Instead of a grand function at the prestigious Fine Arts Society at Chembur, Yogita Pawar was married to Ratnesh Chavan at an austere function in her Bhiwandi home on Thursday. The Rs five lakh the Pawars expected to splash on the wedding will now go towards rehabilitating soldiers disabled in action.Pawar says he was moved by media reports from the frontline, in particular the mutilation of six jawans reportedly by the Pakistani Army. ``Reports of the difficulties faced by jawans on the front made me realise that I must do something. I was very disturbed, and even as the deadline for my daughter's marriage drew near, I feltdetached from the grand preparations,'' he recalls.

Pawar was initially unsure whether his family would share his cause. His wife Shantabai recalls how reluctant he was when he broached the topic over dinner the Sunday before the marriage. ``We were all quiet for a long time after he finished speaking as the nobility of his intention was so moving,'' she says. ``Yogita was the first to tell him how happy she was.'' And happily, even the boy's family agreed just as easily.

``My contribution is nothing compared to what the jawans are going through,'' mumbles Pawar, who was extremely reluctant to publicise his deed, let alone allow his photograph to be taken. Yogita is also hardly complaining. ``I'm proud of my father for taking such a decision. Celebrations can happen any other time too,'' she says.

Adds her brother Sainath, ``Unlike a marriage feast, the jawans who have laid down their lives cannot be forgotten easily. And God willing we can raise more funds to give my sister whatever we want in thefuture.''Thane Commissioner of Police Bhujangrao Mohite, to whom the sum was handed over to pass on to the fund, termed the gesture `a rare example'. ``Not many people want to think of those who are suffering or are in difficulty. Pawar's example is thus laudatory, and will hopedfully set an example for others,'' he points out.