Martyr Captain Rupinder Singh Garcha (extreme right) with his family members

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 30

Rupi was to come home on leave just days before the fateful incident. However, he could not make it as another officer from his unit had to extend his leave due to his father’s ailment. All that came back to us was a ‘box’ filled with the memories of his last days, shared Col Joginder Singh Garcha, father of the martyr, Roopinder Singh Garcha, putting up a brave face as he spoke to The Tribune at his residence here at Ravinder Nagar.While the whole district administration along with senior Army officials gathered on Thursday to lay wreath at his status on his 16th martyrdom day at the Urban Estate Phase II market, his father Col Joginder due to his ailing health could not attend the event and silently paid tribute to his brave heart at his home .“He seems to have been destined for the job as he had an inclination towards Army since childhood. He used to play ‘battalion’ games at home and even made us participate in those games as Army men. Within a short span of two years service, ‘Rupi’ was almost done with four crucial courses of the Army. His flourishing career was cut short by his sudden death,” said the proud father.The family still remembers the fateful day. “Rupi just had his lunch when he was called by the 2IC. As he was the only officer who had done the commando course in his unit during that time, he was asked to clear Ghatlokam village in Pulwama district situated nearby which was taken over by terrorists,” shared Col Garcha. Roopinder along with another officer took a vehicle and left immediately for the spot and instructed his 80 men to come in other vehicles. “Just before entering the village, Rupi stopped his jeep and was about to step down to plan the attack with his men when an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) planted under his seat went off blowing up his body up to 23 ft. We still could not understand as to how the device was planted under his seat,” said Col Garcha. While remembering his commando days, Rupi’s mother Harminder Kaur shared he never wanted to do the commando course as not being in the infantry, the course was not mandatory for him. Roopinder even planned to leave the course in between. “However, it was only me who convinced him to continue by saying that he will be called a coward who ran away from the course,” said Kaur. She shared an instance when Rupinder was doing his commando training and came to his sister’s home at New Delhi. “His feet were swollen and were covered with blisters. When asked as to how he is managing his morning run every day, he said that he can do it easily by wearing four to five pairs of socks,” said his mother. 

Even though it’s been 16 years since Rupi has gone, the proud mother even remembers the taste of tea which Rupi used to make whenever he would come on leave. “He was a very caring child and always concerned about my health. Whenever he was at home during leave, he would send our house maid on long leave. He made me do all the household chores. When I used to finish my work, he used to make two cups of tea along with some snacks and then we both used to sit on the floor and enjoy it,” said the proud mother as she prevented her tears from falling. While calling the recent provision of One Rank One Pension as ‘half baked’, Col Garcha slammed the Centre for overlooking the concerns of the armed forces. “Army has made huge sacrifices whenever the national security was put under threat by external forces. However, it is unfortunate that the politicians do not recognise their value and hold bureaucracy supreme than the men in olive greens,” said Col Garcha adding that politicians were not interested in sending their own children to Army. Also, raising concern of the city residents for forgetting the war heroes, Col Garcha said the city too had paid heavily during times of need. He said in the Kargil war, the city alone lost seven officers. In rural areas, the number could have gone manifolds. “People are insensitive towards these heroes.  Despite requesting so many times, the banks established inside Capt Roopinder Singh Garcha’s shopping complex do not use his name and instead write their address as the Urban Estate Phase II market,” said Col Garcha. He also informed that though he had started Garcha Trust an year after his son’s martyrdom to support children from poor families who would like to join Army, but could not find anyone till date who could match the spark that was there in his brave son. “I have lost the most precious gem of my life and I will remember the harsh fact till my last breath,” said the aggrieved father. 

16th martyrdom day observed at Urban Estate Phase II

• The city on Thursday observed the 16th martyrdom day of Capt Roopinder Singh Garcha. Former District Welfare Officer Col Manmohan Singh organised an event to commemorate the occasion at Capt Roopinder SinghGarcha Commercial Complex in Urban Estate Phase II.
• An impressive guard of honour was given by the Army men. As many as 323 Air Defence regiment had specially come from Pune to pay tribute to the officer. Also, schoolchildren presented a patriotic cultural show to remember the sacrifice of the braveheart wholaid down his life at the age of 23.
• While remembering Capt Garcha, chief guest Major General Sanjeev Bajaj, GOC 91 sub area, lauded his father for guiding his son to the path of patriotism. Gen Bajaj also presented a cheque of Rs 25,000 to Captain Garcha Trust.
• Also present on the occasion were Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav,Col Manmohan Singh and Deependra Singh, brother of Capt Garcha.