Captain Anshuman Singh
Captain Anshuman Singh exhibited exceptional Bravery by resorting to ensuring safety of a lot of people, disregarding his own safety, in Siachen. President Droupadi Murmu on July 5 conferred 10 Kirti Chakras, including seven posthumously, to personnel of the Army and paramilitary forces for displaying indomitable courage and extraordinary valour in the line of duty. Kirti Chakra is India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
Captain Anshuman Singh of the Army Medical Corps, 26th Battalion, the Punjab Regiment has been awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously. The award was received by his mother Manju Singh and his wife Smriti from President Droupadi Murmu. Ms. Smriti, after receiving the award, recalled the story of how she met Captain Anshuman Singh. “We met on the first day of college and it was love at first sight,” she said.“ Unfortunately, within two months of marriage, he was posted in Siachen. On July 18 (2023), we had a long conversation about the next 50 years of our life. On July 19, I got a call that he’s no more…,” Ms. Smriti added.
“We met on the first day of college. I would not be dramatic, but it was love at first sight. After a month, he got selected into Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). We met in an engineering college, and he got selected into a medical college, he was a super intelligent guy.After just one month of meeting, it was a long-distance relationship for eight long years and then we thought we should get married now, and so we did”, she said.Explaining the trauma that her family went through, Smriti said, “For the first 7-8 hours, we could not accept that anything of that sort has happened. Till date, I am not coping up. Just trying to figure out thinking maybe it is not true. But now that I have the Kirti Chakra in my hand, I realise it is true. But it’s okay, he is a hero. We can manage a little of our lives because he has managed a lot. He gave up his life and family so that the other three army families could be saved”.
Reflecting on her late husband’s courage and dedication, Smriti Singh recounted his words: “He would tell me, ‘I would die with the brass on my chest. I would not die an ordinary death.'” It takes a brave heart to dedicate oneself to one’s duty and disregard everyone else. It takes a Hero to do it and that’s exactly what Captain Anshuman Singh is, A Hero!
