Grief, Anger And Pride: How Villagers Bid Farewell To A 22-Year-Old Sepoy

Kolkata: Jamuna Balia village is just about an hour's drive from Kolkata on a good traffic day. But it has retained a pastoral air about it; paddy fields, algae-topped ponds that the early morning light lends a wondrous glow.

All these sights are now lost to Gangadhar Dolui, just 22. He was one of the 18 soldiers killed in Uri terror attack. As thousands gathered to pay respects, his regiment, 6 Bihar, gave him a ceremonial farewell.

"He had called on Thursday. He said he was moving out of Uri, he said he would call me again in a week. I said how can I stay without speaking with you for seven whole days," said his mother Shikha, as she wept her son's loss.

Father Onkar Nath went up to the casket bearing his son's body to play floral tribute. A daily farm labour over 60 years of age, he had slaved to raise his son who joined the army in his first year at college.
 Sujit Maiti, who used to give tuition to Gangadhar, said, "When I used to go to teach him at home, the roof used to leak. His mother, his father, they really struggled... I feel so bad, shattered."

As the bugles blew their mournful notes, an Indian flag was handed over to Gangadhar's 14-year-old brother Barun. It was spread on the casket amid cries of 'Gangadhar Dolui amar rahey'.

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Thousands of people had gathered for the last rites, from Jamuna Balia and neighbouring villages. But in the air of gloom, there was anger too.

"I want harsh punishment for those who killed my dada," Barun said.

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Others raged at Pakistan. "What is happening in India? People are being killed, Pakistan is thrashing us, bombing innocents.

Unacceptable!" said villager Sridhar Manna. And he was not alone.

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Gangadhar Dolui's photographs have been pinned to Indian flags strung up across Jamuna Balia village.