A book for a noble cause!

Srinagar, June 19 (UNI) In a noble gesture, a Navy captain translated his father's book to contribute its proceeds for the construction of a paediatric hospital at Handwara in north Kashmir in memory of the young victims of a boat capsize in the Wullar Lake on May 30 last year.

Captain D S Sodhi translated his father S Anoop Singh's work in English with a pledge -- to contribute the proceeds of this book for the construction of a 15-bed state-of-the-art paediatric ward as an annexe to the existing District Hospital in Handwara by the Navy.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha released the English version of the book, ''Kashmir and the Sikhs: An Insight'' by S Anoop Singh, at the Raj Bhawan here in the presence of the families of the 20 children who lost their lives in the boat capsize.

As many as 20 students, in the age group of 7-14 years, and two staff members of Burning Candle School at Handwara in border district of Kupwara drowned while ferrying in a navy boat in Wullar Lake, the Asia's largest fresh water reservoir ironically known for its sweet contents, during an excursion on May 30 last year.

Speaking on the occasion, Gen Sinha said the gruesome tragedy not only struck the families of the deceased children, but came as a severe shock to the entire nation.

Soon after the incident, the Governor said the then Naval Chief, Admiral Arun Prakash, called on him and expressed the desire to have a befitting memorial built in memory of the deceased children.

This showed the agony of the Indian Navy over the accident caused inadvertently by some of its personnel, he added.

''A good intentioned act had led to the loss of 22 precious lives, including 20 small children, due to negligence or lack of suitable precaution,'' Gen Sinha added.

He also referred to the ''senseless violence'' unleashed by militants in the Kashmir valley.

''There are several instances in which many children have fallen prey to their (militants') madness, but hardly drew any flak. Yet the grave act of omission at Wullar was made an excuse by certain elements to unleash venom and hatred on the armed forces, describing it as a deliberate heinous act of genocide,'' the Governor said.

About the book, he said it was written by a native of Baramulla, a town which braved the brunt of a tribal raid in 1947.

Gen Sinha said the book dwells on economic, educational, political and social contribution of Sikhs during various rules in Kashmir.

UNI