around ten days ago," an employee from the substation said.u00a0

But yesterday came as a shocker. Bhupinder Singh, an executive engineer of the authority from Greater Noida came to the spot and demanded that the memorial sign be taken off immediately. No valid reason was given to the authorities or Kant's family as to why the action was necessary.

"He came at around 11 in the morning and saw the board up there. He got furious and demanded it be pulled down immediately. He also threatened to file an FIR with the police against all the employees if the board was not pulled down. We complied with the order. He wanted a board, mentioning the address of the power house, put on the other side of the building, to be brought to the front. He later left without even doing that," added the employee.

By evening, Sharma's father got to know about the rather unreasonable demand and could not understand why a memorial post that was unquestioned for over a decade had suddenly become a problem. Tired and upset, he could not do anything that evening except for making a few phone calls.

Since Tuesday morning, he has been running from pillar to post in the heat to seek an explanation from the babus but no one seems concerned. "I am really touched by this very act of the babu who passed such orders. But I don't want him to force and put back that board as the respect comes from within. If he doesn't feel enough, I don't want to force him. There is a road and a park in Noida which have been named after my son. I failed to understand, what compelled him to remove the board," said Sharma staying at sector 37 with his wife and son.

"But I am making a genuine effort to put that board again on the power house building.u00a0 I have been in touch with the Noida authority, the police and other senior government officials who named all those behind his son. They have assured me of some help soon," added shattered Sharma.u00a0

Wiped clean
When MiD DAY contacted Singh, the executive engineer at Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL), Greater Noida, who ordered the removal of the board, he said, "The building was in a bad state and needed renovation. We are planning to do a whitewash so I ordered to remove the board." However he failed to explain why he did not remove the other board put up on the side of the building.

However, AP Mishra, chief engineer, Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) denied any renovation or whitewash in the building. "It is insane on part of the officer to act in such a manner. Sharma's son called me up in the morning and said he would be giving something in a written. Unless and until I receive a written complaint against the employee we won't be able to act against him. The moment I receive one, I will start an enquiry against him."

Speaking on the issue, MS Bitta, chairman of All-India Anti-Terrorist Front, said, "This is really a shame for our country. Politicians and government officials have often made fun of our martyrs but we should not encourage this. Rather we should act strongly to curb it. Now that I am aware of the issue, I will definitely raise it with the Noida Authority as well as other top government officials of Noida."

Braveheart
Late Captain Shashikant Sharma did the family, his regiment and the country proud by attaining martyrdom at the snowy heights of 21662 ft at Bana post in the Siachen glaciers while leading his men. Commissioned in the 15 Armoured Regiment on June 10, 1995, Kant had won many awards at the NDA, Khadakvasla, and IMA, Dehradun, during his training as an army officer. After getting commissioned, Shashi volunteered for a stint in Siachen. He was also assigned, as commander, the Bana post, situated at 21,882 foot - two-thirds of Mt Everest's height, and at minus 40 degrees temperature. After the completion of his 23-days tenure, Shashikant volunteered to stay on for a couple of days more till he was to be relieved by his successor. On October 3, 1998, heavy shelling from Pakistani side continued on Bana post all night. Shashikant and his men repulsed the attack, but the next day he was wounded grievously in his right thigh and abdomen. The brave commander held out regardless, guarding the post. At 5pm on October 5, he was shot in the forehead and died a hero. Capt. Shahsikant was posthumously awarded a Sena Medal on August 15, 1999 by Chief of Army Staff General V P Malik, which was received by his father, Flt Lt. J.P. Sharma. A badge of sacrifice for his valour was also presented to Capt Shashikant's father on January 15, 2000 by Army Chief General V P Malik.