Volunteers pay tributes to 26/11 martyrs in Bangalore

“I want to do all that I can for my country,” says 20-year-old Sahil Khosla, who organised a candlelight event in memory of all the martyrs who gave their lives during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

With the help of social networking site Facebook, Khosla mobilised a group of people to gather at the National Military Memorial on Friday to pay homage to the numerous lives that were lost.

“Through this initiative, it is my way of offering moral support to the families, who lost their near and dear ones,” said Khosla, who received the president’s medal two years ago, for his outstanding social work.

Air Commodore Chandrashekhar, who was present on the occasion, said that such gatherings were required to create patriotism among citizens. “Every individual has a commercial approach, only aiming at making more and more money. Proactive approaches such as these, I hope, will sensitise people,” he said.

“We want to remember the sacrifice our countrymen have made for the nation. It is through small gatherings like these that we can pay homage to them,” said Colonel GV Sreedhar.

The event also witnessed reflective messages written by the participants on the posters and banners displayed there. “We have learnt to live, but you have taught us how to live it with respect,” and “We bow our heads to the martyrs who made it possible,” were some of the messages on display.