If you cannot walk or run, crawl to achieve your goal: Words of inspiration from Captain Kundu's Facebook account

Life should be big and not long: this social media statement of Captain Kapil Kundu appears to aptly summarise his approach towards national duty. Kundu wrote this iconic dialogue from the movie Anand in his Facebook bio.

The braveheart from Gurugram, one of the four soldiers killed in Pakistani shelling in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri sector on Sunday evening, would have turned 23 on February 10.

Also read: Army prepares for retaliatory action against Pakistan, troops 'raring' to avenge loss of comrades

He was scheduled to return home for his birthday. “I am a proud mother whose son has made the supreme sacrifice for the country,” said his 52-year-old mother Sunita Kundu. “If I had another son, I would have sent him to the Army as well.”

Locals say Kapil was a meritorious student since childhood and, more than that, he was a patriot. This is why he chose to join the Army.

His father, Lala Ram Kundu, died when Kapil was just 15. But the doughty youngster still joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2012.

On his previous visit not too long ago at his native place in Pataudi, he had been hailed as a hero by locals.

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat paid homage to the captain and his remains were flown to Delhi in a Dornier aircraft on Monday.

Sitharaman paid respects by laying a wreath on the tricolour-wrapped coffin, which was laid at the Palam Air Force Base after the aircraft reached in the evening.

From there, the body was taken to Pataudi where a massive crowd had gathered. The last rites were slated to be performed late at night.

“We urge the government to conduct surgical strikes on Pakistan and avenge such incidents that are claiming the lives of our soldiers. Had my son lived for another 15-20 years, he would have done more for his nation. He had the ambition to reach the top ranks in the Army,” said Sunita.

Kapil had spoken to his mother and one of his sisters just three days ago and was pleased about his posting in Rajouri.

“I had a phone conversation with Kapil on Thursday. He said everything was fine and he would be visiting home to surprise the family on his birthday,” said Sonia, his sister.

The officer had a hobby of writing patriotic poems. Whenever he came home on leave, he would read them to school students from the village. Locals say he was an idol for many youngsters.

Also read: Last rites of Capt Kapil Kundu conducted. His sister fainted after seeing his mortal remains

His positive and determined mindset becomes apparent from a recent Facebook post. “Run. If you cannot, then walk. If you cannot, then crawl. But do not stop until you achieve your goal.”

After the death of her husband in 2012, Sunita had raised her three children in their native village of Ransika.

The defence minister on Monday met the captain’s family members who had arrived in Delhi to take his body.

Besides Kapil, Havildar Roshan Lal, 42, a resident of Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir and Riflemen Ramavatar, 27, of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, and Subham Singh, 23, of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district were also killed in the shelling on Sunday. Ramavatar’s body was sent to Gwalior, an official said.

(With agency inputs)

Watch: 'Mom, I'm fine': Captain Kapil Kundu's mother recounts last conversation with son