Kathua: For eight years, silence surrounded the life of young Akshay Sharma, a boy from Duggan village in Kathua district. Born with a cleft lip and palate, he underwent surgery at the age of three but could not speak. His parents, weighed down by poverty, had all but abandoned hope of hearing their son’s voice.
That silence ended when an Army doctor posted in the region came across the boy’s condition. Moved by the family’s helplessness, the officer conducted medical check-ups and discovered that with the right therapy, Akshay could learn to talk.
Since Duggan lacked any speech therapy facilities, the officer took it upon himself to learn techniques and train Akshay in his free hours. With patience and compassion, he guided the boy through sounds, words, and eventually, sentences. After months of tireless practice, Akshay’s silence broke. The moment he called out to his parents for the first time, their eyes welled with tears. For them, it was not just a voice—it was the miracle they had yearned for but never thought possible. Their home, once filled with quiet prayers, now resonates with Akshay’s laughter and chatter.
This single act of kindness has stirred emotions not only in Akshay’s family but across the community of Duggan. Villagers now see in this Army doctor a reflection of the institution’s larger role in society. The Indian Army’s helping hand to Akshay, which changed his life forever, stands as proof that the force is not only ensuring peace by ending terrorism and foiling enemies’ plans of disrupting harmony, but also winning hearts by bringing smiles to people’s faces.
Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, PRO and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence, Jammu, said, “The Army’s commitment goes beyond security. Stories like Akshay’s show that our soldiers are as much protectors of life as they are guardians of the nation’s borders.”
Akshay’s story today shines as a beacon of hope in Duggan—an enduring reminder that the Indian Army is not just a shield of protection but also a source of compassion, healing, and humanity.
