Martyr’s Wife Joins Army To Live Up Her Husband’s Dream 

Chennai: The tale of Swati Mahadik's stands as an inspiration to many who languish with no ray of hope in their life. Swati, wife of Colonel Santosh Yashwant Mahadik, who lost his life fighting against terrorists in 2015, was commissioned Lieutenant on Saturday. She was one among thecadets who passed out from the Officers training Academy in Chennai.

“His first love was his uniform and his unit, so I just had to wear this. When you lose someone who is close to you it hurts. It just happened and I did not even work harder for this. Even my family was with me, so I know I will be able to do it. After wearing this uniform, I want to know what work has to be done and I will learn it," said Lieutenant Swati, a mother of two.

Recounting the reason to join the armed forces, she says," I had security and everything but I needed something to live for, which would align with my husband’s goals." A graduate from the University of Pune, Swati cleared the Service Selection Board (SSB) examination in 2016 and underwent OTA training.

Her husband, an officer at 21 Para-Special Forces unit, was bestowed Sena Medal for gallantry during Operation Rhino in the North-East in 2003. He had 41 Rashtriya Rifles and died while fighting with terrorists in Manigah forest of Kupwara district in 2015.