Widow of Slain Naval Officer Wins Nation’s Respect for Peace Appeal Amid Grief; Navy Veteran’s Wife Backs Her Courage

Agencies  | May 3, 2025 | Karnal :  In the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, including Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, his young widow Himanshi Narwal has become a powerful symbol of courage, dignity, and unwavering commitment to peace.

Despite suffering immense personal loss, Himanshi made a heartfelt appeal to the nation, urging citizens not to target Muslims and Kashmiris in the name of retribution. Her remarks, made publicly in Karnal, Haryana, on May 1, have drawn praise from across the country, including from Lalita Ramdas, a respected voice in India’s naval community.

Speaking to the press, Himanshi, a PhD scholar from Gurugram, said, “We don’t want people going against Muslims or Kashmiris. We want peace and only peace. Of course, we want justice. The people who have wronged him should be punished.” 

The couple had married on April 16 and were on their honeymoon in Pahalgam when tragedy struck. Lt Narwal was shot dead by terrorists, and his body was flown to Delhi, where he was accorded full military honours at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Himanshi, overwhelmed with emotion, saluted her husband’s coffin and said through tears, “Let his soul rest in peace. He made us really proud, and we should continue to uphold that pride in every way.”

The funeral, held in Narwal’s hometown of Karnal on May 1, was attended by thousands. His 21-year-old sister, Shristi, performed the final rites, lighting the pyre amid chants of “Bharat ka veer amar rahe” and “Pakistan Murdabad.” Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta were present at the ceremony. Shristi, speaking to CM Saini, said with anguish that her brother had been alive for some time after being shot but received no immediate help. “I want them dead,” she said, referring to the terrorists.

In a deeply moving open letter, Lalita Ramdas—wife of the late Admiral L. Ramdas and daughter of Admiral R.D. Katari, the Indian Navy’s first Chief of Naval Staff—praised Himanshi for her strength, composure, and the values she represents. 

“This is a personal tribute from possibly one of the oldest Navy daughters/wives alive today to the newest and youngest among the special fraternity of Naval Wives,” Ramdas wrote. 

She commended Himanshi as the “perfect Fauji wife,” who embodied the principles of service, secularism, and the Constitution. Ramdas added, “Your extraordinary strength, composure and conviction when you speak out against hate and targeting of Muslims and Kashmiris is truly remarkable and badly needed in our times.”

Ramdas also expressed her hope that the government would take note of Himanshi’s powerful message and issue a strong condemnation of the rising incidents of communal hatred and acts of vengeance. She shared that the video of Himanshi speaking had brought tears to her eyes and a sense of pride, not just as a Navy family member but as a citizen who values constitutional ideals. “You have echoed the thoughts and feelings of every thinking citizen of this country. We should all take your message of love and compassion far and wide,” she said.

Himanshi’s call for peace stood in sharp contrast to the sentiments expressed by some others affected by the attack. Aishanya, widow of another victim, Shubham Dwivedi from Kanpur, expressed anger and disillusionment in a TV interview, saying that unity between Hindus and Muslims had failed to protect her husband. Her words, unlike Himanshi’s, reflected the raw grief and sense of betrayal felt by many families.

Among those killed in the attack were Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a Kashmiri ponywallah who died trying to resist the attackers, and two Christian men—IAF Corporal Hailyang from Arunachal Pradesh and Sushil Nathaniel from Madhya Pradesh—underscoring the diversity of the victims. In a touching story from Kerala, Arathi, the daughter of another victim, N. Ramachandran, spoke warmly about two Kashmiri taximen who stayed with her during her difficult hours in Srinagar. “I got two brothers from Kashmir. I also told them that Allah would save them,” she said.

Himanshi’s appeal comes at a time when India continues to confront the delicate balance between national grief and communal harmony. Despite backlash from certain quarters on social media, her words have resonated deeply with many citizens across religious and regional divides. Ramdas concluded her letter with the words, “Himanshi Zindabad! Nari Shakti Zindabad! Bhartiya Nao Sena Zindabad! Jai Hind – Jai Jagat.”

In a moment where anger could have easily turned to hate, Himanshi Narwal chose compassion and constitutional values. Her courage has left a mark on a grieving nation, reminding it that true strength lies in rising above fear and division, and standing for justice without surrendering to hate.