Two Indian Army soldiers who were due to begin a new chapter in their personal lives chose instead to continue serving thousands of cyclone-affected people in Sri Lanka, postponing their weddings in a poignant demonstration of the Army’s enduring motto; “Service Before Self”.
Naik Shashi Kumar and Lance Naik Akhil A were part of the 48-member Indian Army Engineer Task Force (ETF) deployed to Sri Lanka on December 2, 2025, under Operation Sagar Bandhu, a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) mission launched after Cyclone Ditwah wreaked havoc across the island nation in November.
The contingent returned to India on May 25 after nearly six months of intensive relief and reconstruction efforts, during which the two soldiers made a deeply personal sacrifice.
Lieutenant Colonel Anuj Singh, who led the Engineer Task Force, revealed that both soldiers were scheduled to get married during the deployment period. Understanding the significance of the occasion, the Army granted them all necessary clearances and permissions to return home for their weddings.
“However, in a remarkable display of commitment and selfless service, both chose to remain with the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief contingent,” Lt Col Singh said after the team’s return.
According to the officer, the two soldiers informed their superiors that while wedding ceremonies could be postponed, the mission could not. At a time when communities devastated by the cyclone required urgent assistance, they believed their duty was alongside their fellow soldiers on the ground.
Their decision, he said, reflected the finest traditions of the Indian Army and stood as a powerful example of the ethos of “Duty Before Self”.
For Naik Shashi Kumar, the choice was difficult but clear. “Our weddings can wait, but our duty cannot. When fellow human beings are in distress, every soldier’s first commitment is to serve,” he said.
Explaining why he remained with the contingent despite receiving permission to leave, Kumar said he and his comrades felt that wearing the uniform meant placing the mission and the nation ahead of personal milestones.
“We were grateful for the permission granted to us to proceed with our marriages, but at a time when people needed help, we felt our place was alongside our comrades in Operation Sagar Bandhu. Family celebrations can be rescheduled; the call of duty cannot,” he added.
Lance Naik Akhil echoed the sentiment, describing the decision as a responsibility that came with military service. “Marriage is one of life’s most important occasions, but so is the responsibility entrusted to us as soldiers. We decided to postpone our weddings because serving those affected by the disaster and standing with our unit was where we were needed most,” he said.
Akhil said, “The uniform teaches us that service comes before self. While our families fully supported our decision, we believed that remaining with the HADR contingent during Operation Sagar Bandhu was the right thing to do. Duty remains our highest priority,” he said.
Reflecting on the moment, he added, “We had the opportunity to leave and get married, but we could not leave our fellow soldiers and the mission midway. As soldiers, we are trained to answer the call whenever and wherever it comes. This was one such moment.”
During its deployment, the Engineer Task Force played a crucial role in restoring connectivity, clearing debris, repairing damaged infrastructure and assisting local authorities in relief operations across cyclone-hit regions of Sri Lanka.