{
  "id": 18666783,
  "title": "‘I’ll come home next Diwali’: Kargil hero’s promise to mother left unfulfilled",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/ill-come-home-next-diwali-kargil-heros-promise-to-mother-left",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-07T07:35:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/ill-come-home-next-diwali-captain-amit-bhardwajs-heartbreaking-promise-to-his-mother-remained-unfulfilled-as-he-laid-down-his-life-in-the-kargil-war/articleshow/135608772.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Diwali, the festival of lights, is a time for families to reunite and celebrate together. For Captain Amit Bhardwaj's family, the festival carries a bittersweet memory of a promise that was never kept. In an interview on the Zahra Jani Show, Major Mohini Garge-Kulkarni shared the story of Captain Bhardwaj and a letter he wrote to his mother around Diwali. The letter reassured her that he would return home for the next celebration. However, that next Diwali never came for him. Captain Bhardwaj lost his life during the 1999 Kargil War, leaving behind a family that would wait in vain for him to return. His story serves as a poignant reminder that while soldiers protect the country during festivals, their families often experience an empty seat at the table and the hope of someday seeing their loved ones again.",
  "summary": "As Diwali approaches, it serves as a heartfelt reminder for the families of brave soldiers like Captain Amit Bhardwaj, whose heartfelt promise to return was shattered in the Kargil War. Major Mohini Garge-Kulkarni narrates his poignant story, shedding light on the lingering uncertainties military families endure. His legacy lives on in cherished memorials and the family's remembrance each Diwali,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Captain Amit Bhardwaj promised to return home for next Diwali.",
    "He died in 1999 Kargil War, leaving family waiting.",
    "Story highlights soldiers' sacrifices during festivals."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}