Glory of Gudivada

Vizianagaram: Serving in the army is considered as the most reputed and partisan dedication that one can devote to their realm and Gudivada village, in Bhogapuram mandal on the border of Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram districts, assumes the distinction of having at least 400 from the village in the Defence forces.

The village residents here are patriotic and inspire their young to join the Defence forces to protect and serve their motherland. Whether, the family has one or more sons, they prefer to motivate and encourage them in joining the armed forced. There is at least one person from each household who is serving the armed forces.

As many from the village serve in the armed forces, the Gudivada is described as the birth place of heroes. Once a non-descript village, where the development and growth of world was not even heard, Gudivada turned out to be a model village igniting patriotism among the youth.

Gudivada is often described as an Army village where walls of every household proudly display the photographs of their near and dear ones serving the defence forces. It all began in 1965, when one of the villagers Vemala Appa Rao, was selected to join the Indian Army as a soldier. He retired from service in 1980 and during his stint, he was also posted for duty along the India-Pakistan border.

Whenever, he visited the village on his break, he stoked the fire of patriotism among the youth. An ex-serviceman, Venkata Reddy, said Appa Rao inspired the whole youth in the village to join the ranks of defence services undeterred by death of some soldiers from the village.

Every youth is desirous to take part in protecting the country. The army has Sepoys, Naik Subedars and Subedar Majors from the village. He said ex-servicemen underwent a lot of trials and tribulations during the course of their service to the motherland.

The soldiers from the village also took part in the 60-day Kargil War that took place in 1999. Soldiers Govinda Rao and Venkata Reddy took part in the war. Govinda Rao was shot in his neck and slipped into coma for one week. A nerve extracted from the thigh region was grafted in his neck to save his life. A portion of the bullet still remains in his neck.

Women of the village feel proud to have their husbands and brothers serving the country. The parents feel proud as their children are rendering their duty to the motherland though living far away from them. Parents are asking their children to teach Pakistan and China, which are provoking India, a bitter lesson.

They expressed confidence that their near and dear will save the country from the clutches of enemy. The families of soldiers’ dread what might happen to their near and dear and yet send them to the frontline with strong faith in God.

By P Nagaraju