Salute to the heroes : 26th Kargil Vijay Divas

Lt Gen (Dr) Konsam Himalay Singh, Retd
On 26th July, the Nation will once again pay tribute to the heroes, the martyrs who fought the enemy in the icy heights of Ladakh in May-July 1999. Pakistani soldiers dressed as civilians surreptitiously infiltrated into the area North of Zojila in our territory over a period of time and occupied large tracts during end 1998 or beginning 1999. Our strategic and tactical intelligence set up were found wanting and we had little idea about these intrusions till early May 1999.
Operation Vijay, officially was declared on 6 May 1999 by India with a very restricted war aim , ie  to evict the intruders.
It seems only yesterday that I had the privilege to command an Infantry Battalion during this period in the Turtuk sector in this war. The war was initiated by the Pakistan Army led by late General Musharaf in a daring but foolhardy attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue once again after the waning insurgency by Pakistan proxies of during 1989-98 in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian army along with the State/Central  police forces had comprehensively decimated the hard core militancy in the Kasmir region by 1998.
The General was wrong in his assumptions that the nuclear umbrella would restrain Indian Army from a strong response. He grossly underestimated the resolve of our leadership and the capability of the Indian armed Forces. The Pakistani army and the people of  Pakistan are yet to recover from a humiliating defeat at the hands of just two infantry divisions of the Indian army ably supported by the Air Force and the silent Navy.
On the other hand, despite the initial setbacks to our operations, the fall of tiger Hill, Tololing, Point 5770 and a few others turned the tables against the Pakistanis by end of June 1999. It was in the battle of Point 5770 that I had the privilege to lead my battalion into action and captured the 19,000 ft high massive feature overlooking the Shyok Valley in Turtuk Sector. Many battles were fought all along the LOC in the North of Zojila Pass and in areas adjacent to the Siachen sector. Many Infantry battalions ably supported by our gunners, engineers, signals, air defence and logistics units fought to push back the intruders  all along the entire stretch of over 180 Kms frontage, from Zojila to Siachen Glacier leaving behind heavy casualties. The Pakistan Army is reported to have suffered atleast 1200 soldiers killed in the war as per open source information.
As I pay my homage to all the brave hearts who fought alongside me in those challenging times, I cannot but pay my respects to all the parents of those whose sons did not make it home after the war. Wives whose husbands returned home in coffins. To the children whose fathers chose the NATION over their own homes. I also pay my gratitude to those school and college going students who penned their emotions and reached us in the frontlines in the form of personal letters addressed to me as the Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion  during the difficult period. Boys and girls from all corners of India, mostly from Maharashtra, Bengal, Rajas-than and few from other States wrote very patriotic words for each one of us who were in the battle zone. I ensured that those letters were displayed prominently along the route from where the safe return of soldiers were not guaranteed.
The radio play of patriotic songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar and others, print and electronic media all over the country who immensely praised the soldiers who were fighting to preserve the integrity of our nation did play a significant part in arousing the patriotic emotions amongst our soldiers then. Every citizen do have a role to play in such National crisis situations.
The main ceremony on the 26th of July each year is normally held at Drass, near Kargil District of Ladakh every year.
The memorial is overlooked by the features of Tiger Hill and Tololing, both towering above 13,000 feet.  This is also the coldest place in India, whose temperature’s  dip below minus 50 degrees celsius. The day is also commemorated in every State in the country on the same day. I have attended a few such events organised by the Govt of Manipur during the last few years.
These events are not mere rituals but are expressions of gratitude by the Nation to those who gave their lives willingly  for the Nation. The legacy of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force are perpetuated by such events across the country. The Armed Forces are the last bastion of our republic. Seven Manipuris belonging to the Naga Regiment sacrificed their lives during the war.
Wars are not fought only based on emotions, nor just by patriotic fervour alone.  Successful Wars are fought on the conviction among the soldiers of a “Just war”, ethical and good and able leadership, superior training and weapon systems. Today’s wars involve far greater role of the public at large, technological edge in cyber, space, AI and other forms as can be seen presently in US-Iran war and Ukraine-Russia wars. The character of wars are changing rapidly in today’s context. Proxies fight for their masters. Kinetic operations are invariably supported by the cognitive wars. Technological frontiers have revolutionised the very definition of wars. There may be no defined targets, no defined frontlines. Each citizen will be expected to do their bit in their spheres.
In the Kargil War, the Indian soldiers proved their mettle. They did not ask what the Nation can do for them. Instead, 536 brave heart soldiers gave their lives for the well being of our society. The least the Nation can do is to respect their Courage, their Dedication and their sacrifice.
There is no nobler profession than risking one’s  life for the country. Our soldiers proved it in every war. John F Kennedy once said of the war veterans -“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them”.
JAI HIND, JAI MANIPUR