One statue of a brave soldier sits high inside a glass case, in a quiet corner of Jammu. But not only was that statue a piece of art, but some people’s attention had also recently turned to that blanket gently draped over it. The soldier’s mother placed this blanket there to protect her son's memory from the cold. The soldier Gurnam Singh was martyred in 2016 as a result of stopping a terrorist infiltration. It is little acts of love like this one that have been felt deep down in hearts and families across the country and are a remembrance of the great sacrifices made by soldiers and their families.
Who Was Gurnam Singh?
Gurnam Singh was a young, brave and brave BSF soldier. In October 2016, for example, he played an instrumental part in ending a terrorist attack near the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir. He was critically injured during the operation and then died from his wounds. Both leaders praised his courage and public opinion expressed admiration for him as a "real hero". He also was remembered by his many supporters as the one who gave his life defending the nation.
Mother covers martyred son’s statue with a blanket to protect it from the biting cold in Jammu.
— The Tatva (@thetatvaindia) January 9, 2026
Gurnam Singh was martyred in 2016 while foiling a terrorist Invasion. pic.twitter.com/AqJdR5XaXC
The Statue and the Blanket:
A statue of Gurnam Singh in his hometown, years after his sacrifice, is in memory. It occupies a glass enclosure and depicts him in uniform with pride and dignity. But lately, his mother came to the statue and saw the cold weather. In an almost emotional flourish, she threw a blanket over the statue as she might have placed a blanket over a son when he was alive. This wasn’t a gesture, it was love. It proved how, for a mother, her child is her child, even in memory. The statue, covered in a blanket, spread across the internet quickly and people throughout India were awed by the quiet strength of the gesture.
A Mother’s Grief and Strength:
Losing a child is one of the deepest pains a parent can go through. For Gurnam Singh’s mother, what happened with her son never subsided, nor any more. But she decided to pay homage to him not simply with tears but with warmth and concern. Her blanket was not only a shield against the cold, but also a token of her love, and her pride and her longing. Those who viewed its frame said it reminded them of the sacrifices not only soldiers made but their families as well. Their parents, spouses, and children carry the mental scars of the service into battle.
Public Reaction:
The image of the statue adorned with the blanket went viral on social media. A few shared messages of respect, gratitude and sadness. But some told the Times he found it one of the most touching tributes they had ever seen. Others urged greater attention to the families of martyrs. They welcomed the mother’s move, saying it gave a human face to military service and that it demonstrated a sense of duty. It has helped everyone to remember that behind every uniform is a person of family, dreams and emotions.
Why Does This Matter?
In times when the world is a sea of noise and conflict, this simple act of love was magical. It also made the argument as to why it is important for caretakers to care about the families of the service members. Statues and memorials are certainly important, but it is the feelings behind them that sustain memories. You can see that even the U.S. Gurnam Singh’s mother was not waiting for a ceremony or a speech; she was doing what she felt was right. And by the time she did, she had afforded the nation a moment to reflect and honor and feel.
The story of Gurnam Singh and his mother’s blanket is not only a soldier story, it is a love story also a grief story as it is a strength story, too, of a parent’s heart. “Her gesture reminded India of the human toll of courage and of the silent ways in which families have continued to honor their loved ones,” it said. The statue of Gurnam Singh still looms cold in the Jammu air, it is now clothed in warmth that tells a story words cannot capture completely. It is a tale of a mother’s love, a love that remains, in spite of sacrifice.
