A Sister’s Tribute To A Braveheart Brother & A Story Of Courage And Forgiveness

A sister writes a heartfelt tribute to her brother, an army man, who lost his life young. A story of courage, forgiveness and valour.

Life is to be reckoned not only extensively, but also intensively: not merely by the number of days we live, but also by the amount of thought and energy which we infuse into them. Some people are born to lead and destined to inspire others by setting an example of living life to the fullest and facing their last moments with an uncommon acceptance and courage. Major T. Shyam Sundar was that kind of a person.

Childhood is a time when children are busy imbibing and emulating others. Some children display exceptional courage and unique thinking right from a very young age. Adventure was Shyam’s favourite sport right from childhood. At the age of three, trying to feel the water, while taking a boat ride on the bewitching Dal Lake in Kashmir, he fell into it, but held on to the rim of the boat thus enabling my father to lift him up in the nick of time.

Coming from an Army background definitely has an element of courage and boldness coupled with the right presence of mind.

Coming from an Army background definitely has an element of courage and boldness coupled with the right presence of mind. In another instance, when we were on our way to Bombay VT station, Shyam had alighted in Dadar thinking we had reached. Upon reaching Bombay VT , my father boarded another train back to Dadar to bring him, only to be told by the station master in Bandra that Shyam had managed to find some other battalion moving to Bombay VT and had joined them! This was his presence of mind at the age of 11.

Swimming had been Shyam’s passion and having eczema did not dampen his spirits and enthusiasm; with treatment and permission from the pool authorities, he would get ready everyday for the swimming classes by tying up the foot having the eczema with a plastic cover…all this without feeling conscious of others. Needless to say, he went on to become a champion swimmer. A remarkable quality for a child to have at the age of 14!

Joining the National Defence Academy was Shyam’s dream come true and he had the best time of his life there. All the ragging, punishments and the tough training saw him come out with flying colors. Even a fracture was not communicated home lest the parental worries pull him down. The final year at the Indian Military Academy equipped him with all the necessary qualities and skills which made for a solid foundation. He won the best officer award in his very first rank as a second lieutenant! At this point of time he had helped several soldiers financially, for their education, marriages and other pressing needs.

One night while returning from patrolling, it had started to snow heavily and the soldiers had fallen into a deep pit full of snow

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Having led many successful operations, his expertise in leading from the front was undisputed. As a major at the age of 27, he was leading an important operation in Kupwara, J & K. Shyam had been made the officiating commanding officer of the operation. One night while returning from patrolling, it had started to snow heavily and the soldiers had fallen into a deep pit full of snow. Without worrying for his life even for a second, Shyam spent the entire night rescuing his soldiers. All the snow had gone into his lungs making him ill. The dearth of officers saw him getting his leave sanctioned very late. Upon his arrival at home , a battery of tests was conducted , revealing a rare form of cancer- Non- Hodgkin’s-Lymphoma (of the lungs) stage 3…!

During his six months stay at the Command Hospital Pune there was not a single dull moment in any of the wards as he would go up to the patients, cheer them up, play board games with them, relive their glorious days in the forces etc. In his last days when he was declared terminally ill and it was anytime for him, he showed uninhibited courage by forgiving the higher command for sanctioning his leave very late.  The unusual acceptance of a life that was being cut short in its prime!

On the last day, he had thanked all the doctors and nurses who had attended to him and all the relatives present.

On the last day, he had thanked all the doctors and nurses who had attended to him and all the relatives present. He asked my cousins as to how they had fared in their exams and remembered to wish a cousin on his impending marriage. Shyam made me promise him that I would complete my post graduation without going into depression. He then put my parents hands into mine and asked me to take over from him. He then requested my reluctant father to release him, so that he could pass on…peacefully…it was only after he got the permission that Shyam left with a smile…..He had crossed over.

It is his will power that has made it possible for me to take on my responsibilities in full swing. The qualities of courage, charity, acceptance and forgiveness is what this story is all about, making his short life an inspiration to many. He was excellence personified….This is an affectionate sister’s tribute to her Braveheart brother!

Brother and siter holding hands image via Shutterstock

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