Yet another sacrifice

[Ashok Sinha]

A small obit of Colonel Santosh Mahadik who lost his life today. A brave soul by all accounts, who led from the front in accordance with the best traditions of the Indian Army, which has arguably the highest ratio of death and disability of officers compared to those of other ranks. Four soldiers were injured.
Sunil
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A tribute by Col Santosh Mahadik' s batchmate...Prashant Patil
.....Supreme sacrifice?.... Undoubtedly. He was born for this. Right from our school days this crazy like a bull guy always spoke of supreme sacrifice . The son of a small town milkman, with absolute humble background, defying family traditions of selling milk, joined Sainik School Satara unlike his other siblings. Calm in composure, gentle in demeanor, carried a storm in his heart. Best Boxer of the school, Goal Keeper of School's State Champion football team and maniac like runner, always had a smile on his face when he worked out hard in gym. More he sweated, wider was the beam.
Before one of the finals of the boxing bout I told him “ Santoo, you might be a good boxer but I am going to beat you this time”. He just smiled at me. I lost the bout to him. When I congratulated him in presence of his father who had come to witness the final bout telling him “ you saved your Medal buddy “. His father said “this is not the great fight of my son. His real fight will be on the borders protecting this nation and my son will always be victorious”. The class XI boy I was had not much idea about borders and army operations then. But brimming warrior like smile on Santoo’s face gave a impression to me that his father spoke Santoo’s heart out . Today on 17 Nov 2015 , Santoo fought and fought like a true worrier. He laid his life in supreme sacrifice for this great nation making his father and all of us more proud of him than ever. Reminiscences of his smile reverberating in our minds that “ he will always be victorious”.