In a heart-wrenching scene that gripped the small village of Labed in Ranchi’s Tiril Basti, residents bid a tearful farewell to their brave son, Army jawan Ajay Lakda. The 22-year-old soldier was among the 10 personnel martyred when their military vehicle plunged into a 200-foot gorge during an operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on January 22.
Ajay’s mortal remains arrived at Birsa Munda Airport late Friday night, where Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri, and senior army officials paid their respects. On Saturday, with full military honors, his body was taken to his ancestral village for the last rites.
As the procession wound through the lanes, villagers and family members chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Shaheed Ajay Lakda Amar Rahe.’ Ajay’s elderly mother collapsed repeatedly, sobbing uncontrollably. ‘Who will take care of me now? How will we build our new home?’ she wailed, clutching memories of her son’s promises.
Just weeks before his death, Ajay had called his mother, assuring her he would return on leave in March or April. ‘I’ll build a sturdy new house in place of this old one, and then get married,’ he had said. Fate, however, had other plans for the young patriot.
Ajay’s father passed away in 2003, leaving his widow to raise four children by selling country liquor on the roadside. Despite grinding poverty, Ajay’s dream of serving the nation burned bright from childhood. He would wake at 2 a.m. for rigorous runs to prepare for the army.
His three elder sisters are married, one serving in the IRB, while his younger brother Arun works with CISF in Delhi. Ajay’s sacrifice leaves a void in the family and village, but his legacy of courage inspires all. The nation salutes this Ranchi hero who gave everything for the motherland.
