When you see terror and violence around you at all times, do you get accustomed to it, do you become jaded or do you take a stance to change the situation around you altogether? I am posing this question outrightly your way, because India just lost another brave soldier who did take a stand against militancy, only to lose his life in a fierce battle called life.

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Tears rolled down the faces of the residents of Chak Ashmuji Village On Monday, the 26th Of November as they lost a brave heart amongst them. Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani, a militant-turned soldier laid down his life in a gruesome encounter with terrorists and was buried with utmost honour and respect in his own village. The grief is real when you see someone lay down their life to serve and protect the others.

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Wani, who was shot in a counter-terrorist operation in Shopian district on Sunday, in which 6 terrorists were killed was an Ikhwan. An Ikhwan is someone in the state of Jammu & Kashmir who gives up militancy and takes a solid stand against it, while becoming absolutely pro-government and is a part of the counter-insurgency  operations. The world stems from the same Arabic word which actually means 'brotherhood'.  A lot of militants give up militancy in early years and become Ikhwans to serve the army and do away with terrorism.

General Bipin Rawat #COAS & all ranks salute supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, SM* & offer sincere condolences to the family. #BraveSonsOfIndia @PIB_India @SpokespersonMoD @HQ_IDS_India pic.twitter.com/vYpYEwseOu

Wani was once such a soldier who gave up militancy in 2004 and turned pro-Indian government. He was awarded the Sena medal in gallantry back in 2007 and a bar to the Sena medal in August this year and his death was a testimony of his bravado displayed in South Kashmir, where his battalion was attached with a unit of Rashtriya Rifles, which is a force especially put together to fight militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

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"The family was fighting tears and they were honoured by the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Wani for the nation and peace for his state" said a senior army official, who was accompanying his coffin. He also called him an 'epitome of bravery' and an active participatory in the anti-militancy operations over the years. The villagers and his parents gathered around his body which was wrapped in tricolour, to mourn the death of their son, who began his journey with the 162 battalion of the territorial army. A 21 gun salute was given when Wani's body was lowered to the ground, with all his near and dear ones standing right by him.

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Such acts of bravery definitely remind us that people can change for the better even if circumstances don't and Wani proved that to be true by adopting the Ikhwan way of living. Surrendering his life to protect the people and the nation he loved, while giving up something he grew up believing in. We aspire to find more such bravehearts amidst us, who lay down their lives in battle and their stories get lost in translation.

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Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani was just 38-years-old but he fought relentlessly till the end while we slept peacefully. Let that take a moment to sink in.