Satara (Maharashtra): The nation celebrates the 21st anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas today. On this day in 1999, the over two-month-long war ended as the Indian army registered a massive win against Pakistani soldiers.
Hundreds of soldiers had lost their lives in the historic war with the neighbour.
One of them, Mahadeo Nikam was a gallant soldier in the Indian Army who had left a pregnant wife behind in his hometown of Satara to fight for the country.
Nikam's wife Ujjwala Nikam had been at her father's home in Rahimatpur for the delivery. On July 26, she gave birth to a baby girl at 11 am. Just two hours later, her uncle received a call from the Indian Army informing that Mahadeo Nikam was martyred while fighting the war.
READ:| Kargil Vijay Diwas: 'Sher Shah' of Kargil, Capt Vikram Batra
While talking to ETV Bharat, Ujjwala said, "I was told that some relative was sick and that I had to return home," adding that, "When I returned, I noticed the village was crowded, with people having covered their heads in white cloth."
"As I approached my house, I saw a wooden coffin placed in front of the main door," she said.
"The coffin had a label with our address on it. And then I saw his body lying in the coffin and I collapsed," Ujjwala said.
She said that the chants of 'long live Mahadeo Nikam' reverberate in her ears till date.
"The realisation that my husband would never see his newborn broke my heart," Ujjwala said.
READ:| Army veteran Capt Shalini Singh recalls her husband's valor on Kargil Vijay Diwas
Post her husband's demise, a senior Army official visited Ujjwala and named her daughter Vijaya after Operation Vijaya.
Presently, Ujjwala Nikam resides at a place called Kodoli near Satara, along with her daughter.
"My birthday falls on the day of my father's demise because of which I have never been able to celebrate it like others," Mahadeo's daughter Vijaya said.
21-years-old Vijaya recently graduated from Chatrapati Shivaji College in Satara. She also received the C certificate in National Cadet Corps and wishes to continue her father's legacy of military service.
