Damangiri Goswami, his aging father and a priest in Koilana village, 4 kms from Keshod, was performing a pooja when he received the message. And, even as MP Govardhan Javia was trying to confirm the facts from Srinagar, the news of Junagadh's first martyr spread like wildfire. Shutters were downed, business came to a halt and people started trickling in at the Goswamis' humble residence.

Once the family overcame the initial shock, grief gave way to pride for the ``boy who became a man and gave up his life fighting for his motherland''.

However, much before the Kargil campaign began or Harendragiri took enemy bullets, the family knew that their young son would someday do his nation proud. Haren always wanted to do ``something great for the nation''. In fact, his obsession with joining the Army was so overwhelming that despite being rejected six times, a perseverant Harendragiri made it to the Armed forces in the seventh attempt.

``I told him it was not necessary to join the Army to supplement the family income, that he could do something here. But his reply each time was that he wanted to do something for the country,'' said an elderly uncle, fighting back tears because Haren's parents have told him not to cry.

Damangiri Goswami has asked all his family members not to shed tears for Haren. ``He is a martyr now. You should be feeling proud rather than crying for him. He has not died an ordinary death, he has laid down his life for the nation,'' Haren's father says, the melancholy in his eyes veiled by fierce pride.

Even his mother Mutkaben, whose wails have replaced heartwrenching sobs, has vowed not to cry anymore for her `shaheed dikro'.

The youngest of three brothers, Haren was the darling of Koilana. Fired with an almost missionary zeal to serve the country, business or any other ordinary job never interested him.

``He would join in every activity in the village,'' says his friend Praveensinh. ``After he joined the Army he regularly wrote to us but our group was incomplete without him,'' says Vijaysinh, who grew up with him in the village.

Friends recall how he always boasted of being there when the real action took place and lay down his life, if necessary, for the country.

His family received his last letter about 10 days ago. ``He wrote that he had bought a gift for his cousin sister. Not having a sister of his own, he was very fond of her,'' his uncle Jeevan Goswami says.

Haren last visited his family in March when he got engaged to a girl from Porbandar. He left on March 25, promising to return within six months for the marriage, little knowing that he was bidding his final goodbye.

Relatives, friends and absolute strangers are quitely gathering at the Goswamis' residence to offer condolences. A proud Keshod town has already collected nearly Rs 1.51 lakhs to be donated to the family. Haren's body will be flown in tomorrow to Ahmedabad from Srinagar from where it will be brought to Keshod for the last rites.