A Great soul - Shaheed (Martyred) Major Sashidharan V Nair

I'm broken and saddened to write this part of my blog. However, at the same time, it's with immense pride that I'm composing this piece and undoubtedly, with utmost reverence. It's about none other than a great soul and human being "Shaheed (Martyred) Major Sashidharan V Nair", 2/1 Gurkha Rifles who fell protecting the LoC (Line of Control) in an IED blast in Naushera on 11th of January 2019.

Last met in September 2016

This is about his part of life little known to me since childhood days from the best of my memory's recollection. I've known Sashi and his family quite well right from 1994. We studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Defence Institute of Armament Technology (KV, DIAT) until 10th grade. He was my classmate. Later we both moved to KV, National Defence Academy (KV, NDA) for 11th and 12th. For these couple of years we were batch mates.  Sashi has always been humble and a disciplined boy all his life. I've never seen him getting into controversies or fights or arguing with teachers in the school

Sashi in top row, standing third from right.
8th grade KV, DIAT.

I remember We played hide-n-seek during our childhood days, he was always the last one to be found and some times never at all. He was very adventurous; hid in the thorny bushes, on the tallest tree top, inside the man-holes. There were no place that was impossible for him. Oh boy, he was so tough. Every time we played cricket and the ball lands up somewhere deep in the thorny bushes, he was called upon. Sashi, with a clear mind, focused, without a question, will fiercely and quickly get-in and come out with the ball. It's a guarantee, if Sashi is around, ball was never lost. Most of the time we could see him wearing a small band-aid or a bandage either on his elbows or knees. He dared to go, to explore where none of us ever thought we could. He was the one of the very few who was sharp in studies and active in sports as well. Hence he was also elected as "School Captain" 

Credits to his mother, Mrs. Lata Nair who raised Sashi and his sister Seena single-handedly at a higher ground of moral values, discipline and ethics after an unfortunate passing away of his father, Late Mr. Vijayan Nair. Lata mam took tution batches of all subjects of both CBSE and State board upto 8th grade. It's Lata mam who taught us Hindi wen we came to Pune first, in the year 1994 and Sashi use to be our translator while we went to play every evening. We stayed in the CW&PRS colony, Khadakwasla RS, Pune and knew each other since our half knicker-days. Our moms were good friends too. I Salute Lata mam, the lioness lady; because in raising Sashi, she raised a brave lion indeed. This country is so proud of her and her brave son for his selfless sacrifice.

 

During athletic events in school and in the colony especially in long distance 800mtrs event, I always beat him in every sports day, inter-house races and even intra colony races conducted during 15th August and 26th January. I always ran ahead of him. However, this time in this toughest race he outran all of us and left us shocked and speechless. He's taken a lead so far ahead that's impossible now to cover. 

After the school days, came college days. He got into Fergusson College, Pune for his BSc (Chemistry) and I got into Symbiosis for my BCA. When we often met in the city or in the weekends, I remember the struggling days when he cycled around 20kms to reach his college ground for attending NCC physical drills and classes early morning at 6 even on Sundays; was dedicated and passionate. This is like 40kms of cycling every single day including Sunday between 2003-2006. After graduation, he never thought about any career options than to join the Armed forces though he held a distinction in BSc (Chemistry). He was focused and had a very clear mind about it. I still remember how his personal room walls had these "Join Army" posters.

From left: Major Sashidharan V Nair, Vishwanath, 

Bhupendra, Raghuram

Before moving to Kashmir he'd called and met everyone. It was an occasion actually of one of our classmate Vishwanath Karve's birthday in the month of November 2018, just two months back. Since I'd moved to Bangalore along with my family, I wasn't able to make it and be available to meet up. And this, I'll regret my whole life I'm sure. We had shared our pics of celebration on our WhatsApp group.

I had an interaction with one of my another classmate who requested anonymity said, "Sashi played all the roles of life so well..role that of a lover so passionate, a husband so faithful, a son so obedient, a brother so caring, a friend so true, and an ultimate brave Soldier". "Indeed well played, we are so proud of him today".

Excerpts from various sources:

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A WhatsApp viral forward. Appreciate the writer. Beautifully written:

Dear friends,
Major Sashidharan Nair who lost his life in Kashmir on 11 Jan, was the epitome of selflessness, courage and morality; but what many of us do not know is that he was a person of immense integrity and character. *He leaves behind a wife who is afflicted with multiple arteriosclerosis and is paralyzed below the waist, the symptoms of which appeared a few months before their marriage six years ago.*

Sashi Nair proved that he was indeed a very rare person, the kind you probably don't see or hear often. He stuck to his commitment to the marriage and to Trupti and still married her in spite of all dissuading him.

Major Sashidharan V Nair with wife Mrs. Trupti Nair

We have seen him carry her literally and use a portable wheelchair which he always used to carry every where; parties or restaurants or anywhere else without confining her within the home walls...and always with his full-toothed smile and disarming charm. He never asked for any sympathy or pity, never. Never did he ask for any leeway during the course of his duties and career, now so tragically cut short.
There are lessons here for all of us. Leave your egos and attitudes,to some extent at least; you aren't going to carry them with you when the pyre is lit or the coffin is lowered into the grave. Leave a humane, compassionate and kind imprint in this one life you've been blessed with.

As reported in the Indian Express Daily News: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/major-nairs-friend-in-school-i-beat-him-in-800m-race-but-in-this-race-he-outran-us-all-5542058/


As reported in Times of India:
Major killed in IED blast cycled 20km to attend NCC classes at Fergusson College, recall friends: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/major-killed-in-ied-blast-cycled-20km-to-attend-ncc-classes-at-fergusson-college-recall-friends/articleshow/67506929.cms


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Jai Hind...!!

Disclaimer: The above article is based on the best of my memories. In case of any discrepancies, please reach out to me on comment section