“Let us take a moment to remember the heroic troops that laid their lives in the line of duty to safeguard our Country: A Salute to our true Heroes”
The Kargi Vijay Diwas is celebrated on the 26th of July to commemorate the majestic victory of Indian forces in the Kargil War fought against Pakistan. This day is observed to pay honour to the soldiers who displayed extraordinary courage to protect national borders. The indomitable spirit of the Indian armed forces to safeguard the Indian territory without once thinking of their lives reflects the true spirit of our soldiers, as we mark the celebration of the 24th anniversary of the Kargil Diwas. The conflict lasted for more than 60 days at Kargil in Ladakh in 1999.
Operation Vijay
The Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir where the Indian Army reclaimed the famous ‘Tiger Hill’ and other strategic points nearby during ‘Operation Vijay’ by evicting Pakistani soldiers.
The operation Vijay launched by India was to recapture the Indian territory along the LOC(Line Of control) which was encroached upon by the Pakistani infiltrators.
The operation started on May 3, 1999, and got supported by the airstrike conducted by the Indian Air Force on May 26, 1999, under Operation “Safed Sagar”.
History: Situations that led to the Kargil War
The tensions between India and Pakistan were brewing since the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War in East Pakistan leading to India’s victory and establishment of an independent country, Bangladesh. From there on, extreme tensions incessantly rose between the two. Situations that added fuel to the fire between the two countries were:-
- Vying for control over Siachen glacier in Ladakh
- Nuclear tests conducted by both countries in 1998
- Kashmir Conflict
However, the Lahore declaration was signed in 1999 in order to seek a peaceful resolution. The reports came and it came out in the open that during the winter of 1998-1999, Pakistani armed forces secretly trained and sent troops to breach the Line of Control (LOC) and occupy strong positions overlooking NH 1A in Kargil, Ladakh. Their goal was to acquire control of the area’s military and civilian movements.
The goal of the Pakistani incursion was to sever the link between Kashmir and Ladakh and force Indian soldiers to withdraw from the Siachen Glacier, forcing India to negotiate a resolution to the larger Kashmir conflict. This infiltration got reported by a few shepherds living locally nearby the area and as the events came to the limelight, it went to show that the attack was a part of a large and organized plan which was being prepared from long by Pakistan.
The battle officially ended on July 26, 1999, with the expulsion of Pakistan Army troops from their occupied locations, making it Kargil Vijay Diwas.
How is Kargil Diwas Celebrated?
Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed throughout the country. Every year, the Prime Minister of India pays respect to the martyrs who lost their lives at Amar Jawan Jyoti, near India Gate, New Delhi. There is also a Kargil War memorial at Dras, Ladakh near the foothills of Tololing Hill. It was created by the Indian Army to honour the men who died during the battle. Interestingly, the memorial’s gateway has a poem titled ‘Pushp Kii Abhilasha’ engraved on it, and the names of the martyrs are also engraved on the Memorial Wall.
The Unsung Heroes that bring tears to every eye
The sacrifice of the Indian heroes will be etched in the memory of the countrymen for time immemorial. The famous line by Caption Vikram Batra who famously said “ Ye dil maange more” (The heart asks for more) just before taking his last breath symbolizes the fearlessness, valour and the spirit of resilience embodied in true heroes of the country. Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey officer of the first battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles died bravely while fighting for the nation. In total, 527 warriors gave their life while safeguarding ours. Kargil Diwas will continue to evoke feelings of gratitude in the hearts of some people, while teary-eyed for others, as we remember the sacrifice and resilience of our armed personnel.
Kargil Diwas will continue to create ripples of gratitude in the hearts of the people of the nation with tear-filled eyes as we commemorate the sacrifice and resilience of our army men.
Let’s take this moment and express our gratitude and solidarity to remember our brave heroes while inherently giving a message that India would prevail over any threat to its security and integrity and retaliate with full force!
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