Shaheed Rifleman
Linkon Pradhan
"Is
it really him?"
It's a scene that repeats itself in a
multitude of homes across the country. At Bagdogra
airport an apprehensive Naik Ananda Pradhan waits to
escort the body of his mate Rifleman Linkon Pradhan
of the Gorkha Rifles home to Sukhiyapukhuri in
Darjeeling. Informing colleagues' kin of tragedy is
not a happy prospect. Linkon, in his 20s, died on
June 8 while assaulting Tiger Hills at Kargil. Two
bullets in the chest put paid to a brave life. As
also the lives of a 20-year-old wife of two years, a
year-old son, schoolteacher father Harinarayan,
brother Alanja, 16. People silently offer akhadas
(silk scarves) as the cortege winds its long way
from Bagdogra via Kurseong and Ghoom. Moved women
stand and sob silently for the brave stranger. As
they descend the last eight kms into Linkon's valley
home, Pradhan and company encounter Linkon's brother
Alanja. The shell-shocked teenager turns hysterical,
shouts, screams like one deranged even as villagers
huddle to console him.
Halfway down the valley, tears streaming down his
face, a disbelieving Harinarayan awaits the body of
his son. "Is it really him?" and is only
silenced when Pradhan rattles off his identification
number. Later at home the coffin is opened to
prepare the body for the last rites. The mother
howls, reels in shock at the sight of her son's
bloated body. In a corner his young wife, infant in
lap, cries uncontrollably. Scribes present, feeling
their presence a voyeuristic intrusion, gently
retreat. One poignant image endures. As one scribe
made his way out a young woman, 20-odd, called out
hesitantly. "Are you coming from Kashmir?"
she asks, confusion writ large on her face. "My
husband's serving there. Just wondered if you had
any news," she trails off before disappearing
abruptly. Shot in the dark query. Desperately
seeking news that would reassure. Somehow. Anyhow.
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