For 77-year-old Vijay Kumari from Lucknow, September signifies a period of reflection, pride, and sorrow. Sixty years ago, her husband, Major Dhirendra Singh of the Kumaon Regiment, lost a leg at the age of 25 due to an enemy mine during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. Kumari recounted being at her parents’ home in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, when a letter from the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion (Rifles) reached her in-laws on September 23, 1965, detailing the incident.
“It was precisely 60 years ago that my husband lost his leg because of an enemy mine explosion during the conflict in Kashmir,” Kumari told PTI, remembering how, despite his grave injuries, her husband managed to silence enemy fire, an act that earned him the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime bravery award. “This month brings forth a flood of memories about my husband’s valor, and I feel immense pride in his unwavering determination, courage, and leadership,” she shared.
Although Singh passed away in April this year, Kumari cherishes his medals and a telegram that read, “The president is pleased to award Vir Chakra to you for gallantry.” Reflecting on the day she learned of her husband’s injury, Kumari said, “Back then, communication was slow. During the 1965 war, my husband’s letters were our only source of news. He would keep his messages brief, often just saying, ‘I am well.’ We mostly depended on the radio for updates.” The letter informed them of his “serious leg injury.” Kumari mentioned that then-Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri visited her husband in the hospital where he was treated. Life changed significantly afterwards, Kumari noted.
“By April 1966, my husband received a prosthetic leg and was posted in Lucknow, but in 1971, he was declared medically unfit… still, he was determined that our sons should serve in the Army. He was overjoyed to attend their passing out parade,” she recalled. Kumari described her husband as “mentally tough,” which helped him deal with the emotional trauma of leaving the Army due to medical issues. “Adjusting to a prosthetic leg was challenging… Leaving the Army was tough too. However, he was mentally resilient and learned to ride a scooter, drive a car, and even operate a tractor. He wanted his children to remain hopeful,” she noted.
Singh passed away at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi on April 4, 2025.