Udai was very proud of his school

They have come to terms with the loss of their only son and are now trying to keep his memories alive in their own special way. The parents of Shaurya Chakra awardee Maj Udai Singh, who was killed fighting terrorists in Kashmir in November 2003, are providing for the education of four girls at Army Public School, Dagshai -- Udai's alma mater.

The girls lost their fathers, commandos from the elite 1 Para (Special Forces) -- also Udai’s unit -- in counter-terrorist operations. Col KK Singh (retd) and his wife Sudha travelled down to Dagshai from Noida on Wednesday to spend some time with the girls and attend the school's Founder's Day celebrations. Udai studied at the school from 1988-92.

Col Singh told TOI, "Udai was very proud of his school. We want to make other children experience that pride. 1 Para suffered a lot of casualties in the Valley. There are kids who need help."

The inspiration to support the girls came from the Ramachandrans in Mumbai, who are funding the education of needy children. They also lost their son, Capt R Subramaniam from 1 Para, in operations in the Valley three years before Udai was killed. ‘Subbu' and ‘Uddu' were best friends and were commissioned into the Army on the same day.

The girls being supported by Col Singh and Sudha are studying in classes VI, VII and IX. Sudha said, "We are deeply attached to the girls. We keep in touch over the phone and exchange letters. In winter, they’ll visit us."

Udais parents have learnt to put on a brave face, but returning to the school without him must be hard. Sudha said, "We met his teachers, friends and sauntered around the campus. But I couldn't muster the courage to visit his dorm."

To relive the past, they took the girls out for a ride and treated them at a restaurant. The Singhs are setting up a trust to sponsor the education of children of soldiers killed in action.

A member of Indian Public School's Conference, APS Dagshai was set up in June 1986 to provide quality education to wards of Army personnel.