NEW DELHI: In July 2023, during a cold night in Siachen, a short circuit led to a quick fire at an Indian Army ammunition dump. Captain Angshuman Singh , a 23-year-old Army doctor, rescued several others but lost his life due to severe burns.
He had married Smriti just five months before the incident.
On Friday, the widow walked in a white saree to collect Kirti Chakra , India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, from President Droupadi Murmu.
And in no time, videos of her innocent yet brave face went viral on social media.
In a video shared by A Bharat Bhushan Babu, spokesperson of ministry of defence, Smriti shared her heartbreaking love story.
"It was love at first sight," she said.
"He would tell me -- I would die with the brass on my chest. I am not going to die an ordinary death," she recalled.
"We met on the first day of college. I don't want to be dramatic but it was love at first sight. After a month, he got selected into the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). We met at an engineering college but then he got selected in a medical college. Super intelligent guy. From then on, after just one month of meeting, it was a long-distance relationship for eight long years," she added.
"Then we decided to get married. Unfortunately, within two months of our marriage, he got posted in Siachen," she said.
Reacalling the day of the incident she said, "On July 18, we had a long conversation about how our life will be in the next 50 years — we would build a house, have kids. On the morning of 19th I get a call that he is no more. For the first 7-8 hours, we could not accept that anything like this could have happened. Till date, I am trying to cope up … thinking maybe it is not true. 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 families could be saved."
In a post on X, President Murmu said: "Disregarding his own safety, he exhibited exceptional bravery and resolve to rescue many people in a major fire incident."
Smriti Singh and Captain Singh’s mother on Friday received the award from the President.
He had married Smriti just five months before the incident.
On Friday, the widow walked in a white saree to collect Kirti Chakra , India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, from President Droupadi Murmu.
And in no time, videos of her innocent yet brave face went viral on social media.
In a video shared by A Bharat Bhushan Babu, spokesperson of ministry of defence, Smriti shared her heartbreaking love story.
"It was love at first sight," she said.
Cpt #AnshumanSingh was awarded #KirtiChakra (posthumous). It was an emotional moment for his wife & Veer Nari Smt Smriti who accepted the award from #President Smt #DroupadiMurmu. Smt Smriti shares the story of her husband's commitment & dedication towards the nation. Listen in! pic.twitter.com/SNZTwSDZ1Z
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) July 6, 2024
"He would tell me -- I would die with the brass on my chest. I am not going to die an ordinary death," she recalled.
"We met on the first day of college. I don't want to be dramatic but it was love at first sight. After a month, he got selected into the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). We met at an engineering college but then he got selected in a medical college. Super intelligent guy. From then on, after just one month of meeting, it was a long-distance relationship for eight long years," she added.
"Then we decided to get married. Unfortunately, within two months of our marriage, he got posted in Siachen," she said.
Reacalling the day of the incident she said, "On July 18, we had a long conversation about how our life will be in the next 50 years — we would build a house, have kids. On the morning of 19th I get a call that he is no more. For the first 7-8 hours, we could not accept that anything like this could have happened. Till date, I am trying to cope up … thinking maybe it is not true. 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 families could be saved."
In a post on X, President Murmu said: "Disregarding his own safety, he exhibited exceptional bravery and resolve to rescue many people in a major fire incident."
Smriti Singh and Captain Singh’s mother on Friday received the award from the President.
