With love, From Kargil

By: LAVANYA KARKI

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26th July, 2024

Friday

Dear countrymen,

Sitting valiantly on the Zaskar Range of the Himalayas and overseeing the equidistant Srinagar and Leh- I am Kargil: The land where tranquil tests grit, the white tests the might and the obstacles test determination. My experienced eyes have witnessed everything- from the harshest weather to the fiercest battles and from the boil of the young blood to the grit of soldiers who laid down their lives for the honour of my nation. I am grateful- to every mother who sends her child in the service of my nation; I am grateful to every son who gives up his everything on my soil without a second thought; I am grateful to the men in uniform who choose a life in the quiet serenity, away from the bustling lure of the city and most importantly, I am grateful to God for I am part of a nation that believes in peace, but can go to any extent in order to preserve that peace.

I am Kargil and this is my story.

It has been 25 years since one of the toughest, fiercest and mightiest battles- The Kargil War of 1999- was fought on my soil. Every single battle, every single face, every single word- remains etched in my heart and recounting them, just brings tears to my eyes while making my chest swell with pride.

It was here that Captain Vikram Batra’s gallant sacrifice made his words ‘Yeh dil maange more’ immortal. It was here that Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey and his khukri set new benchmarks of patriotism and courage. It was here that Naib Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar taught me what the love for your country and countrymen can make you do. No one can know better than my snow-clad self what these young men have done for their nation, for I have been testament to their raw courage and skilled training, that can send shivers down anybody’s spine. They are indeed the Param Virs.

527- It is more than just a number to me. This is not the number of soldiers who were martyred on my soil, but rather, it is the number of soldiers who become immortal on my soil. From Lieutenant Vijyant Thapar’s last letter to his family that brought tears to us all to the grit of Lieutenant Sourabh Kalia and his team whose courage in the enemy custody haunts me in my sleep even today. From Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, who translated Nari Shakti into action back in 1999 to Mother India’s brave sons- Major Sonam Wangchuk, Captain

Haneef-ud-din, Captain Anuj Nayyar and many more whose greatness is beyond the limits of this letter.  

The battles of the Kargil War will continue to teach the coming generation of military officers the nuances of warfare. They are instructive for they show how to apply your training in the face of the enemy and how winning against all odds is the tradition of the Indian Armed Forces. The Battle of Tololing, the Battle of Pt. 5140, the Battle of Tiger Hill, the Battle of Pt. 4875 and the Battle of Khalubar were some battles that demonstrated to the watching world- how far will Indians go for their India.

25 years down the road, I am where I was- proud, grateful, majestic and emotional. I thought it was necessary to pen down this letter as India celebrates the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas this 26th July.

This letter is for the people of my country, for my fellow brothers and sisters. As you join in the celebrations of the Kargil Vijay Diwas by sending WhatsApp wishes, do not forget the sacrifices that were made here in 1999 and the sacrifices that the families of these martyrs will make for generations to come. Do not forget that this nation is as much yours as it was theirs. Their sacrifice created history and your actions will build the future. Build the India of their dreams- The India they will all be proud of, the India that will give meaning to their sacrifice and the India they gave their life for. Remember, you don’t have to be in uniform for being called a patriot, for your Kargil believes that patriotism runs through your blood.

The flag that I proudly host does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of every soldier who died protecting it. All I have to say is- Serve our country and prove your blood. Nothing will be more satisfying to Mother India, to Kargil and to the ones who breathed their last here.

To my country and my people- JAI HIND!

With love,

From Kargil.