New Delhi, April 12: In a gesture of enduring bond of duty and personal commitment, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday participated in the wedding rituals of the daughter of Pulwama martyr Hemraj Meena, fulfilling a promise he made six years ago to the soldier’s grieving family.
The courtyard of Hemraj Meena’s residence in Sangod, Kota, resonated with celebration and emotion as his daughter Reena’s wedding brought the first festive moment to the household since his sacrifice in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. Among the guests stood Om Birla, not just as a political leader but as a ‘Rakhi brother’ to Veerangana Madhubala, the wife of the fallen CRPF jawan.
In keeping with a tradition deeply rooted in Rajasthani culture, Birla arrived with ‘mayra’ a ceremonial gift offering from a brother to his sister on her daughter’s wedding, honouring a vow made during the family’s darkest hour. The emotional moment brought tears to many eyes, as Veerangana Madhubala welcomed Birla with tilak and aarti, while he draped a chunari on her shoulders in a symbolic gesture of sibling affection and solidarity, the moment captured the hearts of all present.
Over the past six years, the Speaker has been a pillar of support to the Meena family, consistently visiting them on occasions like Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj, where Madhubala ties him a rakhi as a mark of the bond forged through loss, respect, and shared resilience.
Speaking at the ceremony, Om Birla remembered Meena’s supreme sacrifice for the nation, saying, “His valour and patriotism continue to inspire us all. Standing by his family is not just a moral duty, but an emotional responsibility I have embraced with pride.” The wedding of Reena Meena became a community celebration of shared sorrow, healing, and the enduring values of sacrifice and solidarity.
