Hanumanthappa’s widow wants only daughter to join army

Wife of Siachen braveheart Hanumanthappa Koppad, Mahadevi Ashok Bilebal wants their only daughter to join the Indian Army when she grows up.

Wife of Siachen braveheart Hanumanthappa Koppad, Mahadevi Ashok Bilebal wants their only daughter to join the Indian Army when she grows up.

Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad's mother and wife (right) at their home in Betadoor village in Hubli. (PTI File Photo)

33-year-old Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who epitomised grit and determination was miraculously pulled out alive from under 30-feet of ice-and-snow debris where he lay buried for six days on the unforgiving Siachen glacier, died on February 11.

“I do not have a son but have no regrets for I have a lovely daughter. And I have one wish--to raise her into a strong Indian who will join the Indian Army when she grows up. That will be the true tribute to her brave father,” the young widow of Hanumanthappa said on Thursday in Nagpur where she along with the jawan’s mother Basamma were felicitated.

Hanumanthappa’s brother Shankar Gowda too was present on the occasion where wife of Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Kanchan presented a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to the jawan’s family.

The soldier was laid to rest with full state honours, after thousands of people bid an emotional farewell to the Siachen braveheart at his native village of Betadur in Dharwad district of north Karnataka earlier this month.