From martyr’s wife to soldier: Nikita Kaul Dhoundiyal all set to join Indian army

• Major Dhoundial was martyred in an ncounter with JeM terrorists in J&K’s Pulwama district on February 18, 2019.
• Nitika has cleared her Short Service Commission (SSC) exam and interview.
• Nitika lost her husband just ten months after their wedding.

New Delhi: Just a year ago, wife of martyred Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, had said that she was proud of her husband while standing in front of his coffin. And now, she is making her husband proud as she is all set to step into his shoes and join the Indian Army.

Nitika Kaul, the widow of Major Dhoundiyal, who lost his life in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir last year, has cleared her Short Service Commission (SSC) exam and interview and is now waiting for the merit list.

“I have cleared Short Service Commission (SSC) exam and now I’m waiting for the merit list. As soon as it comes and I’m hoping I will make through it, I will be joining Army,” she said.

Major Dhoundial lost his life in terrorist encounter

Major Dhoundial, posted with 55 RR, was martyred in an encounter with JeM terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 18, 2019.

The 35-year-old was among four Army personnel who lost their lives in the 20-hour long battle before eliminating the mastermind of the February 14 terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.

Nitika’s heartfelt message during husband’s last rites

Last year, Major Dhoundiyal’s wife had left the entire country emotional when heartbreaking images of her saluting the coffin of her husband and loudly uttering “Jai Hind” surfaced on media.

Paying tribute to Major Dhoundiyal during his last journey, Nitika, who lost her husband just ten months after their wedding, blew a kiss and said: “I love you.”

In a heartfelt message, the soldier’s wife had said that she was proud of him and asked people not to “sympathise but stay strong and united”.

“I am really proud. We all love you. The way you love everyone is entirely different because you sacrificed your life for the people who you may have never met, but still you decided to give your life for them,” Nitika had said while standing in front of her husband’s coffin that was wrapped in the national flag.

“You are such a brave man. I am very honoured to have you as my husband. I’ll love you till my last breath. I owe my life to you. Yes, it’s hurting that you’re leaving but I know you will always be around,” she continued while holding back the tears during the performance of soldier’s last rites.

Hundreds of people, including Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had gathered in Dehradun last year to pay tribute to the late Major amid “Vande Mataram” and “Shaheed Dhoundiyal Amar Rahein” slogans