The news of Dineshbhai Vaghela's death on the wastelands of Kargil has spread all across the district; hundreds of people from surrounding villages have converged on Dinesh's family at their time of grief. Ask for Nirmali at Umran, 50 odd kilometers away, and this is the quick response: ``You want the village that has made Kheda proud?''

A wave of patriotism is sweeping across Kheda, with discussions at every roadside tea-stall revolving around the heroics of the dead soldier. All along the Nadiad-Kapadwanj road, people pore over copies of local vernacular dailies reading all about the life and heroics of Naik Vaghela.

The nerve-centre of theemotion is, of course, at Nirmali. Teenagers want to enlist and drive the intruders out of Kargil. ``I wanted to join government services but after seeing the response to martyrdom in my village I want to follow in Dinesh's footsteps,'' says teenager Bhanu Dahyabhai.

There are many like him; problem is, a large number were rejected at the last recruitment drive. And they harbour a resentment against the military establishment for this. ``I was told that I didn't have the required height. Tell me, does it require height or guts to fight the enemy?'' asks Jayeshbhai Patel.

Nirmali -- home to 4,000-odd families -- has already sent five jawans (including Dinesh) to the Army. ``Dinesh Dahyabhai is posted in Rajasthan, Bhagwandas is posted in Assam and Mooljibhai is guarding the border in Jammu and Kashmir,'' says a elderly villager, Jaswantbhai Solanki.

News of Dinesh's martyrdom hasn't dissuaded the family members of the other soldiers. ``I won't cry if my son also meets his end fighting the enemy. I'mconfident he will give them a thrashing,'' says Dahyabhai, father of the soldier posted in Rajasthan.

Even Dinesh Vaghela's younger brother Naresh, who is studying in Class 10, hasn't let the tragedy dim his enthusiasm. ``I failed in Class 10 last year but now I will take my studies seriously and try to clear the exams so that I can join the Army. Believe me, I will avenge my brother's death,'' he declares.

In fact, a number of youths have already started making enquiries about the next recruitment drive. ``Can you tell me when the next drive will be? I wantr to start exercising well in advance,''' says a Modasa youth, Ramubhai Solanki, a friend of Dineshbhai's awaiting the arrival of the body from Srinagar.

Some even demanded that the next recruitment drive be held in the district headquarters at Kheda. ``The turnout now will be incredible,'' promises another Nirmali youth, Suketubhai Rameshchandra. And as Dinesh becomes a role model for Kheda youth, the youngsters declare that death does not botherthem anymore. ``If Dinesh can do it why can't we?'' asks Suketu.