Electrifying Hope: A Village At The Edge, Lights Up In Honour Of A Hero
On the edge of the Line of Control, where the mountains of Karnah cradle the resilient village of Simari, a quiet revolution has taken place. Known as Polling Booth No. 1, the first mark of Indian Democracy in Jammu & Kashmir. Simari has long lived in the shadows. No electricity, no gas. Just oil lamps and smoky kitchens.
Under Operation Sadbhavana, the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, with support from Pune-based Aseem Foundation, brought lasting light to this border village. A network of solar micro-grids now powers 53 homes and benefits over 340 villagers.
Things Changed This Week
For the first time, Simari has:
- Reliable LED lighting.
- Safe power connections with overload protection.
- Clean LPG stoves, freeing families from the daily hunt for firewood
Even better, local youth were trained to manage the system, building not just energy security but self-reliance.
This project is more than infrastructure, it’s a tribute. A tribute to Colonel Santosh Mahadik, Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous), who gave his life fighting militants in Kupwara in 2015. His mother, Indira Mahadik, joined the Army and district officials to inaugurate the project, a powerful moment of shared remembrance and progress.
Now, as Simari glows at dusk, it tells a new story. Of courage remembered. Of borders illuminated. Of a democracy that doesn’t forget its first vote.
