Pahalgam attack: Can Shubham Dwivedi, a civilian, be a martyr?
Aishanya Dwivedi requests martyr status for her late husband, a Pahalgam terror attack victim
A week after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, the wounds are still raw for the families who lost their loved ones. Among the 26 innocent victims was Shubham Dwivedi. Now, his wife, Ashanya Dwivedi, has made a heartfelt appeal to the Indian government to officially recognise Shubham as a martyr.
Ashanya explained that when terrorists stormed the area, they targeted Shubham first, asking him to recite the Islamic verse Kalma. Unable to do so, he was gunned down — but this tragic moment, she believes, gave others a crucial chance to escape.
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"We don't want Shubham to be forgotten, and therefore, I request the government to grant him the status of a martyr," Ashanya said.
What defines a martyr?
In India's defence forces, the term "martyr" is often used in tributes and public speeches. However, officially, deaths are classified as either "battle casualties" or "physical casualties". The Army, Navy, and Air Force do not formally recognise the term "martyr" in their documents.
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In fact, in 2017, the Indian government clarified in Parliament that there is no legal provision to declare any individual a "martyr". While the spirit of the term remains powerful, it carries no official or administrative status.
Can civilians be called martyrs?
Ashanya's appeal raises an important question: Can civilians who die in terror attacks be given the martyr designation? Some states, such as Punjab, have occasionally used the term to honour fallen police personnel or civilians. However, at the national level, the usage remains symbolic rather than legal.
Globally too, formal recognition of civilians as martyrs is rare. For example, civilians killed during the 9/11 attacks in the United States are honoured as victims of terrorism, but not legally classified as martyrs.
Recognition and compensation for terror victims
Under Indian government rules, civilians who die in terror attacks are recognised as "victims of terrorism". Their families are eligible for an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh under a Central government scheme.
However, even in military contexts, the official granting of martyr status remains absent. The designation, though emotionally powerful, is not codified for civilians. Whether India should introduce a formal system to honour brave civilians remains a debate worth having.
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