In the chain of motivational lectures at IIT Kanpur for the First Year Students, our guests’speakers were, Smt Anita Devi and Chaudhary Achal Singh, parents of Late Maj Satish Dahiya Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous), who sacrificed his life for the nation on 14 Feb 2017. Maj Satish was the only child of his parents.

Col Ashok Mor, the Officer In charge NCC at IIT Kanpur introduced the guest speaker Smt Anita Devi and Chaudhary Achal Singh and gave an introduction about Late Maj Satish Dahiya SC (P).

The proud parents said, My dear children life is as you take it and as you make it.

Maj Satish always wanted to join Army and serve the nation. We being from a remote village in Haryana, people use to ask him and us that being the only child, will you send him to the Army. Before we could answer, he would say that if everyone starts thinking of the same lines no one would send their children to the forces and who will defend the nation. Maj Satish was the First one to join the Defence Forces as an Officer from our village. He later on inspired and guided other to follow the path. Maj Satish was extremely honest and as a child he had written in his note book that “I would always Speakthe Truth in my life”. We have still preserved the same as part of his memory with us.

Smt. Anita Devi added that, Maj Satish from his childhood was taught that First comes the Country, then the Parents and rest all in the third priority. Maj Satish was a brave boy and same he proved in his life, even after being injured he killed one more Terrorist who was trying to attack them. We lost our only son, tough no one can replace him but today we have 1000’s of Indian Army Soldiers who are no less than our own. When ever we see a soldier in TV or in a Bus or a village we always feel connected to him.

Our request to you all is to make your country and parents proud in your life. Achieve your aim with a clear focus on the target in your life. Come what may, always try to visit your parents as and when possible. They always miss you.

In Maj Satish’s memory, we have made a memorial in our village to inspire the children. We conduct an annual sports tournament in our village on his “Shaheed Diwas” 14 February. Every day, we visit the memorial and feel that he is still there and with us. We as parents are proud of his sacrifice.

It was greatness of Dy Dir Prof S Ganesh to honour Smt Anita Devi and Chaudhary Achal Singh who were on their maiden visit outside their village in last three years to invite them along with him to inaugurate an Armored Personnel Carrier that has been placed at IIT Kanpur campus as a part of NCC exposure to the students and the campus community.