Often, we acknowledge the undeniable and challenging task of Veer Jawans and overlook the real Naris-(the brave lady) behind every Veer Jawan protecting and giving safety and security to our nation. Symbolically, the real heroine is at home and sees personal matters of the Jawan which made him positive and tension free. All important family matters taken by the Naris for the Veers at home all alone is altogether a challenging task.
In army terminology, the widow of an armed forces member who has laid down his life for the nation, whether in war or a military operation, is called a Veer Nari. The honor of the window of a soldier is to ensure Veer Naris pride, dignity and assistance. The practice was initiated first by the army, now all forces. Historically, in 1997 two young war widows walked into the office of Ranjana Malik, wife of then Army Chief Gen. V.P. Malik at the Army Wives Welfare Association in Delhi. “I do not want to live my entire life on my husband’s pension. I would rather wear his uniform,” 27-year-old Ravinder Jeet Randhawa told Ranjana. Ravinder was the widow of Major Sukhwinder Jeet Singh Randhawa, killed in action while leading a counter-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir in 1997. She was accompanied by 25-year-old Sabina Singh; her husband, a helicopter pilot, had died in a crash in the northeast. Ranjana Malik requested General Malik, who then headed the Army to intervene and he took up the case with the defense ministry. Ravinder and Sabina passed out from the OTA in September 1998, making the Indian Army the first in the world to commission widows of its fallen soldiers as officers.
Eight months after the death of her husband, Major Sukhwinder Jeet Randhawa, and with a one-year-old daughter in her lap, Ravinder Jeet Randhawa joined the Indian Army. Now a lieutenant colonel, Ravinder Jeet, 51, is the first Veer Nari, or martyr’s widow, to join the force. Maj Randhawa would often say, "I want to raise my child in an army background for it's a beautiful organization." And so two years after Major Randhawa had made the ultimate sacrifice, his wife Ravinder then 27 yrs old, became the first veer naari to don the Olive Green keeping his memory & legacy alive. His inspiring words gave her the courage to join the Army even when age was not on her side.
Sukhwinder’s 2 Rashtriya Rifles battalion was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. On June 17, based on intelligence inputs, Sukhwinder reached Kashipora village in Anantnag district. The terrorists fired on the troops and Sukhwinder was hit, but he soldiered on and shot a terrorist dead. He then killed another one who had been launching grenades. Seeing Sukhwinder bleeding heavily, one of his men tried to move him to a safer location. “Tumerifikarchhod, uss terrorist komaar (Don’t worry about me, go get that terrorist),” he said. While his bravery spurred the others to fight back, Sukhwinder soon succumbed to his injuries. For his courage, fighting spirit, camaraderie and supreme sacrifice, the government honored him with the Kirti Chakra, the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award. Ravinder accepted the medal on her husband’s behalf in April 1998, about a year later, in her Officers Training Academy (OTA) uniform. She had wanted to continue his legacy and had taken the torch from him.
After talking to her father-in-law, who was a former Army man, Ravinder reached out to Ranjana Malik, wife of then Army chief General Ved Prakash Malik. Seeing her determination, Ranjana took up her case with the defense ministry and a special waiver was arranged. In December 1997, Ravinder cleared the Service Selection Board exam and joined the OTA in Chennai in March 1998. After graduation, she joined the Ordnance Corps.
Being, the fourth largest and most civilized and disciplined armed force in the world. The issues faced by Veer Naris related to their daily life in the family and outside need to be analyzed and addressed on Priority. Controversies over marriage and remarriage have always remained a part in their life. Special reservations in different schemes should be made mandatory. Rights and freedom of war windows must not be curtained and restrained to kitchen only. Their honour and dignity must be maintained and special law must be enforcedfor war windows to securitize their dailymatter and their wellbeing.

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