Bavajipet, a tiny coastal village tucked away in the sandy soils of Nizampatnam mandal, is home to more number of military personnel than any other place in the district.
The village, about 60 km from here, is continuing the legacy of sending more men to the battlefield. There is a man serving in the ranks of the Army in all the families numbering about 300. A striking symbol of the village’s glorious past can be witnessed in the form of an overhead water reservoir built by the an Army, after the devastating cyclone in 1977, and inaugurated in 1981.
“The tradition of choosing military service has been in vogue since long. There are six men in my family who have chosen to serve in the Army. My two brothers are in the Army and my father is an ex-Army man. Every young man wants to serve in the Army and every woman wants to marry an Army man,’’ says village sarpanch Nasir Ahmed, who served for 18 years in the Madras Engineering Group.
Every home in the village has a story of valour. Ghouse Khan, 60, lost his leg in a landmine blast in Jammu and Kashmir even before his marriage, but that has not deterred from serving in the Army. Now stricken by paralysis, Mr. Khan says that he has never regretted his decision and even had sent his son Rahmutallah Khan to the Army.
The women too have supported the men though it has been a daunting task to look after families for long periods. “We are happy that our men have chosen to serve in the Army. Earlier, it was difficult even to contact them, but now, we are able to talk daily,’’ said Meharunnisa, whose husband is a subedar major.
No development
Unfortunately, the village has not witnessed any development. The panchayat’s major source of income is house tax which comes to ₹1.8 lakh, as ex-Army personnel are exempted from paying it. Boys aspiring for selections often run on the road in the absence of a ground. The area around the water tank could be developed into a walking track.
“In the absence of a CSD canteen in the village to meet the requirement of neighbouring Repalle and Nizampatnam, we are forced to go all the way to Bapatla to get our supplies,’’ said Mr. Ahmed.
