NewzVille Desk
When the Media asked ‘How do you gather strength at the funeral of your loved one’ to Geetika Lidder, wife of Late Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder (Fondly Toni) after the crash of a helicopter near Coonoor, she bravely answered ‘I am a soldier’s wife… We must give him a smiling send-off’. The combination of emotions, love, Courage and more is accumulated in the recent book written by Geetika Lidder.
The book ‘I am a soldier’s wife’: The Life and Love of Toni Lidder launched by General Upendra Kumar Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff at a function at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The book is written in English and published by Roli Books.
As usual with love in one of her messages to her husband Toni, (on 08 December 2021), Geetika wrote: ‘I want to go to the Taj with you. Moonlit night.’ ‘Yes yes… let us do it the first week next year,’ he replied. Almost an hour later, onboard a Mi-17V5 helicopter the helicopter crashed near Coonoor. It was the last message they had exchanged. On board were big names including CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife and 13 others. Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder was also on board.
A decorated officer of 2 JAK RIF with ‘sharp military intellect’, Toni’s life was cut short, at only 52 years, just as he was supposed to take over a division in J&K, and his family was looking forward to spending more time together. But destiny has its own way.
An army daughter herself, Geetika knew the jeopardy of being married to an infantry soldier. She was unprepared for such a sudden, quick, cruel turn of events.
Life is tough for a soldier’s wife and is not often written about. Geetika’s book is a brave step in opening her heart and sharing the constant battle between emotions, courage, and integrity in the lives of army wives.
Apart from love story, tribute, and family history, it’s a story of celebrating the person that Toni was to his family, friends, and paltan.
In the launching ceremony Geetika thanked all involved behind this book and fondly said, It’s not a literary marvel, to believe in my story truly a work of heart. When you turn the pages you will find you, me and all the spouses of the military. in this book.
In fond memory and about the book COAS, General Upendra Kumar Dwivedi said, this volume lovingly authored by Geetika encapsulates not only the life of a soldier, but the essence of a devoted husband, a cherished father and an inspiring leader of the Indian Army.
To get the essence of more sentiment, rhapsody of every moment and to chime-in yesss, I like, love and absorb it you can buy it on Amazon in both form of kindle edition and hardcover.
