Every year Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated with heavy patriotic emotions and vigor by military personnel.
In year 1999 Pakistani troops started infiltrating in Line of control ( LoC ) India. Even the Pakistani troops had managed to to capture around 150 kilometres before India responds.
Kargil Vijay diwas named after the successful Operation fondly called ‘ Operation Vijay’. The war started on May 3, 1999 and finally concluded on July 26 1999.
Thus from that time 26 July is known as Kargil Vijay diwas or Operation Vijay.
The war took place under the temperature of minus 10 degree Celsius.
Initially Pakistani had a strategic advantage they were in advanced position. But later the Indian army was able to revert back.
Air Force launches its air operation called ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ to support India army on May 26.
With help of IAF Indian army was able to ascertain the points of incursion based on the information given by IAF.
The two main plans of IAF was rejected by Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Air Force had plan to bomb targets in Pakistan but the government instructed them that, their Fighter Aircrafts should not cross LoC border under any circumstances.
Also when the force wanted to slightly cross the border again the request was cancelled by the government.
Not only Indian army and Indian Air Force made the operation successful. Indian Navy also launched operation ‘Talwar’ to block Pakistani ports.
Interestingly, when Pakistani asked US to intervene, American President Bill Clinton declined their request. They said that Islamabad must withdraw their troops from LoC.
Officially 527 soldiers where Martyred from Indian side, Pakistani troops were firing from height that is why causalities from India side were more. While Pakistani death toll was between 357 and 453.
But initially Pakistan had denied their role in the war. Surprisingly they said that India was facing off with Kashmiri freedom fighters.
However they awarded their soldiers medal for the conflict later.
The war have several stories about bravery of our Indian soldiers.
There were taunts by Pakistanis on Raveena tandon too saying “Mare hue lo lejao agar mard ho to, nahi to hum inhe de denge Madhuri aur Raveena no hume de do bus”. Look how our Indian soldiers replied,
The Kargil war was not horrifying only for Indian Defence but blood of every Indians were boiling . All the patriotic stories from the war still melts every Indians heart.
The Kargil hero, Vikram Batra was born in Himachal Pradesh. Captain Batra joined Indian Military Academy in 1996 .
Batra started his military life on 6 December 1997 with 13th battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.
On June 6 Captain Batra reached Drass and was kept on the reserve for the 2nd Battalion of Rajputana Rifles. The second battalion was later asked to recapture.
On June 20 Captain Batra with his team was fighting for control of the Peak 5140. Later Batra engaged in hand to hand combat with the enemy soldiers. He also sent out a message in code word ‘ Yeh Dil maange More’ to inform his battalion that Indian troops at recaptured Peak 5140.
Then on July 7 Batra started the mission to reclaim point 4875. The point 4875 is around 16000 feet height. But Vikram Batra without any fair moved forward.
But the battle became very dangerous as Pakistani Invaders started firing from machine gun. And when lieutenant Naveen suffered a bullet captain Batra immediately ran to him to save his life.
Naveen pleaded to Captain to let him fight, but Captain replied “You have kids and wife take to look after! Get back”
The slope to peak was very steep and Pakistanis were raining bullets. They began to taunt Captain by saying that they will leave Kashmir if the Indians give them Madhuri Dixit. But Captain Batra kept calm and decided to do the impossible. He alone charged killing 5 enemy soliders and advancing towards the Bunker. Shooting down the taunter he said “From Madhuri, with love”.
Just when Captain Batra was trying to save lieutenant Naveen the enemies were started targeting him and fired upon him.
Captain Batra was successful in saving himself from the enemy bullets but a sprintal from rocket propelled grenade hit him and he was then martyred.That moment India lost one of her bravest men. The ledge was cleared by him and the others went and captured the peak. And Just before 19 days of his demise he was promoted to Captain. Generally Captain promotion is given after 2 years of joining Army. In just 16 month he was promoted from leutinient to Captain in battlefield.
Captain Batra was awarded with many titles. He was fondly known as ‘Sher Shah’ , the ‘Lion of Kargil’, ‘Kargil Hero’, ‘Tiger of Drass’.
Indian soldiers who won Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra for their bravery in combat during the Kargil war.
Param Vir Chakra
- Captain Vikram Batra, 13 JAK Rifles, Posthumous
- Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, Posthumous
- Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK Rifles
- Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers.
Maha Vir Chakra
- Major Vivek Gupta, 2 Rajputana Rifles, Posthumous
- Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari, 18 Grenadiers, Posthumous
- Major Padmapani Acharya, 2 Rajputana Rifles, Posthumous
- Captain N Kenguruse, 2 Rajputana Rifles, Posthumous
- Captain Anuj Nayyar, 17 Jat Regiment, Posthumous
- Lieutenant Keishing C Nongrum, 12 JAK Light Infantry
- Major Sonam Wangchuk, Ladakh Scounts
- Lieutenant Balwant Singh, 18 Grenadiers
- Naik Digendra Kumar, 2 Rajputana Rifles
