“There is power in self-sacrifice“.
Self-sacrifice is often the word associated with the brave soldiers of our country. But this soldier’s sacrifice was twofold.
Meet the 21-year-old Takhellambam Gokil Singh, who was a rifleman with 13 Assam Rifles. His ultimate sacrifice of his life and for his siblings is really praiseworthy.
Gokil Singh was the farmer’s son, hailing from Imphal in Manipur. Due to the financial constraints, he couldn’t fulfill his ambition to serve in the Indian Army. So, he dropped out of the school before Class 12 and joined as a rifleman with the 13 Assam rifles in 2011.
To make sure that his siblings (a younger brother and sister) don’t suffer the same brunt, he didn’t spend a single penny from his salary for three years. But he died on May 22, 2014.
Rifleman Gokil Singh died fighting the insurgents in Manipur; he was shot in the abdomen by one of them.  He was on a night patrol when he stopped a Bolero car for a routine check-up. The insurgents sitting inside started shooting the security men and unfortunately, Gokil Singh was one of them.
Gokil’s father, Takhellambam Deneswar Singh, received a call which proved to be the saddest day of his life.
He recounts the incident:
While receiving the Sena Medal for Gallantry at Fort William in Kolkata on behalf of their late son on Thursday, Gokil’s parents broke down.
His father told that his son was like a friend to him and that right after joining the Assam Rifles, he handed over his ATM Card and cheque book to him; with all the cheques signed.
He didn’t touch his salary at all. When he needed the money, he would ask for Rs 300-400 from his father.
Thanks to him, his daughter has completed her graduation and the younger brother is in Class XI.
His father also said:
He was such a great man, wasn’t he? Long live his gallant spirit!
News Source: The Times Of India