Karnal: The house of Naval officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal in Karnal is a far cry from what it was last week — a wedding house. A banner is still there in the foyer. Decorated with henna, it reads “Vinay weds Himanshi.”
Now, there’s a different sort of banner that can be seen in multiple places across Karnal. It’s one of mourning and memory. A passport sized photograph of Vinay in uniform is set against a black backdrop — encouraging citizens to mourn and pay their respects to the 26-year-old, whose life was cut short by terrorists in Pahalgam while he was on his honeymoon with his wife Himanshi.
Hawa Narwal, a retired police officer from Haryana, was lying on the same bed he is right now when he received a call from Himanshi’s father. His grandson was dead.
“We didn’t know it was a terrorist attack until the next day. I was told it was an accident,” the grandfather told ThePrint.
Vinay had lofty dreams of serving his country and climbing up the naval ladder. He loved to cook — conjuring up recipes that surprised his family — and had a fondness for travel. He was sporty and adventurous. One of the tallest children in his class.
Those who knew Vinay in Karnal painted him as a larger-than-life figure who was always genial and smiling. The day after his funeral, a couple of his uncles burst into a chant: “Karnal ka Lal, Vinay Narwal (Karnal’s son, Vinay Narwal)”. The mourners around them were only able to muster a half-hearted cheer.
“He was one of the best boys. He was resolute in his beliefs, and he was able to make a friend out of whoever he met,” said his grandfather. “Everyone loved him.”
Cheerful, friendly
Both Vinay and his younger sister, Srishti, studied at Saint Kabir Public School in Karnal’s Sector 8, a six-minute drive from their home. The school’s management comprises military families, and according to them, the armed forces become a natural aspiration. It’s part of many students’ trajectories.
“He was a cheerful child, and always had a build that made him ready for the armed forces. He was also heavily involved in extracurricular activities,” said a former student of the school who was two years senior to Vinay, who graduated in 2014. Not only was he a sports person, as would have been the norm for someone of his keep, he was also part of the quiz team.
Years after they graduated, the former student recalled that Vinay would continue to greet him warmly. He said Vinay was extremely friendly, and retained his boyish charm well into adulthood. The last image he has of him is one where Vinay is smiling, dressed in a red sweater.
While Vinay’s sister was academically oriented, he was more caught up in hanging out with his friends.
“Vinay and Srishti were so welcoming. I was a new student and within no time they were my friends. They never let me feel like an outsider, or like I was new to the school,” said a former classmate who joined the school in the 7th grade and is currently pursuing a B.Ed.
She added that the siblings shared a strong bond and that she “couldn’t imagine them fighting.”
According to her, the siblings were also named the school’s head-boy and head-girl.
At Saint Kabir Public School, the principal whipped out a wheel of black ribbon from her desk. Yesterday, each student and faculty member wore black armbands as homage to Vinay Narwal. They also had a period of silence. After a long, extended bell, students and teachers stayed in mourning and were jolted back to reality by a rousing cheer in Vinay’s honour.
“When we heard the news, it just clicked. Oh lord, he was a student. It’s a name we can’t forget. And that came as a massive shock,” said a member of the school management, seated in her office.
The school was planning a visit from Vinay–in uniform–and have him speak to the students.
“To see someone in uniform, that’s a different motivation,” she said. “He should never be forgotten.”
Also read: Kanpur Juna Akhada demands statues of Hindus killed in Pahalgam terror attack
‘The universe’s son’
At the time of his death, Vinay had been serving in the Indian Navy for about three years. He had earlier failed to pass the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination. Then, he decided to do B.Tech, and was also twice unsuccessful in clearing the Services Selection Board (SSB) examination.
“As soon as he worked hard, he attained success,” said Hawa Narwal. “He used to say, for as long as I can serve the country, I will.”
A palpable desolation had made its way into the Narwal bungalow. Vinay’s widow, Himanshi, and her mother were inconsolable — and the family is refusing to let them speak to the press. A family member said she was at risk of illness.
The Narwals are a large family, Hawa Narwal said with pride. He and his immediate family live in Karnal, but they’ve spread all over the place, with significant members continuing to live in their ancestral village of Bhonsli.
Since the death, they’ve been inundated by visitors and all kinds of dignitaries — including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, former CM Manohar Lal Khattar, and Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda.
“Everyone has come to pay their condolences. As a family, it gives us strength to deal with this time,” said Hawa Narwal. “The government has promised us their full support.”
Words like shaheed (martyr) and amar (immortal) have become a common refrain in the Narwal household, as family and friends come to see Vinay’s death as his martyrdom. In an earlier interview, Hawa Narwal had told The Indian Express that his grandson was capable of taking on at least 4-5 terrorists by himself.
A number of family members also mentioned his height — a solid 6’’3.
One of the neighbours, Suresh Arora, didn’t know Vinay too well, despite having lived in the same lane for decades. But now that he’s dead, he claims that the late navy officer has transcended manmade concepts, family being one of them.
“He was their son, but now he’s the universe’s. If they could kill someone like him, what chance do the rest of us have?” he said.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)