Prez consoles Akola mother at Kirti Chakra Awards

Akola: Pride and grief came together at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 8 as martyr soldier Pravin Janjal of Akola was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award.A soldier of the Mahar Regiment, Janjal was killed while fighting terrorists in Kulgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on July 6, 2024. The honour was conferred in the presence of the country's top dignitaries, but it was a grieving mother's emotional moment that left the deepest impact.As Shalu Janjal stepped forward to receive the medal on behalf of her son, she broke down. Holding the award that recognised her son's courage and sacrifice, she rested her head on the President's shoulder and wept. In a rare gesture, the President, setting aside protocols, comforted the bereaved mother , turning a formal ceremony into a deeply human moment.Speaking to TOI after the ceremony, Shalu said the honour brought back memories of her son. "With this honour, I feel my son has returned to me. When I walked towards the stage, I could see everyone present there, but I could not see my son," she said.She said not a day had passed without memories of him."I am proud that my son was martyred for the nation," she added. Despite the recognition, the family continues to carry an unhealed wound. Shalu expressed disappointment that a memorial for her son is yet to be built nearly two years after his sacrifice."My son is still out there under the harsh sun. If a memorial is built, his resting place will finally have some shade," she said.While their eyes reflected the pain of personal loss, their words echoed pride in a son and brother who chose the nation above all.