Himanshi Narwal had only begun her new life with Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, a young Indian Navy officer. The couple had gotten married on April 16 in Haryana’s Karnal and had their wedding reception just a few days later. On Monday, they embarked on their honeymoon in Kashmir, hoping for peace and picturesque memories.
But within a week of being married, Himanshi stood at her husband’s coffin, weeping and heartbroken, but still strong enough to salute him in a moment that symbolized the country’s heartbreak and pride.
The Emotional Sendoff from Delhi Airport
Lieutenant Narwal’s body was taken to Delhi on Wednesday. His wife was by his coffin, in black but withholding tears to see him off in the manner of a soldier. “I pray that his soul rests in peace… We will make him proud in every way,” she was quoted as saying, pausing to embrace the coffin.
“It is because of him that the world is still surviving. And we should all be proud of him in every way… in every way,” she continued, bowing again and again and saluting her husband once more. “Jai Hind,” she declared, her voice firm but choked with sorrow.
#WATCH | Delhi | Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal’s wife bids an emotional farewell to her husband, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack
The couple got married on April 16. pic.twitter.com/KJpLEeyxfJ
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who was at the airport, also sent her condolences and saluted the coffin.
Terror Strikes Amidst Serenity
The dastardly act was perpetrated on Tuesday at Baisaran, a beautiful meadow area near Pahalgam also referred to as “mini Switzerland.” The two were savoring some privacy, munching on bhelpuri, when terrorists opened fire in the meantime.
“We were having bhelpuri when a man came and shot my husband,” Himanshi reported in a going-viral clip on Tuesday. The 26-year-old cop got a headshot, and his blood hit her face.
Lt. Vinay Narwal: Braveheart’s Journey of Service
Lieutenant Narwal had joined the Indian Navy two years back and was stationed at Kochi. From a small school in Sector 7 of Karnal, his life had been driven by a profound sense of patriotism. His grandfather, Hawa Singh, a Border Security Force and subsequent Haryana Police veteran, had vividly emotional memories of the young officer.
“When he used to see military vehicles in his childhood, he used to ask me a lot of questions,” recalled Mr. Singh while speaking with NDTV. He had discouraged Vinay from going to the military because of the hardships of soldiering. “But Narwal was determined,” he said with pride.
“He was selected directly from the Services Selection Board… he joined the Navy as a Second Lieutenant and was promoted 18 months ago. He became a Lieutenant,” boasted the doting grandfather.
India Bids Farewell to a Lt. Vinay Narwal
The terror attack that claimed the life of Lieutenant Narwal and 25 others, including tourists and an Intelligence Bureau officer, is being referred to as the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama attack. It has left the country in shock, with grief and outrage spreading across communities.
Though Himanshi Narwal’s anguish rings out nationally, her strength and her salute to her deceased husband are signs of national pride and courage. The tale of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal is not one of loss alone, but one of duty, devotion, and immortal love.
