Martyr Umesh Gogoi's Wife Remembers Him as a Happy-Go-Lucky Person

ALL FOR VALOUR

Umesh Gogoi of the Sivasagar in Assam was posted in Jammu and Kashmir when a concealed landmine blew up the vehicle he was in. Brave Umesh Gogoi belonged to the Silakuti Village of No. 1 Korgaon of Sivasagar District in Assam. He was one of five siblings and joined the armed forces at a very young age.

On October 18 of the year 2001, he was in a vehicle on routine rounds. The vehicle went over and triggered an undetected landmine laid carefully by the enemies. The entire vehicle blew up in the explosion. While the rest of the members of the army personnel were injured in the incident, the brave son of Assam was martyred.

Umesh Gogoi was posted as a Havildar with the Mechanised Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army when he was martyred. He was a decorated soldier awarded a Special Service Medal and a 9-Year Long Service Medal.

Gauri Gogoi, the younger daughter noted, "We have not received anything from the government as of now. We want them to create something permanent as a remembrance of our fallen father. It can be a resting shed, a library, or anything that might keep his memories alive in the minds of the people. More than twenty years after his death, only the people from the Indian Army remember him and his supreme sacrifice."

His wife Boby Gogoi was in his hometown when the tragedy happened. The elder daughter was five years old while the younger one was only nine months old at that time. With the help and complete support of the family, she looked after the education and well-being of both girls. The elder daughter, Shanti Gogoi is now married while the younger one is doing her bachelor's degree from the Gargaon College in the Sivasagar district of Assam.

She keeps on getting the family pension and other benefits for the families of martyrs from the armed forces. He was offered a job on compensatory grounds by the forces soon after the incident, but keeping the young daughters and family members in mind, she decided to let it go.

Havildar Umesh Gogoi was very fond of the ethnic cuisines of the state. So whenever he used to come home on leave, his wife always made him his favorite masor tenga. Local herbs of the region were the thing he missed most in his food. Tamul or betelnut was also among his favorites.

According to Boby Gogoi, her late husband was a very happy-go-lucky person. He was very helpful and supportive of everyone they knew. He loved to go fishing, she remembered. Whenever he had a chance, he used to take the net and go fishing in the Dichang river which flows quite close to their place. He used to take part in all public events whenever possible and people looked up to him for advice. His time-bound nature and dedication to duty were often quoted by all those who knew him. A lot of people use to visit them when he came home for the holidays.

When Bony Gogoi married Umesh Gogoi in 1994, she was posted in Bagdogra in Siliguri. Later the next year, the elder daughter Shanti Gogoi was born. Thereafter, the whole unit was transferred to Rajasthan. The family stayed together till 1997 when she shifted back to Assam. The unit was later transferred to Jammu and Kashmir.

"We hardly went on any trips together, mainly because of his duty. His days at home were completely occupied with trips to our relatives. During my days in Rajasthan, I used to take part in several pieces of training and camps. These were organized for the wives of the soldiers posted there. I learned a variety of skills including cooking, embroidery, weaving, and interior decorations during my stay," remembered Boby Gogoi.

Havildar Umesh Gogoi started to work on building their own house during the last few years. It was later completed by his wife with support from his siblings.

Since they did not have a landline at their place, the communications were either via letters or by phone calls to a neighbor. A day before the incident, he had called them up and told them that he will be leaving after six days for his break.

Gauri Gogoi, the younger daughter mentions," I do not have any memory of him as I was very young at that time. But when my friends talk about their fathers or about going somewhere and asking for their fathers' permission, I do feel the blankness. The same is when I am alone. I have already joined the National Cadet Corps and want to get a C certificate. I want to follow in the footsteps of my father and my mother totally supports it."

Also Read: Diwali - the Festival of Lights - Binds Together Communities

Also Watch: