Mission Accomplished 

All I pray is to be a strong and resolute mother, and never get daunted by failures or challenges ….

Since early in the morning, the messages are flooding my mobile. Personal messages, group messages with the same subject; Updates on the Pulwama attack, gruesome pictures of the site and prayer requests.

After a while, I stopped responding to these beeps. Starring at the blank school corridor, I go back in time.

Uri Sector – Year 2002.

As a Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army, I set upon my first mission, winning hearts and minds of the people in our area of responsibility, the Uri Sector. In two years’ time, Uri saw a beautiful patch blossoming amongst the orchards, Army Goodwill School Uri for the local children of that area for whom till then, daily curriculum was violence and destruction. This school with a new ray of hope, portrayed a better life and curriculum to them, which they in unison with their parents welcomed wholeheartedly. Army Goodwill school Uri was there to stay and it has.  Mission accomplished I penned down, as this young foster mother proceed to her next mission.

Officers Training Academy and Indian Military Academy – Year 2004 to 2007.

Year 2004-2007, Here my kids were a grown up lot, all graduates and post graduates, very focussed, had a passion and vision in them, to Serve our motherland with honour and pride. Completely immersed in the training of Cadets and in turning them into not only warriors but scholar warrior, I see myself too growing up and evolving as a better individual.

As I move on with my life, I see my boys and girls discharging their duties exceptionally well and all gaining proficiency in their respective fields.  And this mothers heart swells with pride; yes I feel the same, Mission Accomplished.

There were instances wherein, I had to put a brave front while receiving news of martyrdom of some of my brave hearts, in the call of duty, as they laid down their lives for the nation. With a heavy heart this mother jots down, Mission Accomplished.

Daffodils English School – Present Day.

Having hung my uniform and boots and mother to two lovely angels, to keep my passion for nurturing life, I join Daffodils English School. Just a year has passed, with me dealing with the transition and looking ahead to profound satisfaction.

 Children have been accommodative, I should say to my way of functioning, and the sparkle in their eyes says they are with me in my mission, as my journey continues.

Today, a day after the Pulwama attack, as I step into school, feeling totally devastated, helpless, dejected and not able to share feeling of my tribe, I with the teachers and students gather for the morning assembly.

I hear the head girl with rage and anguish, narrate the Pulwama incident, fervently asking the students to leave no stone turned, in lending a helping hand to the forces and to pray for the martyrs and speedy recovery for the injured. My eyes sparkles with tears, as I feel that after all, we are not fighting a lost battle. There is still hope and the ‘mission’ can still be a successful one. My heart says, it will be!

Mission to raise and mould a better human being, who are able to identify the good and bad of everything around, to sustain oneself as a better individual in this world full of challenges and to impart the same to fellow beings.

Now, as I look into the school corridor filled with my present lot of students …. The Daffodalians….. My next Mission commences …….

Jai Hind!!!! 

Major Neethasha Hebbar K (Retd)