Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad — from a farming family to the Army

For use in the issue of February 10 
 Happy lot! Mahadevi (Jayashri) wife of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad who survived miraculously after avalanche at Siachen Glacier, celebrate the good news with her daughter Netravati in Betadur village of Kundagol taluk of Dharwad district on Tuesday

Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad belongs to a farming family of Betadur village in Kundagol taluk of Dharwad district.

The village, mainly an agrarian one, has in recent years seen around six sons of the soil joining the Army.

Lance Naik Koppad belongs to a joint family, which is mainly into agriculture, holding around 3 acres of land, which they inherited from their father, Ramappa Koppad, who passed away a few years ago.

The youngest in the family, Lance Naik Koppad always wanted to join the Army. He came up the hard way, attending high school at Aralikatti village by walking 6 km every day. And, despite being rejected thrice in the Army recruitment rallies at Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag, he kept on trying and finally managed to get into the 19 Madras Regiment 14 years ago.

Four years ago, Lance Naik Koppad married Mahadevi (Jayashri) and has a two-year-old daughter, Netra. His last visit to Betadur was six months ago. His earnings helped build a house in the government-allotted site in the village.

Just a day before the avalanche, he had called his family. “He had enquired about all of us,” said his eldest brother, Govindappa, who left for Delhi on Tuesday.