Bengaluru: Nikita Kaul, the wife of Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal who laid down his life in the line of duty on February 17, 2019, in Pulwama, has donned the olive green to continue the legacy of her husband.
Nikita and Major Dhoundiyal had tied the knot just nine months before his death.
Nikita left her corporate job to join the Indian Army. In 2020, she passed the Short Service Commission examination and the Services Selection Board interview.
On Saturday, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen YK Joshi himself pipped the stars on her shoulders. She will be joining the army as Lieutenant Nitika Kaul Dhoundiyal.
"#MajVibhutiShankarDhoundiyal, made the Supreme Sacrifice at #Pulwama in 2019, was awarded SC (P). Today his wife @Nitikakaul dons #IndianArmy uniform; paying him a befitting tribute. A proud moment for her as Lt Gen Y K Joshi, #ArmyCdrNC himself pips the Stars on her shoulders!," Udhampur-based Defence PRO said in a tweet.
As reported earlier, Major Dhoundiyal was married for just 9 months before his untimely demise.
The void created by his loss was indeed unfillable. Nikita Kaul Dhoundiyal had to face his loss.
But, Nikita was not the one to be left brooding over what had happened. She took the brave decision to join the Indian Army and make her husband proud.
Times Now adds that just six months after her husband’s martyrdom, Nikita filled the Short Service Commission (SSC) form. She cleared the exam and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview as well.
She soon got commissioned at Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Chennai for her training and officially joined the Indian Army as Lieutenant Nikita Kaul Dhoundiyal on May 29, 2021.