KARGIL VIJAY DIVAS

Freedom in mind. Faith in words. Pride in our hearts. Memories of our souls

Kargil Vijay Diwas, a day to remember the gallant efforts and sacrifices of the Indian Armed Forces.

Named after the successful Operation Vijay,Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated in India on 26 July in order to honour the sacrifice and martyrdom of our armed forces that bought laurels to the nation. On this date in 1999 India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been lost to Pakistan. The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 aggressive days, ended on 26 July and resulted in loss of life on both the sides. The war ended with India regaining control of all the previously held territory.

When where and how?

* The war took place between May and July of 1999 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kargil district.
* The conflict is believed to have been orchestrated by the then Pakistan army chief General Pervez Musharraf without the knowledge of the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
* It began with the infiltration of both Pakistani troops and terrorists into Indian territory.
* The infiltrators positioned themselves in key locations that gave them a strategic advantage during the start of the conflict.
* Based on information from local shepherds, the Indian Army was able to ascertain the points of incursion and launch “Operation Vijay”.

The victory came at a high price. The official death toll on the Indian side was 527, while that on the Pakistani side was between 357 and 453.

History

After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, there had been a long period with relatively few direct armed conflicts involving the military forces of the two neighbours During the 1990s, however, escalating tensions and conflict due to separatist activities in Kashmir, as well as the conducting of nuclear tests by both countries in 1998, led to an increasingly belligerent atmosphere. In an attempt to defuse the situation, both countries signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999, promising to provide a peaceful and bilateral solution to the Kashmir conflict. During the winter of 1998–1999, some elements of the Pakistani Armed Forces were covertly training and sending Pakistani troops and paramilitary forces, into territory on the Indian side of the line of control (LOC). The aim of the Pakistani incursion was to sever the link between Kashmir and Ladakh, thus forcing India to negotiate a settlement of the Kashmir dispute. Yet another goal may have been to boost the morale of the decade-long rebellion in Indian State of Kashmir by taking a proactive role.

Initially, with little knowledge of the nature or extent of the infiltration, the Indian troops in the area assumed that the intensity of the inflation was less serious. Subsequent discovery of infiltration elsewhere along the LOC, along with the difference in tactics employed by the infiltrators, caused the Indian army to realize that the plan of attack was on a much bigger scale.

The Government of India responded with a mobilization of 200,000 Indian troops. The war came to an official end on July 26, 1999, thus marking it as Kargil Vijay Diwas.

How it is celebrated today?

This day is celebrated in the Kargil–Dras sector and the national capital New Delhi, where the Prime Minister of India pays homage to the soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate every year.Functions are also organized all over the country to commemorate the contributions of the armed forces. Celebrations are held in various schools, institutes and communities where the tricolour flag is hoisted in remembrance of the lost heroes. Various other competitions, contests, drills and parades are organised to add to the festivities of the occasion.

What the nation wants from us?

The intention behind celebrating this day is not just to commemorate the sacrifice but also to inspire the younger generation from the past examples of national service and sacrifice. What happened and transpired in Kargil must be an example to every Indian to judge his/her own actions when it comes to national service and patriotism. We all must resolve to do whatever necessary to serve our proud nation be it through arts, science, commerce or even military service. There should be an intention to pay back the nations soil. It is also a way to pay respect to all the brave soldiers who continue to defend the nations walls without rest and sleep. It is a gesture of appreciation to them. A promise to assure them that even during the hardest of situations they will always remain in our minds, heart and prayers.

Salute to all the brave soldiers of Indian Armed Forces who laid down their lives fighting for our nation.

“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it, it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”

Jai Hind!