India remembers valiant Kargil heroes on victory anniversary

Anil Bhatt

Drass, July 26 (PTI)The sound of the last post in memory
of Kargil heroes Sunday reverberated from the capital to the
erstwhile battlezones of Ladkah, where families of many of the
slain soldiers gathered for the first time in 10 years, as
Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh led the nation in
paying victory day tributes, also a first for a United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

"After the demise of my son it is the only happy day
of my life. I am thankful that my son is finally recognised
and remembered," said S P Kalia, father of Lt Saurabh Kalia
who was among the first casualties of the Kargil conflict and
was captured and brutally tortured by the Pakistani forces.

Kalia is in Drass and so are teary eyed but proud
family members of hundreds of slain soldier who had an
emotional reunion of sorts as they gathered from all over the
country at the invitation of the armed forces to attend the
10th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

While wreaths were laid at the War Memorial amid a
majestic flypast by Mig 21 Bison aicraft and showering of
petals by Chetak heliocopters, the relatives got an account of
the bravey of their loved ones from the personnel of the
forces, colleagues and friends.

In capital New Delhi, a contingent of tri-services
guards presented the salute and buglers sounded the last post
as Singh laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. A two-minute
silence was observed for those killed in the 60-day war.

"I join the entire nation in paying homage to the
martyrs of the Kargil war. They sacrificed their lives in
defence of Indian unity and integrity," the PM wrote in the
visitor's book. It is the first time that the Prime Minister
of UPA coalition attended a function commemorating victory in
Kargil war founght under the then National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) government.

"The best tribute we can pay to the gallant officers
and jawans is to dedicate ourselves to the gigantic task of
nation building and work steadfastly to protect the unity and
integrity of our nation," the prime minsiter said.

G L Batra, father of Caption Vikram Batra, along with
Mohini Panday, mother of Param Vir Chakra winner Captain Manoj
Panday, were honoured at a function here along with other
family members of award winning soldiers, who laid down their
lives during the war, and also the surviving awardees.

As he still struggles to come to terms with his loss,
banker Vishal Batra, has decided to join the Territorial Army
as a tribute to his twin sibling Vikram.


Vikram, 24, had laid down his life while recapturing
the strategic 5140-point in the Tiger hill stretch from the
Pakistani troops during the Kargil war in 1999.

"I want to enter the armed forces through Territorial
Army (TA). This would be my way of paying tribute to my
brother," Vishal, who works with the ICICI, said.

"I am proud of my son. He is national hero. He brought
us pride and honour. I feel his absence," G L Batra told PTI.

On July 26, 1999 the Indian armed forces broke the
back of a Pakistani misadventure in the forbidden heights of
Batalik, Kargil and Drass sectors.

Recalling the war, former chief of staff V P Malik,
who had led the forces, asked the troops and the country to
remain "proactive because you cannot believe Pakistan and
because you need to show you posture."

"We can do it," that was the expression on the faces
of the soldiers whenever he visited them, Malik said.

In the war, 610 officers and men, including five Air
Force personnel and two civilians, laid down their lives.

Major Sachin (18 Grenadiers) who was visiting the
place for the first time after the war, said that it has given
an opportunity to relive his memories.


He said his battalion was tasked with an important
objective of recapturing Tiger Hill and was happy that it was
able to capture it. The Major said that at the same time, he
felt sad that a number of his comrades, including some of his
good friends, lost their lives.

Air Vice Marshal J Chauhan recalled the role of the
Air Force, saying there was a requirement of carrying out a
reconnaissance of the hostile locations in close conjunction
with the army so that brave soldiers could go and occupy them.

Pointing out that the terrain was tough and that they
had to operate from 30,000 feet, Chauhan said no Air Force in
the world has done this.

He said they had to work on the ways and means of how
to achieve those impossible targets as they were not allowed
to cross the LoC and carrying out attacks was really
difficult. PTI AB
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