Mission to feel pain of loss

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 4 March 2019, Darjeeling: Armed with a guitar and an arsenal of 450 self-written and self-composed songs, a 37-year-old Lucknow resident is on a nationwide tour to understand the “pain and sufferings” of the kin of army and paramilitary personnel who were killed while on duty. .

Nitin Srivastav started his journey from Udhamsingh Nagar in Uttaranchal on November 24, 2018, but his initiative is bound to find resonance in the changed atmosphere following the Pulwama attack on February 14. He recently visited family members of Vijay Soreng, who was one of the victims of the Pulwama attack, at their residence at Gulma in Jharkhand and handed them a token collection of Rs 9,500. .

“I composed a song for an Indian army regiment and during that phase, I was hit hard by the thoughts and pains of martyrs' family. We stay in the comforts of our room and pass opinions but I wanted to reach out to them,” said Srivastav, who quit his corporate job for the mission. .

An army officer, after learning about his mission, lent him a 500-cc Royal Enfield. .

“I go to school and colleges, sing patriotic songs and talk about our brave jawans and try to raise some donations. I donate 50 percent of the proceedings to martyrs' family members, even though this is just a symbolic gesture. The important thing is to reach out to their pains and sufferings,” said Srivastav. .

He uses the rest of the proceedings on travel expenses. .

The guitar man has so far covered 14,000km on his bike covering 10 cities before reaching Darjeeling a couple of days back. “My plan is to cover 120 cities in the next two years,” said the bachelor. .

So far, Srivastav has met relatives of many deceased military personnel. .

His experiences have not always been nice. “When I perform, people want me to entertain them but my mission is not to entertain but send out a message. When it comes to donations, people shy away.” In Darjeeling, he will perform at Loreto Convent on Tuesday. .

During his travel, Srivastav, however, also met many good Samaritans. .

“At times I have gone hungry, at times I have slept in dhabas but I have also come across people who have filled my bike tank and offered great hospitality.” Srivastav's parents were aghast at his decision earlier but now they have come to terms with his mission..