Himachal: Echo of valour, remembering Kargil heroes on Vijay Diwas

Himachal Pradesh: As the nation celebrates Vijay Diwas, Brigadier Khushal Thakur (Retd), who hails from Mandi district, paid tribute to the indomitable courage, sacrifice and tenacity of Indian soldiers by recalling the defining moments of the Kargil war. Reflecting on the 1999 war, he said, “Vijay Diwas does not merely mark a military victory; it is a reminder of the eternal valour of our soldiers – from the snowcapped peaks of Tololing and Tiger Hill to the dangerous battlefields of Operation Sindoor. The story of India’s defence is steeped in grit, patriotism and unwavering resolve.” Brigadier Thakur, who commanded 18 Grenadiers during the war, recalled how 26 years ago, the Kargil peaks reverberated with the cries of war, where young officers and jawans of battalions like 18 Grenadiers, 8 Sikh and 13 JAK Rifles climbed the almost vertical cliffs amid enemy fire. “They fought not for glory, but for duty,” he said. “Tololing was a turning point. For several days, our soldiers crawled on the bare, open slopes in the cold of minus 11 degrees Celsius, with no shelter except their courage.

Officers like Major Rajesh Adhikari and Lieutenant Colonel Vishwanathan led from the front and sacrificed their lives to inspire future generations.” He described the capture of Tiger Hill as a moment when “acts of valour became legends.” More than 16,500 feet high, it was the enemy’s most formidable stronghold. Brigadier Thakur recalled how Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, despite being shot several times, feigned death, crawled back with crucial enemy intelligence and survived to receive the Param Vir Chakra. He also praised Lieutenant Balwan Singh and Captain Nimbalkar, who led their troops to capture the peak amid relentless firing. “These were not just battles – they were tests of the national spirit. And India emerged victorious.” Drawing a comparison with today’s operations, he said Indian soldiers are still displaying the same valour with advanced equipment and precision tactics. “Today, when our soldiers carry out operations like Operation Sindoor, they do so with better equipment, but their tradition of bravery remains the same. At the core of it all is the Indian soldier – determined, selfless and fiercely patriotic.” Brigadier Thakur poignantly added, “If we had today’s technology at that time, perhaps fewer mothers would have cried. But the price of freedom has to be paid in the form of sacrifice.”