‘Love at first sight’ | Unheard tale of martyr Captain Anshuman Singh and Smriti Singh
Captain Anshuman Singh and Smriti Singh Love Story : In a serene evening a few years ago, under the vibrant hues of a setting sun, the enduring love story of Martyr Captain Anshuman Singh and Smriti Singh began, destined to span a lifetime but turned fatal and tragic in July 2023.
The story of Anshuman and Smriti Singh is a poignant tale of love, dedication, and sacrifice.
Martyr Captain Anshuman Singh and Smriti Singh journey commenced during their college days, where Smriti, captivated from their first meeting, recalled it as love at first sight.
“We met on the first day of our college. I would not be dramatic, but it was love at first sight. After a month, he got selected into Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). We met in an engineering college, and he got selected into a medical college, super intelligent guy. After just one month of meeting, it was a long-distance relationship for eight long years and then we thought we should get married now so we did,” Smriti Singh recalled their love tale.
The couple tied the knot in February 2023 after Captain Singh graduated from AFMC.
Tragically, Martyr Captain Anshuman Singh and Smriti Singh’s time together was abruptly cut short when, within months of their marriage, Anshuman was posted to Siachen.
In an interview, recalling the last conversation on phone with late husband, Smriti added, “Unfortunately, within two months of marriage, he got posted to Siachen. On July 18, we had a long conversation about how our life will be in the next 50 years — we are going to build a house, we are going to have kids, what not. On the 19th morning, I get up, I get a call that he is no more," with her cracking and voice choking towards the end.
In July 2023, a fire broke out due to a short circuit at an Indian Army ammunition depot in Siachen during the early hours. Despite the peril, Captain Anshuman Singh displayed extraordinary courage, rescuing several trapped colleagues and attempting to retrieve crucial medicines from a burning shelter. Tragically, he suffered severe burns in the process, sacrificing his life in the line of duty.
An year later, Martyr Captain Anshuman Singh was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra ,the second-highest peacetime gallantry award in India, by President Droupadi Murmu for his exceptional heroic dead which was received by his widow wife Smriti Singh and mother with deep sorrow and pride.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred Kirti Chakra upon Captain Anshuman Singh, The Army Medical Corps, 26th Battalion The Punjab Regiment, posthumously. Disregarding his own safety, he exhibited exceptional bravery and resolve to rescue many people in a major fire incident. pic.twitter.com/o8bVuM3ZOo — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 5, 2024
The tale of Captain Anshuman Singh and Smriti Singh stands as a poignant testament to the hidden bravery and sacrifices of soldiers and their loved ones. His ultimate sacrifice and Smriti Singh’s acceptance of the Kirti Award serve as a poignant reminder of their unwavering bond, etched forever in the annals of heroism and love.
(Inputs by Bipasha Mehta)
- With inputs from agencies
