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Rukmini Vasanth’s Father Honored With Ashoka Chakra Remembered
Rukmini Vasanth is an actress whose father was an army officer.
He died in 2007 while fighting terrorists in Uri.
He and his radio operator stopped the terrorists during an attempted infiltration.
Rukmini was only 10 years old when this happened.
Her father later received the Ashoka Chakra for his bravery.
Rukmini’s mother raised their two daughters after his death.
She also created a foundation to help families of soldiers who died.
The family had to work with government offices to receive promised compensation.
Rukmini says her father’s dedication continues to inspire her acting career.
Colonel Vasanth Venugopal was killed fighting eight terrorists in Uri on July 31, 2007.
He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry decoration.
His daughter Rukmini Vasanth was 10 when he died and later became an actress.
Rukmini’s mother, Subhashini Vasanth, raised two daughters and founded a support foundation for martyrs’ families.
Subhashini challenged the adequacy and delays surrounding promised state compensation, which she eventually received.
- Who
- Colonel Vasanth Venugopal, his radio operator, Rukmini Vasanth, and her mother Subhashini Vasanth.
- What
- Colonel Vasanth Venugopal was killed while fighting terrorists and was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra.
- Where
- The Uri district of Jammu and Kashmir, during an attempted infiltration across the Line of Control.
- When
- July 31, 2007; Rukmini was 10 years old at the time.
- Why
- He was fighting heavily armed terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control.
Family’s concerns
Government compensation framework
Adequacy of compensation
Family’s concerns
Subhashini Vasanth argued that two acres of land could no longer be equated with Rs 1.25 lakh because of inflation, and called for the rule to be amended.
Government compensation framework
The reported 1971 state rule specified a choice between Rs 1.25 lakh and two acres of wetland as compensation.
Access to promised benefits
Family’s concerns
Subhashini said she had to navigate government offices and endure humiliation while seeking compensation she believed was legitimately owed to her.
Government compensation framework
Compensation was eventually provided; the article says state authorities handled the land-related benefit, while the central government handled pension and ex-gratia payments.
Key facts
- Officer
- Colonel Vasanth Venugopal, commanding officer of the 9th Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry
- Date of death
- July 31, 2007
- Location
- Uri district, Jammu and Kashmir
- Attackers
- About eight terrorists
- Award
- Posthumous Ashoka Chakra
- Family
- Wife Subhashini Vasanth and two daughters, including Rukmini Vasanth
- Foundation
- Vasantharatna Foundation for Art, founded six months after his death
- Compensation rule
- A 1971 state order provided either Rs 1.25 lakh or two acres of wetland to an Ashoka Chakra awardee’s family
Quotes
Subhashini Vasanth
Bharatanatyam dancer and widow of Colonel Vasanth Venugopal
“I don’t remember too much but it happened in the Uri district. It was in the early hours of July 31. There were about eight terrorists, and they got all of them, but in this process, my father and his radio operator were martyred in the infiltration attempt.”
indianexpress.com
“With the growing inflation, two acres of land cannot be equated with a paltry Rs 1.25 lakh. This state rule was made back in 1971 and needs to be amended.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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