Vijay Divas is here and our minds go back to July 1999. Our hearts are reminded of the first ever televised battle high over the world, in the desolate, wind swept, barren Himalayan mountains of Kargil, Drass and Ladakh.
The nation was taken by surprise, as officially the two neighbouring countries were working on establishing peace. But, General Pervez Musharraf had already implemented a plan to sneak into the high peaks and establish bases. The aim being to annex Ladakh.
The reports from local shepherds about abnormal movements and presence in the Mountain peaks jolted the Army into quick action and response. The first battle to be televised, and beamed into our homes 24×7, caught everyone’s imagination.
Much more for the wives, children, parents, neighbours and even distant relatives of men and women in uniform. Barkha Dutt interviewing whoever she could find, in uniform, with shells bursting in the background was not only exhilarating for the uninitiated but also revealing for everyone, even those across the border.
This war also saw equal participation from the Air force and the Navy. War and its repercussion was felt by the soldiers and the common people. Young officers, even the ones straight from the academies were landing at the fronts. And they did not hesitate.
The supporting staff, be it in logistics, medical, communications, bridge laying, mine clearing, and so many more areas were equally committed. In fact they may be quite the unsung heroes. Because everyone did their best and much much more than required as the conflict came to its victorious end in a short time.
Valour and leadership were exhibited in all corners, along with being humane. Peak 5140,Tololing, Peak 4875, Jaubar Top and Khalubar hill in the Batalik sector became household names, which till then nobody knew even existed on the map of India. The bravest of brave were awarded gallantry awards, mostly posthumously. The army doctors fought round the clock to keep alive men who had faced bullets and taken them into their body without flinching for their Motherland, and for their men. We remember and honour these men who climbed sheer vertical rock faces, in the darkness of the night, so that they could surprise the enemy firing down at them mercilessly.
I remember the parents of our junior most officer calling me late one night because they had heard of the martyrdom of so many of his coursemates and just wanted to know if he was alive. There were no cell phones then, and communications were restricted, as part of the protocol. I listened to the worry, and concern of the anxious hearts of worried parents, trying my best to reassure them. I too knew very little. Protocol.
Some names were on the tip of every tongue just as common as the cola tag line, “Yeh dil mange more”. While the outstanding courage of scores of others we came to know only months later when we heard of daredevil deeds of shooting the enemy point blank even after themselves having been shot at, kicked and tortured and left for the dead.
The wives and children kept a brave front, smiled a lot, did not let the tears creep out, for if a phone call came they wanted to sound positive, send their best wishes, to reassure their soldier, they were keeping the ship afloat, that they were in this together! “You focus on what you have to do. I got this my dear.”
And the pride… the pride of serving the nation, without asking or expecting anything in return!
PS: This post is a part of ‘Tricolour Tales Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters
