We are celebrating the great achievement of Nikita Kaul Dhoundiyal, the widow of martyred Major Vibhuti Dhoundiyal, who is set to join the Indian Army after clearing her Short Service Commission (SSC) exam and interview.
This great news came almost a year after her husband, Major Dhoundiyal, sacrificed his life fighting terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pulwama.
According to News18, Nikita is now waiting for the merit list before she can go and file her documents to formally join the Indian Army.
Sharing her motivation behind the move, Nikita mentioned to News18:
“I filled the SSC form six months after Vibhu’s martyrdom. It was my way to heal. When I wrote the exam and gave the interview, I could feel what he would have felt when he wrote his SSC. I connected with him, his fears and his anxiety. Somehow that gave me strength.”
Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal was martyred during a 20-hour gun battle with the terrorists in Pulwama. While he managed to save the lives of three other soldiers, he himself succumbed to his grave injuries at the young age of 35.
Deeply inspired by her husband’s commitment to his country and uniform, Nikita decided to follow his footsteps after his body came home wrapped in the tricolor.
Also Read: I Will Wear His Uniform: Martyr’s Wife To Join Indian Army As A Tribute To Late Husband
But it wasn’t easy for Nikita to accept her husband’s death and move-on. Talking about how she took time to accept reality, Nikita explained:
“I took time. I first needed to accept what had happened. Vibhu was very progressive. He wanted me to do better than him. So whenever I had any anxiety or doubt about my decision to join the Indian Army, I would close my eyes and think about what Vibhu would do. He was instrumental in my decision to join the army.”
Though her husband, Major Dhoundiyal martyred just 9 months after their wedding, she believes he would keep inspiring her:
“The interview board asked me how long I was married. I said, ‘two years’. They said, ‘But we heard you both were married for nine months…’. I said, ‘Vibhu is not here physically but that doesn’t mean our marriage has ended’.”
At IFORHER, we are in awe of Nikita as it’s never easy to say the last goodbye to your soulmate – with whom you have imagined your life till eternity.
Also Read: How Wife Of Late IAF Pilot Paid Tribute To Husband In Uniform
The next time you find yourself giving up on your life because of a family issue or a job-related problem, seek inspiration from the courageous story of Nikita.
If she can fight against her life situations for a better life, so can you! If she can refuse to give up, so can you!
