KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS

 

KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS

SELFLESS, BRAVE, VALOUROUS, HEROIC, EXCEPTIONAL, RESOLUTE, INDOMITABLE.

Every word falls short to describe the unmatched courage of every person of the Indian armed forces who is driven by the sheer passion to protect their country and its people. 527 such heroes made the ultimate sacrifice to uphold the integrity of India during the Kargil war with Pakistan in the year 1999. 26 July has been commemorated as KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS to honor the stupendous courage and sacrifices of those brave hearts who left everything for the call of duty and protected their motherland in every possible manner, defeating the enemy and hailing victory to India.

Here are a few of those hundreds of army personnel to whom the country shall forever remain indebted.

 Captain Vikram Batra ( Param Vir Chakra, Posthumous) (13 JAK Rifles)

He is known as the Hero of the Kargil War and was instrumental in recapturing Peak 5140 and overlooks the Tololing nullah. During the mission, he chose 'Yeh Dil Mange More!' as their success signal. After capturing Peak 5140, he went for another mission to capture Peak 4875. No doubt it was one of the most difficult missions the Indian army attempted. In the battle, one of his fellow men had been shot. Then, to save him, he took the head and was killed while clearing enemy positions. He was awarded Param Vir Chakra, posthumously, India's highest and most prestigious award for his martyrdom during the Kargil War in 1999 that took place between India and Pakistan. Vikram Batra's famous quote when he came home in the holidays said "Either I will come back after hoisting the tricolour (Indian flag), or I will come back wrapped in it, but I will be back for sure.”

Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav (Param Vir Chakra) (18 Grenadiers)

Then 19-years-old, Yogendra Singh Yadav (now Subedar Major) was the youngest person to ever be awarded the Param Vir Chakra. He was the sole survivor of an attack on Tiger Hill in which he took 15 bullets. He was a part of the Ghatak platoon that recaptured three strategic bunkers on Tiger Hill on July 4, 1999. Yadav led the assault but halfway through enemy lines opened fires, killing his colleagues. Yadav, was himself hit by several bullets which rendered his left arm immobile. Determined to achieve his objective, Yadav strapped his arm in a belt, wrapped a bandana around his leg and continued to fight the enemy. He killed four enemy soldiers in close combat and silenced the automatic fire.

 

Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey (Param Vir Chakra, Posthumous) (1/11 Gorkha Rifles)

He was a soldier of 1/11 Gorkha Rifles. According to his father, he had joined the Indian Army with the sole aim of getting a Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously. Another brave soldier who had sacrificed his life for the country's pride. His team was tasked to clear the enemy troops, he carried out a series of attacks to push back the intruders. Under intense enemy fire, the brave and grievously injured officer continued to assault that ultimately led to the capture of Jaubar Top and Khalubar hill in the Batalik sector. 

Major Rajesh Adhikari (18 Grenadiers)

Major Rajesh Adhikari was leading the central arm of three 10-man teams trying to capture a bunker at 16,000 ft at the Tololing feature.He displayed exemplary valour in recapturing Tololing, where he engaged in direct combat with the Pakistani soldiers guarding the bunkers. Major Adhikari suffered serious bullet injuries to which he succumbed beyond enemy lines on May 15. He was the second army officer to be martyred in Kargil war.

 

Lieutenant Balwan Singh (Maha Vir Chakra) (18 Grenadiers)

He was tasked to assault the Tiger Hill Top from the North-Eastern direction as part of a
multi-pronged attack. He leads the team and moved for over 12 hours along a very difficult and precarious route and under intense artillery shelling to reach the designated spur. His team used cliff assault mountaineering equipment to reach the top. Lt. Balwan Singh was seriously injured but he resolved to finish the enemy unshaken. With the injury, he refused to evacuate and continue the fight, encircle the enemy and killed four enemy soldiers.

Naik Digendra Kumar (2 RR)

Naik Digendra Kumar is best known for his plan to recapture Tololing that is located an altitude of 15,000 feet. The team of 10 commandos came under heavy firing from 250 Pakistani soldiers. Nine commandos died. But before that they handed over their guns and grenades to Naik Digendra Kumar, who lodged them in all 11 bunkers of the enemy. He killed Major Anwar Khan of Pakistan Army in hand-to-hand combat slitting enemy's throat with his dagger. He planted Indian flag on the hilltop before falling unconscious.

 

Rifleman Sanjay Kumar (Param Vir Chakra) (13 JAK Rif)

On 4 July, 1999, he was volunteered to be the leading scout of the attacking column tasked to capture area Flat Top of Point 4875 in the Mushkoh Valley. When the attack progressed, the enemy started automatic firing from one of the Sangars posed stiff opposition, and stalling the column. In ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he killed three of the intruders and was also seriously injured.

Captain N Kenguruse (Maha Vir Chakra, Posthumous) (ASC, 2 RAJ RIF)

On the night of 28 June, 1999 during Operation Vijay, he was the Ghatak Platoon Commander during the attack on Area Black Rock in the Drass Sector.He took the responsibility of the daring commando mission of attacking a well-sited enemy machine gun position, on a cliff face, which was heavily interfering with all the approaches to the main objective of the Battalion. He took charge of the enemy position and killed two men personally with his rifle and another two with his commando knife in a hand-to-hand combat before succumbing to his injury. Due to his bravery, the single-handedly neutralised the position of the enemy which gave Batallion progress.

These and many more such tales shall remain inspiration for generations to come.

JAI HIND!

Compiled by Hetika Kathuria