On what would have been the 27th birthday of Indian Navy lieutenant Vinay Narwal, his widowed wife, Himanshi Narwal, made a tearful appeal to the country, calling for peace and harmony. Lt Vinay Narwal was one of the 26 brutally murdered by terrorists at Baisaran, close to Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, while he was on his honeymoon.
Talking to the media on Thursday, Himanshi, a Gurugram PhD student, said, “I just want the entire nation to pray for him, that wherever he is, he remains healthy and happy.” She further stated that the mourning should not become communal hatred. “We don’t want people going against Muslims or Kashmiris. We want peace and only peace. Of course, we want justice,” she said.
#WATCH | Karnal | “…We don’t want people going against Muslims or Kashmiris. We want peace and only peace. Of course, we want justice,” says Himanshi, wife of Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. pic.twitter.com/LaOpBVe7z2
— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2025
Blood Donation Camp Pays Tribute to Lt. Vinay Narwal
A blood donation camp was held in Karnal, Haryana by the National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists on the occasion of Lt Narwal’s birth anniversary. His wife and mother were visibly moved as those who attended offered tributes to the young officer who served the Indian Navy with dedication.
Attendees at the camp remembered his sacrifice, with one saying that while terrorists spilled the blood of innocents in Pahalgam, lives saved by the blood donation will continue his legacy. BJP MLA from Karnal, Jagmohan Anand, was also present at the tribute ceremony.
Honeymoon That Turned Into Horror
Lt Vinay Narwal had married Himanshi a week before the attack, on April 16. The couple had planned a honeymoon in Switzerland, but because of visa delays, they settled for Pahalgam. On that day, terrorists shot Narwal at point-blank range after apparently inquiring about his religion.
In a video that went viral, Himanshi can be heard describing the terror. “I was eating bhel puri, and my husband was with me. A person came and asked if he was a Muslim. When he denied, the man shot him dead,” she explained.
Family and Friends Mourn the Loss of Lt. Vinay Narwal
Narwal’s colleagues remembered him as cheerful and devoted to his duty. Himanshi’s cousin Manish earlier shared that their families had been close for years. “Everything had come together so perfectly. Their wedding was finalised in January. Our families go back a long way — Himanshi’s father and Lt Narwal’s father were close friends. It was meant to be a union of love and deep-rooted bonds,” he told HT.
As India recalls Lt Narwal, his widow’s words shine as a beacon of hope: an appeal for togetherness in sorrow and resilience in the face of terror.
