New Delhi: Today on 26 July 2022, 23 years of the Kargil war have been completed. Every Indian still remembers the valiant tale of the Kargil War. Only the Kargil war the most recent has received extensive media coverage in newspapers and on television. Numerous books have also been released on this war. Leh and Kargil The height of this area is between 16,000-18,000 feet above sea level. There, snow falls for six months out of the year, and snow is also present on the ground. In this area, the temperature stays between -30 to -40 degrees. In May 1999 the Pakistani army infiltrated its troops and took the Kargil heights.
Importance of 26th July:
The Indian Army started “Operation Vijay” as a mission to expel the Pakistani army after learning about the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers in Kargil. The intention of this infiltration was to capture many important mountain peaks and gained control of the road connecting Leh-Ladakh with India. At first, Pakistan started saying that they are not our soldiers but terrorists. More than 11 battalions (a battalion consisting of 750 to 1000 soldiers) of the Northern Light Infantry of the Pakistani Army infiltrated different parts of Kargil. The Indian Army deployed two units of its 10,000–15,000 soldiers in the region to remove them. The Kargil war took place in the highest mountain ranges of the world. There has never been any war at such a height before.
On July 26, 1999, the area was liberated from the Pakistani Army after the death of the last Pakistani soldier; as a result, this day is known as “Kargil Vijay Diwas”. In this war, more than 527 of our brave soldiers were martyred and more than 1300 were injured.
The national flag before which their head was bowed with respect, the same tricolour was narrating their pride saga.
This is the day to remember the martyrs and pay tribute to those who attained martyrdom while protecting the motherland. This day is devoted to those who gave up their today in order to secure our tomorrow.
Heroic sons of India:
Captain Vikram Batra: ‘Yeh Dil Maange More‘ – Captain Vikram Batra of 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles from Palampur, a small town in Himachal Pradesh, is one of those bravehearts who have conquered several strategically important peaks one after the other. Captain Vikram Batra, who joined the army only one and a half years before the Kargil war, did historic work. Standing on the front, this brave man single-handedly killed many enemies. Capt. Batra’s code name was ‘Sher Shah’ and decided to use the phrase “Yeh Dil Maange More” as his success signal when tasked with taking control of Point 5140. It is because of him that the phrase ‘Yeh Dil Maange More’ became famous. Despite being injured in the fierce firing from the front, he along with his delta company reached peak no. 4875, but in an attempt to evacuate an injured fellow officer from the battlefield, Vikram Batra, the beloved of Maa Bharati, was martyred on the morning of 7 July. Before the war, he had said, ” I will either come back after raising the Indian flag in victory or return wrapped in it “. His words proved to be true. Later the mountain was given the name ‘Batra Top’ in his honour after his historic victory at Point 4875. Amar Shaheed Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded India’s highest military award ‘Param Vir Chakra’ for his indomitable courage and sacrifice.
Captain Anuj Nair: The brave Captain Anuj Nair of the 17 Jat Regiment continued to hold the front even after the martyrdom of 6 of his comrades in the battle of Pimple Complex, an important peak in the Tiger Hills sector. In spite of being seriously wounded, he single-handedly fought the enemies till additional reinforcement arrived, as a result of which the Indian Army was able to capture back this strategic peak. For this bravery, Captain Anuj was posthumously awarded India’s second highest military honour ‘Maha Vir Chakra’.
Captain Manoj Pandey: The bravery of Captain Manoj Pandey of 1/11 Gorkha Rifles is still written on ‘Jubar Top’ Khalubar hills of Batalik Sector. With the slogan ‘Kali Mata ki Jai’ in the inaccessible hilly area with his Gorkha platoon, he killed many of the enemies. Captain Manoj Pandey destroyed many bunkers of the enemies while fighting in extremely difficult terrain. Despite being seriously injured, Captain Manoj fought till the last moment. At that time, he had said two words to the soldiers of his troop, “Na Chhornu”. In the Nepali language, these two words mean not to leave the enemy. Captain Manoj Pandey, who followed the Indian Army’s tradition of not leaving a partner behind till his death, was posthumously awarded ‘Param Vir Chakra’ for his bravery and sacrifice.
In this war Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav attacked Tiger Hill with his platoon and hoisted the tricolour there. He was seriously injured in the attack. Later he was awarded the highest Indian military honour the Param Vir Chakra.
The Brave officer Captain Saurabh Kalia and his patrolling party personnel were among the first to sacrifice during the kargil war. Despite the severe torture, Captain Kalia did not give any information to the enemies.
Rifleman Sanjay Kumar of 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles was tasked to capture Point 4875. Sanjay Kumar attacked the Pakistani army, inspite of bleeding wounds, he continued fighting and killed Pakistani soldiers. He was also awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
Many officers and soldiers were seriously injured in this war. In this war, Major DP Singh had to lose his one leg. Still, he did not give up. He continues to participate in running with a prosthetic leg even today. He is known as the First Blade Runner of India. There are many soldiers who have been seriously injured and lost their limbs, who are living life by defeating their disability.
Kargil War Memorial :
The Kargil war was a war of young officers and brave soldiers. Due to the big mountains in the kargil terrain, the use of technology and missiles was not much possible here. It was an infantry battle. Many officers and soldiers of India laid down their lives to stop the infiltration from the Pakistani army. After the Kargil War, the Indian Army built a war memorial in the Drass area. Many tourists visit this monument during their Kargil tour. After going to this war memorial, many peaks of the Kargil war are visible from there. Seeing this, we feel how difficult it is to fight the war in this part.
No war is fought on the strength of weapons, wars are fought with the spirit of courage, sacrifice, patriotism & duty and there is no dearth of youth filled with these spirits in our India.
The immortal sacrificers who laid down their lives for the motherland may no longer be with us, but their memories will remain in our hearts forever and ever.
Jai Hind!!!….Vande Mataram!!!….Bharat Mata Ki Jai..!!!
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