Notwithstanding death of her husband, a proud but poignant Chasen lowang, widow of Havildar Hangpan Dada of the Assam Regiment, who was awarded Ashok Chakra today, wants her son and daughter to join the army and to be brave like their father.
Holding back her tears from rolling down her moist eyes, lowang felt proud as she received the Ashok Chakra, highest peacetime gallantry award, from President Pranab Mukherjee here at the Republic Day parade.
Dada had laid down his life after single-handedly killing three terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir on May 26 last year.
Married to Dada on October 28, 2005, lowang is now left with two kids - 10-year-old Roukhin Dada and 7-year-old Sewang Dada.
"It is such a big award. I am so proud of my husband. I am happy but sad at the same time," said lowang speaking to PTI here at an Army establishment hours after she received the award.
She underlined that the award was a tribute to every soldier who is fighting for the country in harsh conditions.
Noting that her children are too small to understand the gravity of the situation, lowang said, "I want them to join the force and become an officer. They should replace their papa in the army and become a big officer".