Family members of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in Indo-Pak wars have volunteered to visit Pakistan with a message of peace.
Peace Mantras, an event jointly organised by the Sainik Welfare Board and the alumni association of Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology to bring together martyrs’ families, threw up such a lofty idea here on Friday. “The pain of losing near and dear ones is the same everywhere. It is no different even in a country that is perceived as an enemy. Enmity should end, and to promote such a cause, we are willing to visit Pakistan,” family members of martyrs said in an emotionally charged atmosphere.
Nearly 300 families of jawans have been orphaned in Kerala alone. And many of them died without seeing their children even once.
Sainik Welfare Board member K.K. Govindan Nair lamented that the people of Kerala did not give jawans the respect they deserved. He urged people to give respect to soldiers who guard the country and relatives of those who made the supreme sacrifice for the cause of the nation.
Kerala figures fourth in the country in terms of the number of people serving the Army. Mr. Nair suggested that people come forward to serve the nation by joining the Army. He also hailed the initiative to honour martyrs and their families.
Widows and siblings of soldiers who laid down their lives for the country were bestowed with the civilian honour Param Tyaga Chakra, which was instituted as part of the initiative.
Fr. Jose Alex Oruthayapally, director, Rajagiri School of Engineering, said the event was unprecedented in the history of the institution. Principal A. Unnikrishnan, NSS coordinator Rajeesh Chacko, alumni association president Rigin John, and secretary Vivek attended the function.
