The Undying Spirit of a Soldier: Remembering the Brave Hearts of Kargil

 

The world has seen that we want peace. Now the world will see that to protect our peace we can use strength if necessary.

                                                 - Atal Bihari Vajpayee

When we see posts or reels on social media regarding national security, the general notion is the appraisal of the government’s quick decision making or proposing an action plan, but the efforts of those people, who are on field, doing their best to make that action plan a reality, go unnoticed. Today, let us appreciate and give recognition to those who fought to provide deterrence on such a grave adversary despite any circumstances, which, if not provided quick response on, would have led to one of the worst times of our nation.

The year was 1999, May 3^rd; Tashi Namgyal, a local shepherd, spotted a few armed men in the Batalik digging up bunkers. After informing the army it was evident that this wasn’t just an intrusion but a full-fledged invasion from the Pakistan Army in the Indian terrain. Within no time it was evident that not just Batalik, but more than 130 posts were occupied in the regions of Muskoh, Dras, and Akhsar. There was a single objective by the Pakistani Army: to block the national highway to cut off Kashmir from Ladakh; a direct breach of the 1972 Shimla Agreement, which stated not to violate the Line of Control.

As Pakistan initiated a covert invasion of Indian territory in the Kargil region, India had launched Operation Vijay in response. The war was characterized for its intense fighting in high-altitude conditions. Kargil, Batalik, Dras, Tiger's Hill and Pt. 5180, along with Pt. 4815 (now known as Batra Top), were the key locations that were to be recaptured.

Amidst the war, Vajpayee ji only had one rule: not crossing the LoC. It helped in showcasing India’s retaliation in a defensive position, making it a geopolitical win. The war also helped in regaining some amount of trust from countries such as America, Russia, etc. Despite such achievement, there was a setback: controlling the higher grounds of Dras, especially Tololing, also the coldest region to be ever inhabited, were captured by Pakistan. Many lives were lost to save the lives of millions.

On 14^th July PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared Operation Vijay to be a success, finally ending the war on 26^th July 1999. Later, in October, Pak PM Nawaz Shariff was detained, and Gen. Parvez Musharraf suspended the constitution, followed by the declaration of an emergency in our neighboring country. It was a huge victory for India.

Various movies have also been inspired by the Kargil war, such as Lakshya, LoC: Kargil, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Shershaah, Tango Charlie, Dhoop, and many more. Yet, many people still don't know what actually occurred during such a tense period and how serious its consequences would have been, if not prevented.

Many soldiers from the companies of Kargil missions still believe that those who martyred along the way were the luckiest ones; to die for such a noble cause is only in the fate of a few.  It reminds us when G.K. Chesterton said, “Soldiers do not fight because they hate what is in front of them. They fight because they love what is behind them.”

Civilians like you and I certainly could never fathom the intricacies of the planning, the bravery it takes to be in our armed forces. While on one hand, we try to appreciate their efforts to keep us safe, on the flip side we pass comments, slut shame a martyr's wife. Have we degraded to such a level? That's a question one should ponder upon. A war like Kargil should always be a reminder to us that the only reason we are able to act upon our conscience is due to these brave hearts giving up their own freedom, in order to protect ours.

The war not only helped in understanding India’s resilience but also showcased how powerful the spirit of brotherhood lies in our defence forces. Over time, we’ve seen various obstacles within and alongside the country’s borders, whether it be Uri, the Pulwama attack, infiltration by Chinese soldiers at Galwan Valley, rising Khalistan tensions, the death of Col. Vaibhav Kale in Gaza, or the recent nine terror attacks after elections along with the death of Capt. Anshuman Singh. Today, India’s security also comprises various upcoming factors, such as cyber security, and increasing concerns about internal security.

Amidst all these conflicts, one thing was common that made the country rise back patriotism. This patriotism was, has, and has always been the core of our defence forces. Despite numerous challenges and changes in the sphere of geopolitics with internal politics, one of the main reasons Bharat is still intact is because of such brave hearts, who are always ready to even give up their lives to protect our nation and uphold that peace.

Lest we forget.

-Rajashree Bhide