July 26, 1999, is a date that has been marked in the Indian history as a day when the resolute Indian forces achieved a glorious victory over the Pakistani army. It has been a decade since the Kargil war. This epic victory aptly epitomised the sacrifice and the heroism of Indian defence force that had come together to protect India and it’s integrity.

On the festival of raksha bandhan, when women tie rakhis to protect their brother, this year, they will go a step further and send rakhis across the border to protect the soilders too. To recognise their services and to pay homage to our martyrs, Susiieben Shah, member of Maharashtra State Commission for Women and president of Stree Shakti Kendra and chairperson of August Kranti Kendra, both NGO’s, have resolved at a joint meeting to symbolically send ‘freedom rakhis’ through a website “www.rakhis4jawans.com“ to these jawans .

"There is no better time then now when the people of India are celebrating raksha bandhan on August 5, Quit India Day on August 9 and Independence Day on August 15 to pay tribute to the soldiers," says Shah. She further says, "The sacrifice of these soldiers usually goes unnoticed and I thought this was way to show our gratitude towards them."

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Source: DNA Newspaper, Mumbai, 5th August Pg no. 4