Earlier this month, gunmen disguised as police personnel entered the Indian army camp, threw grenades and fired indiscriminately, in Nagrota. They took 16 people hostage when Para commandos were deployed. The initial casualties were 4 army men, but later two army Majors were also martyred. One of them was Major Akshay Girish Kumar:
- Major Akshay Girish Kumar was born to Wg Cdr Girish Kumar who was a pilot in the Indian Air Force.
- He comes from a family with a tradition of serving in the armed forces and his father retired as a Wing Commander while his grandfather retired as a Colonel from the Indian Army and is an 85-year old veteran of the Garhwalis.
- He was from Bengaluru’s Koramangala area. Before being posted to J&K, he had served in Kolkata and Pune.
- Aged 31, he was an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University where he studied a bachelor of science 13 years ago.
- He was in NCC during the days of his college. Since his NCC days, he had always been active about issues regarding the armed forces, like OROP.
- A teacher who taught him during his college days remembers Major Akshay as a dedicated and focused student. He said even during his stint with the NCC he made it clear about his ambitions of joining the Indian Army.
- Major Akshay Girish Kumar later married his friend Sangeeta Ravindran in 2011. In 2013, they have had a 3-year-old daughter, Naina. Both his wife and daughter were in Nagrota during the attack.
- Akshay Girish Kumar belonged to the 51st regiment of Bengal Sappers and was part of the Quick Response Team in Base camp. The officials usually take turns to guard the base camp. It was Akshay’s turn when he died.
- The last remains of Major Akshay Girish Kumar were brought to Yelahanka Air Force Base in Bengaluru where he was cremated with military honours.
- He is survived by his wife, daughter and his parents.
Since he left the college, he never lost touch with his friends. Here are some of the testimonials by his friends:
- “On the first day of college, when most people his age were figuring out what to do, he was so certain about where he wanted to be. I remember him firmly saying that he was going to be in the army.”
- “A true gentleman who was always smiling.”
- “When I first met him, six years back, I was so impressed to see how optimistic and full of life he was”.
- “While we talk about all our brave men at our borders and we expect and hope that they’ll be alright, I lost a very good friend of mine to our fight with Pakistan today and not in a million years would have I thought it happening. Akshay Girish, you pursued your life’s goals and gave yourself up for our land, I am hurt that you had to leave us. I’ll miss you and thank you for everything you did.”
- “I hate that I missed that last talk with you. I cannot see you anymore. Hard to not get replies from you but I’ll keep sending you messages so you can read from where you are. RIP Major Akshay”.
- “I was going to message him on his birthday. He would have celebrated it on 6th Dec… Oh man, I can’t believe this!!!”
- “He saved the lives of 16 to 18 people but he could not save his own life. He had spoken to me four or five days earlier and was saying we should meet up…When he was a youngster — a lieutenant and captain — I was his immediate officer. He was cheerful, fit and a person made for the army”.
Rest In Peace, Major Akshay Girish Kumar!
