Nimrat Kaur Remembers Father's 'Sacrifice' During Visit to Kashmir Memorial
Bollywood actress Nimrat Kaur recently visited her father's memorial in Kashmir, paying tribute to his life and service to the nation. Major Bhupender Singh, an officer in the Indian Army, was killed in Kashmir in 1994, when Nimrat was just a young teenager.
The actress shared a series of images on Instagram from her visit to the memorial, coinciding with what would have been her father's 73rd birthday. In a heartfelt note, she expressed her gratitude and reflected on her father's sacrifice. She described the experience as profoundly moving, struggling to find words to adequately convey the emotions she felt seeing her father's name and legacy immortalized in the region where he last served.
Nimrat and her mother also visited the Titanic View Point on NH 44, near the Banihal Tunnel, which was recently dedicated to her father. This location held particular significance as it was where the family spent their last days together before his death.
Kaur acknowledged the efforts of the Border Roads Organization in ensuring her father's bronze bust, which traveled over a thousand kilometers from Jaipur, reached the memorial despite recent floods and route closures. She quoted an officer in charge who said that Major Bhupender Singh "truly merited to journey – like a noble fallen warrior".
A year prior, on her father’s 72nd birth anniversary, Nimrat, along with her mother and sister, inaugurated a war memorial in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, honoring her father and twelve other soldiers from the region who made the "supreme sacrifice for the nation". This earlier memorial, realized after 30 years of dreaming, was made possible through the support of local authorities and army personnel. The location was named Major Bhupender Singh Chowk.
In a 2015 interview, Nimrat shared the tragic circumstances of her father's death, recalling how he was kidnapped by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen during their winter vacation in Kashmir in January 1994 and killed after seven days. She recounted the emotional impact of his loss, noting how the event marked a significant turning point in her life.
Major Bhupender Singh was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra, a high military honor. The announcement coincided with Nimrat's birthday, March 13, adding a poignant layer to the recognition.
Nimrat's journey to revisit the valley years after her father's death reflects a personal quest for closure and a deep connection to her father's memory. Her recent visit to the memorial in Kashmir serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve in the armed forces and the enduring impact of their service on their families.
