Sir,
The writeup titled ‘Stories of Sacrifice and Courage’by Manu Khajuria (DE, Magazine, March 11, 2018) was a feast to the mind and the soul. The writer has worked hard and conducted extensive research to collect data from nook and corner of the state regarding brave and courageous Dogra women who lived in the days of yore.There is no doubt that Dogras, though famous for their polite and sweet manners,are known for their valour and courage.But it is a fact that behind every Dogra soldier, there is a mother who instilled in them qualities of fearlessness, sense of duty and love for his motherland. At the same time,while the Dogra soldiers served and protected their motherland against difficulties such as hostile weather and topographical conditions, their mothers and wives looked after and reared their children and performed other odd jobs to run home.As some brave soldier was martyred, his mother and the wife would jointly toil hard to raise children.The reference to the names of brave Dogra women such as Bua Amro and Bua Bhukhi who became victim of ill treatment at the hands of their in-laws and who are worshipped as village Deities or Kuldevis, status of Devi being accorded to them and annual fairs are organised in their honour, makes the writeup more useful and worthreading.Similarly, the role of The Daati of Dhabbuj and Bua Bhaga who laid down their lives fighting against the atrocities committed on the people by persons having wealth and power, proves that Dogra women are endowed with indomitatable spirit and courage and they are not afraid of sacrificing themselves for securing justice for themselves and the oppressed people in general.In the same manner, the writer has highlighted the role of Smt Ram Devi, Brigadier Rajinder Singh’s wife and paid her rich tributes which she so richly deserves.She sent her husband to the battlefield knowing well that he may not return and then raised her five daughters by herself when he made the supreme sacrifice of his life while saving Kashmir. The account of Ananti Devi, wife of Col Shiv Ram Singh, the Raja of Kaleeth in Akhnoor, who became a young widow and who rode her horse wearing traditional dress of suthan-kurta and during the wars of 1965 and 1971, she would tour with a gun and watch out for her people and resolve their disputes, deserves a big salute .The writer has paid rich and befitting tribute to Dogra womanhood and highlighted their tales of sacrifice and courage, which are unknown to many people residing in Duggar itself.The society, intellectuals and people in general should realise their duty,prepare and read detailed accounts of their life histories and pay them rich tributes by participating in large numbers on eve of the fairs organised in their honour and such tales of sacrifice need to be enacted and propagated to the posterity to apprise them of our rich legacy.The writer desrves all praise for writing the article so beautifully.
Yours etc….
Ashok Sharma,
Housing Colony, Udhampur.
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