A month since 2611 and all along, the wife of the martyred ATS chief has maintained a brave silence - despite rumours and reports that alternatively praised and criticised her husband. Several issues, such as why the three officers rushed to the forefront, to the playing up of the blood tests done on the bodies, hit the headlines with an insensitivity that must have irked the family.

Over the last few weeks, Karkares family has expressed their gratitude for the moral support, the help from the force and the affection that has poured in. But a lot of things have been left unsaid.

Who is taking responsibility for Hemants death?

Kavita Karkare is a woman who has fought shy of the press and media, and will continue to do so. But here, for the first time the since terror tragedy, she breaks her silence.

Kavita points out, "I would like to ask who made me a widow? Was it the ten or 12 visible faces who unleashed terror in the city or ...?" Ask her to elaborate and she continues, "Those who work are always in the forefront of the action. But were the helmets and bullet proof vests adequate enough? Were the weapons up to the mark?

Why was the most modern equipment not available for our officers? Was there any action plan in place? And if the ATS chief has been killed who is taking the responsibility? Does anyone know the reason why the three officers were there at that spot at that particular time? Is it because they were given the orders to go ahead?"
When was the last time she spoke to Hemant? "He had left home and rushed to the troubled area," she remembers. "I cannot recall the exact time but when I spoke to him, he said he was on the spot and was busy."

The rest as they say is recorded history for all of us and a reality for her and her three children, Jui, Saili and Akash. Kavita, who is a professor of sociology at a city college, emphasises, "Corruption, nepotism and regionalism, are all issues that I deal with in my academic field. It is important to realise that there are insidious influences within society - in each and every field - that are subverting the system. Today, no one has any answers as to why my husband died, in the firing line. He did his duty and rushed to the forefront. Let me give you a simple parallel: if I am teaching a subject and someone fails, I will take responsibility. Who is taking the onus of their deaths today?"

Speaking about the system, the conversation turns to politicians and to the Malegaon episode. "Many political leaders have visited me at home after he passed away," she says. "I have greeted them politely with a Namaste."

Referring to the Sadhvi scandal, Kavita points out, "He was criticised a lot for that. But the very people who vilified him them are the ones who are praising him now. Hemant was a secular man. To him it did not matter to which religion the anti-social elements or the fundamentalists belonged."

The insurance that the ATS police officers are supposed to have has not been referred to at all by anyone in authority.

Her children have begun to pick up the threads of life again. "They are all filled with
anger, and they face an uncertain future in the present scenario," she says. "Jui is in America, Saili is in Germany, having graduated from the London School of Economics.

And my son will be appearing for his twelfth. It is extremely sad that while he was giving the last agni to his father, Akash, who has not even completed 18 years, was being asked questions by the byte-hungry media about how he felt!"

Life with Hemant was perfect, till terror left its stamp on it. The love marriage took place 28 years ago - "We met when he was conducting a personality development course" -and it was only after they got married that he joined the service. "The atmosphere was different then, there was not much fear. And he never brought work issues home or discussed his official problems with us," she says.

The nature of his job meant moving from one city to another, not just in India but abroad as well. "I could pursue my education," she says, "and became a lecturer. It could not have happened without his support. He was a very busy man and despite his professional responsibilities, he was a home-loving man. Very fond of gardening and decorating their home, he would change the trimmings every fortnight or so. He gave me and my children our own space to grow."

His presence in the home is evident in all the little things. In the books that line the shelves, in his photographs that are hung on the walls, and of course in their memories.

"He was appreciated by the UN and I wish he had continued there rather than remain here to be killed by terrorists."

Hemant lived and died, leading from the front. "Today, the accolades and aid are pouring in," says Kavita. "I intend to pursue my doctorate on the subject." Just as he gave a lot to society, she too is keen on doing the same, in her own way. Hemant Karkare will be remembered for the way he ? died and also for the way he lived.

Source : Central