In a deeply moving gesture that has touched hearts across the country, Jaswant Kaur, the mother of slain constable Gurnam Singh, wrapped a blanket around her son’s statue in Jammu to protect it from the biting winter cold.

For Jaswant Kaur, Gurnam is not a memory frozen in time, but a living presence in her life. “I am a mother, and in this piercing cold, when we struggle to keep ourselves warm, how could I leave my son’s statue exposed to the bone-chilling cold?” she said, her words reflecting a love untouched by time or loss.

A mother’s love beyond death

The act, simple yet profoundly emotional, symbolised the unbroken bond between a mother and her child. Locals said Jaswant Kaur regularly visits the statue, treating it not as stone or metal, but as her son himself — a reminder that for families of martyrs, the sacrifice never truly ends.

The sacrifice of Gurnam Singh

Constable Gurnam Singh was killed in action on the night of October 21–22, 2016, in the Hira Nagar sector, while defending India’s borders against Pakistani aggression. A sniper’s bullet ended his life, but not before he displayed exceptional bravery.

A day before his death, Gurnam had foiled an infiltration attempt, killing one terrorist and forcing others to retreat. Despite heavy shelling meant to provide cover for infiltrators, he stood firm, acting as a human shield against the threat.

‘His breath keeps the tricolour flying’

Kulwinder Singh, Jaswant Kaur’s brother, said, “If you see the tricolour fluttering, it’s not just the wind. It carries the last breath of soldiers like Gurnam and many others who laid down their lives.”

Ashwani, a neighbour of Jaswant Kaur, echoed the sentiment. “For the nation, he is a martyr. For his mother, he is her son — a part of her very being,” he said.

A nation remembers

The image of a mother shielding her fallen son from the cold has become a powerful symbol of sacrifice, love and remembrance. It serves as a reminder that behind every uniformed hero is a family that carries the weight of loss with quiet dignity — and unwavering love.