Parents of martyr fight for honour as Gujarat govt yet to give him his due

A sombre mood engulfed the house of late Major Rushikesh Ramani on his death anniversary on Tuesday. A mention of his name leaves his mother teary eyed. Eight years ago, Major Ramani lost his life in a fierce gunbattle with terrorists near LoC in Kupwara (North Kashmir). Martyred at 25, Ramani was the only son of his parents, who are now fighting for his honour.
While the government goes around chest-thumping about the Army’s surgical strikes in an unabashed demonstration of jingoism, Mirror found out that the martyr’s family has yet not received the grant of up to 16 acres of land they are entitled to.In the past eight years, his father Vallabhbhai Ramani, 63, a practising lawyer, has written several letters to the home and the revenue departments, but to no avail. Several ministers and MLAs cite sacrifices being made by the soldiers at the slightest mention of inconvenience citizens face due to their policy decisions.
But Ramani, who has made numerous trips to the government offices to claim the benefits, continues to face apathy from officials. “I am an educated man who is forced to run from pillar to post for my son’s rights. Imagine the plight of those parents who are illiterate,” laments Vallabhbhai, who has set up a memorial trust in remembrance of his son and guides those who aspire to join the armed forces for free. “My son was keen on joining the Army as he was inspired by his uncle who is with the Indian Air Force. When Rushikesh was in class 6, he insisted on going to Sainik School in Balachhadi.
We thought it was a good idea because it meant he would learn discipline. Since he was our only son, we got a bit worried when he told us after class 12 that he wanted to join the Army. But we also knew how determined he was to serve the country and wholeheartedly supported him,” said his father. “Today is just another day. I remember my son every day. Had he been alive today, he would have been married and with kids. The last time he came home, he had seen and liked a girl. We were preparing for his engagement when we received the unfortunate news,” says his mother Geetaben, breaking down.
The parents live in a joint family in a bungalow in Bapunagar. The family fondly remembers Major Ramani as someone who was passionate about helping his countrymen. “He collected funds to rebuild his school after it suffered damage during the earthquake. He would spend his pocket money to help those in need. My son was the most loving child,” said his mother. ‘Waited for three years before sending application’ “No amount of money or land can bring back my son. It is not a question of 16 acres of land. But it is a question of his honour and I will fight for it,” said Vallabhbhai.
“After waiting for three years, I finally sent an application to the revenue department in 2012 to claim the land benefits. I received a letter asking which district I would prefer the agricultural land in. I asked them to allot land in Kheda and completed all necessary formalities from my end to avail of the benefit. I am told that the department has sent the file to Kheda District Collector Office and a land committee will take the final decision, but I am yet to hear from them,” said Vallabhbhai. Kheda Collector Kuldeep Arya told Mirror, “I do not have any information about it off hand.
I will look into the matter and let you know.” Major Ramani’s father says he even returned the cheque of Rs 3,000 given by the Gujarat government to the Sena Medal awardees. “It hurts my self-respect to accept such a meagre amount for the sacrifice made by a brave soldier. So, I returned the cheque. Governments like Haryana give away cash award of Rs 5 lakh to their martyrs,” he said. Assistant Sainik Welfare Officer, Ahmedabad district said, “We had gone to hand over a cheque of Rs 3,000 to him but he returned it.” He added, “The dependents of the martyrs are entitled to 16 acres of land. I am clueless why Mr Ramani has not received the benefits so far.”