Brigadier L S Lidder with his wife Geetika (File)
Brigadier L S Lidder was one of the 13 who was martyred in the helicopter crash in Tamilnadu.
New Delhi: A soldier never quits is something every man and woman in camouflage would believe. But family members of Indian soldiers – mothers, wives and children are also taught to be brave and self-sacrificing when it comes to Nation.
Geetika Lidder is sad, but she does not want to hurt her 'hero' and country's patriot son Brigadier L S Lidder. "We must give him a good farewell, a smiling send-off," says Geetika, the mother of their daughter Aashna Lidder. "I am a soldier's wife," she says even as her eyes look moist. The voice trying to betray her emotions, almost. " It's a big loss….," she says.
Daughter Aashna recalls her father as an affectionate man and the "biggest motivator". A 16-something, yet she reflects confidence and maturity befitting a soldier's family.
Those who have seen forces from close range know that every daughter is a "Beta" in every Fauzi house – a description kept reserved for sons for ages. "…. My dad was with me for 17 years. We will go ahead with happy memories. It's a national loss. My father was a hero, my best friend," she says. "Maybe it was destined …," she says, showing respect to the Hindu philosophy of Karma, existence and disappearance.
Meanwhile, BJP chief J P Nadda, former Defence Minister A K Antony, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, along with military attaches of different countries, religious leaders and also French & Israel envoys – Emmanuel Lenian and Naor Gilon paid floral tribute to India's first CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, who lost their lives in the IAF chopper crash on Dec 8 in Tamil Nadu. Daughters of CDS Rawat and Madhulika Rawat – Kritika and Tarini also paid their respect to parents.
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