Army Doctor Restores Voice of 8-Year-Old After Years of Silence in Jammu & Kashmir
In the secluded hills of Duggan village, located in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, a young doctor from the Indian Army has accomplished something many believed unattainable. Captain Saurabh Salunkhe, serving as the Regimental Medical Officer of the 7 SIKH LIGHT INFANTRY, enabled 8-year-old Akshay Sharma to speak for the first time, overcoming the silence he had known all his life due to a congenital condition.
This touching narrative underscores the humanitarian aspect of the Indian Army, emphasizing how its medical professionals are both defenders and caregivers in communities along the border where healthcare access is limited.
Akshay suffered from a cleft lip and palate at birth, which impacted his facial structure and ability to speak. Although surgery addressed the physical deformity when he was three, his family could not afford the essential speech therapy that followed.
His father, Kulwant Sharma, works as a civilian laborer with the Army, while his mother, Santosh Devi, manages their household. Despite their struggles, the family's deepest desire was to hear their son speak. However, years passed in silence, leaving Akshay isolated and his parents disheartened.
Captain Saurabh Salunkhe, an alumnus of the esteemed Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune, had previously served at the 167 Military Hospital in Pathankot before his posting in Kathua. His role as both a medical officer and a soldier made him responsible for the health of troops and the local population, who rely heavily on the Army's medical support in these isolated regions.
During a medical camp in June 2025, Captain Salunkhe examined Akshay and found that the boy's situation was not irreversible. He realized that with appropriate therapy, Akshay could learn to speak. In the absence of a speech therapy center in the village, Captain Salunkhe took the initiative to learn speech therapy techniques online and devised a personalized program for Akshay.
For eight weeks, Captain Salunkhe dedicated two to three hours each day to train Akshay with structured exercises:
| Stage | Exercises |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Strengthening Basics – gargling, tongue and jaw exercises, breathing control. |
| Stage 2 | Learning Sounds – nasal vs oral differentiation, labial and palatal sounds. |
| Stage 3 | Speech Development – throat sounds, combining syllables into words, then sentences. |
His dedication ultimately led to success—Akshay spoke his first words in eight years. When he called his parents "Mama" and "Papa," it brought tears of happiness to his family and applause from the village.
Lt. Col. Suneel Bartwal described the change as "nothing short of a miracle." The event has become a significant illustration of Operation Sadbhavna, the Army's key outreach initiative aimed at bettering healthcare, education, and community relations in Jammu & Kashmir.
Now, Akshay speaks fluently, actively participates in his classes at Duggan High School, and has grown into a confident student. His story has bolstered civil-military relations in Kathua, reminding the community that the Army supports them not just in conflict, but in everyday life.
This incident reflects the spirit of AFMC-trained doctors, who merge medical knowledge with creativity in demanding environments. Military doctors often serve as the primary healthcare providers in remote border areas, from organizing free cataract camps in Rajouri to initiating medical outreach in Arunachal Pradesh.
Captain Salunkhe’s remarkable effort illustrates how a soldier's empathy can profoundly impact civilian lives and foster trust between the Army and border communities.
For Duggan village, this was more than a medical achievement—it was a miracle of compassion. For the Indian Army, it was a reminder that their fight encompasses not only territorial defense but also alleviating human suffering.
Captain Saurabh Salunkhe’s actions demonstrate that the most meaningful victories sometimes occur off the battlefield, as evidenced by a child's first words to his parents after years of silence.
Akshay's laughter now fills his home, symbolizing hope, resilience, and the healing influence of a doctor in uniform. Truly, heroes can wear stethoscopes beneath their olive greens.
