Ashok Chakra brings moments of pride and tears in Maj Jyotin's family
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 27, 2011: Even as the whole country is saluting the outstanding bravery of army doctor Major Laishram Jyotin Singh on whom the Nation has posthumously conferred the Ashok Chakra, the highest peace time gallantry award in the country, for the bereaved family members it is a time of mixed sentiments and emotions, soaking in the recognition given to the late Army officer as well as coming to terms with the fact that their beloved Jyotin will never come back again.

During the Republic Day celebrations at New Delhi yesterday, Jyotin's younger brother Laishram Boeing Singh stood in for his late brother and received the Ashok Chakra from the hands of President Pratibha Patil for the first time in the history of Army Medical Corps (AMC) .

A resident of Nambol Awang Leikai village in Bishnupur district, Jyotin grappled and pushed out an explosive laden Taliban terrorist who attempted to barge his way inside a guest house at Kabul on February 26 last year.

In the melee, the terrorist detonated the bomb killing him, Jyotin and seven others.

The brave and gallant act of Major Jyotin ensured that casualty was checked, for if the bomb fitted terrorist had entered the guest room, the human casualty would have been immense.

At least 17 people died in the string of attacks in the Afghan capital that day.

�We are proud of my late younger brother, Jyotin in bagging the highest peace time gallantry award.

He has gone and will never come back to us.

Even today, the pangs and sorrow of his untimely demise refuses to go away,� said Meenakumari Devi, eldest sister of Jyotin.

�Ever since the death of Jyotin, my mother has changed a lot, crestfallen and dejected all the time.

The news of the award to be conferred on Jyotin only brought back memories of her son, and her grief somehow multiplied.

Nevertheless my weak mother is proud to have a brave son who died a heroic death, Meenakumari, a doctor who is serving in the State-run Churachandpur ditrict hospital said.

After completing his MBBS degree from Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) Imphal and post graduate in sports medicine from Patiala, Jyotin (38) joined the Indian army in AMC about eight years ago.

Boeing, an Assistant Professor in civil engineering in IIT Guwahati, on behalf of his family, received the award, a medal and a scroll from the President at the start of Republic Day.

� Like all his family members, I'm proud to have a brave brother and at the same time my grief and sorrow over his untimely demise refuses to go away,� Boeing (35) told The Sangai Express from Guwahati over phone today morning.

Meenakumari said they have plans to set up a memorial of his younger brother to be implemented only after their parents � Ibeyaima Devi (mother) and L Markando (father) � overcome the pangs and sorrow.