In a sentimental tribute to the Indian military’s prompt response to the Pahalgam terror attack, an Ayodhya couple christened their newborn boy ‘Sindoor’—named after Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7.
Soni Kanojia, a Palia Shahbadi village resident, gave birth to the baby at the Ayodhya district hospital’s Ayushman Ward on the same day the operation was undertaken. Inspired by the bravery of the military, she and her husband decided to give their son the name of the mission. “I was inspired by the bravery demonstrated by our troops during Operation Sindoor, which sought revenge for the martyrdom of innocent civilians in Pahalgam,” quoted Rahul Kanojia. “We decided to name our boy Sindoor in their honor. I want him to grow up and serve the country in uniform.”
Five children were delivered at the hospital on May 7, including the son of the Kanojias, according to staff nurse Meera Gautam. Their decision was soon in the headlines, according to news agency PTI.
Operation Sindoor was India’s retribution for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. The counter-strike, on May 7, hit nine terror installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The name of the operation, Sindoor, is derived from the vermilion used by Hindu married women as a sign of devotion and marital fidelity—an emotional bond which resonated deeply throughout the country.
The outpouring of tributes went beyond Ayodhya. In Kushinagar, 17 infant girls born on May 10 and 11 were given the name ‘Sindoor’ in a tribute to the surgery. Families all over the district expressed their sorrow and appreciation in these symbolic actions.
One such parent, Archana Shahi, whose relative perished in the Pahalgam attack, elaborated, “Operation Sindoor is not only a term, it’s an emotion. So many females lost their husbands that day. To name our child Sindoor is our manner of paying tributes to our troops’ heroism and their loved ones, whose memories are being cherished now.”
The sentiment on the operation was also repeated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking to armed forces personnel at Adampur Air Base in the state of Punjab. Mentioning India’s firm action, he said, “Operation Sindoor wasn’t any routine step by the Indian Army, and through it, the entire world saw India’s determination become a reality.”
