MEERUT: Malkhan Singh , an IAF soldier, was 23 when an Antonov-12 aircraft, carrying 102 people, including him, went missing on Feb 7, 1968. It was later found crashed over Himachal 's Rohtang Pass .
On Tuesday, when two Army officials came to Malkhan's old house in Fatehpur village in UP's Saharanpur district, informing the family about the recovery of his mortal remains - his wife died waiting for him for 32 years - there was silence at first. And then joy. And tears. It was overwhelming for everyone. The family was told to make arrangements for the last rites.
‘Malkhan parents, wife, son died waiting for closure’
He was too young for us to believe he was indeed dead. His wife spent her life thinking he was alive somewhere and would return one day. She had a newly born son when he went missing. She died sometime around 2000, carrying a lifelong hope and wait,” said Malkhan’s youngest brother, Isham Pal, now 65.
“If the body had been found even 25 years ago, his wife would have rested in peace,” added cousin Vishwas Singh. The family said that ever since Malkhan disappeared, they never heard anything about him.
“We lost all hope after running pillar to post searching for him,” Vishwas said. “When he couldn’t be traced for years, there was a ‘family adjustment’. Malkhan’s wife was married off to his brother Chandrapal Singh. Malkhan’s only son, Ram Prasad, had two sons, Gautam Kumar (22) and Manish Singh (16), and three daughters. Ram Prasad died in 2010. Malkhan’s parents, wife and only son passed away desperately waiting for closure.”
Malkhan’s grandchildren, who grew up listening to stories about him, took part in his last journey on Wednesday as hundreds, perhaps more, joined in. “We are full of emotions,” said Gautam. The mortal remains reached Fatehpur in the afternoon, amid the huge crowd of mourners, and he was cremated later in the evening. Malkhan Singh had finally come home.
On Tuesday, when two Army officials came to Malkhan's old house in Fatehpur village in UP's Saharanpur district, informing the family about the recovery of his mortal remains - his wife died waiting for him for 32 years - there was silence at first. And then joy. And tears. It was overwhelming for everyone. The family was told to make arrangements for the last rites.
‘Malkhan parents, wife, son died waiting for closure’
He was too young for us to believe he was indeed dead. His wife spent her life thinking he was alive somewhere and would return one day. She had a newly born son when he went missing. She died sometime around 2000, carrying a lifelong hope and wait,” said Malkhan’s youngest brother, Isham Pal, now 65.
“If the body had been found even 25 years ago, his wife would have rested in peace,” added cousin Vishwas Singh. The family said that ever since Malkhan disappeared, they never heard anything about him.
“We lost all hope after running pillar to post searching for him,” Vishwas said. “When he couldn’t be traced for years, there was a ‘family adjustment’. Malkhan’s wife was married off to his brother Chandrapal Singh. Malkhan’s only son, Ram Prasad, had two sons, Gautam Kumar (22) and Manish Singh (16), and three daughters. Ram Prasad died in 2010. Malkhan’s parents, wife and only son passed away desperately waiting for closure.”
Malkhan’s grandchildren, who grew up listening to stories about him, took part in his last journey on Wednesday as hundreds, perhaps more, joined in. “We are full of emotions,” said Gautam. The mortal remains reached Fatehpur in the afternoon, amid the huge crowd of mourners, and he was cremated later in the evening. Malkhan Singh had finally come home.
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