ROHTAK, PUNJAB: Kalanaur, near Rohtak is the proudest village in India to-day. It is the home of Jemadar Abdul Hafiz, 9th Jat Regiment, who has been posthumously awarded the V.C. [Victoria Cross] for extreme bravery on the Burma front. Not only is Jem. Abdul Hafiz India’s ninth holder of the V.C. but he is also the first Muslim to be awarded the supreme honour.

The news of the award granted to one of Kalanaur’s sons spread rapidly through the village. Soon little knots of people were making their way to Jem. Abdul Hafiz’s house, outside which they stood in respectful silence.

His aged mother, Mussammat Hamidan, and his widow, Mussammat Jugri Begum, holding in her arms a three-month-old baby girl whom the V.C. hero had never seen, were surrounded by relatives. “I have only one child now,” Mussammat Jugri Begum said. “Our two sons died while still babies. We have adopted a nephew; I hope he will be as brave as his uncle.”

Jem. Abdul Hafiz’s mother and widow consented to be photographed. After the male members of the family had left, Mst. Jugri Begum lifted her burqa for a few seconds. Proudly she raised her head and looked at the camera. (Dawn, Delhi)

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2014