As India marked the 24th anniversary of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament on Saturday, families of the martyrs remembered their loved ones with a mix of grief, pride and gratitude, saying the nation’s continued remembrance has helped them endure an irreparable loss.
Relatives of the security personnel and civilians who lost their lives during the attack said that while the pain of losing a family member has never faded, the respect and tributes paid by the government and citizens over the years provide strength and reassurance that their sacrifice has not been forgotten.
Speaking to IANS, Umraosingh Yadav, a family member of martyr J.P. Yadav, said the family draws solace from the honour accorded to those who laid down their lives. He said the recognition given to the martyrs fills them with pride, adding that while God may have taken his loved one away, the sense of honour associated with the sacrifice remains deeply meaningful.
Sunita Bisht, the wife of a cameraman who was killed during the attack, recalled the circumstances in which her husband lost his life. She said he was on duty, filming the unfolding events, when he was shot. According to her, the way the government continues to pay tribute to the martyrs makes the families feel respected and valued.
Ganga Devi, the wife of Delhi Police personnel Nanak Chand, echoed similar sentiments. She said the tributes not only honour the fallen but also help younger generations understand the meaning of service and sacrifice. She added that such remembrance allows their children to see how their father gave his life for the nation.
Lucky, Nanak Chand’s granddaughter, said the anniversary holds special significance for her. She said she was not born when her grandfather was killed but has come to understand the magnitude of his sacrifice through these annual remembrances, which make her feel proud of her family’s contribution to the country.
The attack on Parliament took place on December 13, 2001, when five terrorists belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed breached the high-security Parliament complex in New Delhi. Using a vehicle with forged Home Ministry and Parliament labels, the attackers entered the premises armed with AK-47 rifles, pistols, hand grenades and grenade launchers.
Although both Houses of Parliament had been adjourned about 40 minutes earlier, more than 100 people, including several Members of Parliament and senior officials such as then Home Minister L.K. Advani and then Minister of State for Defence Harin Pathak, were still present inside the complex.
Constable Kamlesh Kumari of the Central Reserve Police Force was the first to detect the intrusion and raise the alarm. She was shot dead at the spot. In the gun battle that followed, security forces neutralised all five terrorists. However, nine people, including six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service staff members and a gardener, were killed, while at least 17 others were injured.
More than two decades later, the families of the martyrs said the nation’s continued commemoration ensures that the bravery and sacrifice displayed on that day remain etched in public memory, reaffirming the cost paid to protect India’s democratic institutions.
