Families of the Fallen
The Parents, Siblings, and Spouses Who Carry the Legacy Forward
Behind every Param Vir Chakra recipient stands a family that shaped the hero - and a family that must live with the loss. From the Batra family of Palampur who lost their 'Shershah,' to the Khetarpals who lost their 21-year-old son at Basantar, to countless mothers who still wait by the door. Their stories of strength, grief, and grace teach us what sacrifice truly means.
The Weight of Gold
When the President of India places the Param Vir Chakra medal - that small bronze disc bearing the Vajra of Indra - into the hands of a mother, father, or spouse, the nation witnesses a moment of highest honor.
But the families know the truth. The medal weighs only a few grams, yet it carries the weight of an entire lifetime lost. A son who will never return. A husband who will never come home. A brother whose chair will remain empty at every family gathering.
The Param Vir Chakra honors the fallen. But behind every medal stands a family that raised a hero, said goodbye to a loved one, and somehow found the strength to carry on.
Their stories are the other half of the Param Veer saga - stories of ordinary families who gave extraordinary sons to the nation.
The Batras of Palampur: A Family's Love
The Making of Shershah
Captain Vikram Batra, PVC, the 'Lion of Kargil,' was born on September 9, 1974, in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh - a small town nestled in the Kangra valley, where the air carries the scent of tea gardens and the Dhauladhar mountains stand eternal sentinel.
His father, Girdhari Lal Batra, was a government school principal. His mother, Kamal Kanta Batra, was a school teacher. Vikram had an identical twin brother, Vishal, and two older sisters.
The Batra household was one of modest means but rich values. Education, discipline, integrity, and love of country were the foundations on which G.L. Batra raised his sons.
Vikram and Vishal did everything together. Same school. Same college. Same mischief. But their paths diverged when Vikram chose the army, while Vishal pursued merchant navy.
When Vikram joined the Indian Military Academy, his father told him: "Whatever you do, do it with full dedication. If you are a soldier, be a true soldier."
Vikram took those words to heart.