Lt Swati Mahadik with her children at the passing-out parade. PTI

Chennai, September 9

In an inspiring example of grit and courage, the wife of Col Santosh Mahadik, who was killed fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir nearly two years back, today joined the Army as an officer after 11 months of gruelling training.Swati Mahadik, 38, a mother of two, was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army Ordnance Corps.Her husband Col Mahadik, a recipient of the Sena Medal for gallantry, was killed in an anti-terror operation in Kupwara in north Kashmir in November 2015.An officer from the elite 21 Para Special Forces, he was known for always leading from the front. Col Mahadik was the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Following in her husband’s footsteps, Swati had joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in October last year.Present at the passing-out parade were her proud family members — daughter Kartikee, 12, son Swaraj, 7, mother-in-law Kalindi Ghorpade, father Babanrao Shedge and her mother.Swati had already crossed the upper age limit for joining the Army and it was only after the Army and Ministry of Defence specially relaxed the age limit for her that she could initiate her new career goals.Later, she told mediapersons how she had silently resolved to join the Indian Army at the funeral of her husband in November 2015. She sent both her children to boarding schools and then appeared for the Staff Selection Board (SSB), which she cleared.After undergoing several rounds of physical fitness and medical examinations as part of the five-tiered selection process, she was selected to join the OTA.Also at the passing-out parade was Lt Nidhi Dubey, the widow of another soldier, the late Naik Mukesh Dubey.Welcoming two such gritty widows to the armed forces, the Indian Army said in a tweet: “Salute the spirit. Both Lt Swati Mahadik and Lt Nidhi Dubey have strived hard to become officers today after their husbands passed away. Both of them have made all of us proud.” Agencies

‘Uniform was his first love, now mine’I wanted to be close to him (Col Mahadik) by joining the Army. Uniform was his first love and that is why I have decided to join the Army so that I can wear the uniform. I want to give a way of life to my children which he would have given to them. —Lt Swati Mahadik