School kids remember 26/11 heroes through patriotism session

Mangalore, November 27: Students at the St. Mary's (Margil) High School here on Monday, observed the fourth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attack in a unique manner by recollecting the incidents that occurred during the national tragedy and Interacting with a 1971 war veteran on patriotism. The `26/11: Remembering the Heroes' session was organized by Centre for Integrated Learning (CIL) in association with Lions Club Mangalore.

While Audio-visual clippings on stories of NSG Commandos like Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who laid their life during the Mumbai Attack left the hundreds of students spellbound, they were simply mesmerized as 1971 war veteran Retired Brigadier I N Rai shared his experience of the Indo-Pak war, the IPKF operations in Sri Lanka and his stint of encounters with the Naga insurgents among others.

The session began with lighting of lamp by the students in front of a specially designed portrait comprising of five heroes of 26/11 (Maj. Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Hemanth Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Ampte and Thukaram Ombale) to pay rich tributes to all those who laid their life for the country. An audio-visual interactive presentation on the tragic tales of the attack and the valour of the Indian soldiers, by CIL convener, S Nandagopal inspired the students as issues of their social responsibility and sense of national pride was discussed connecting the incidents.

The video clippings of the firsthand account of the tragedy and the pride of sacrificing a son to the country, by father of Maj. Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the tale of an NSG Officer blinded in the attack and the actual story of how Kasav was nabbed alive, created a sensation among the audience.

Lions Club Mangalore President, Arvind Rao Kedige and Principal of St. Mary's School Sr. Maria Thara also spoke on the occasion. Teacher, Anita Cordiero proposed the vote of thanks.