The Last War of the 20th Century

Kargil was a tehsil of Ladakh before the time of partition. It is a region of people who speak different languages and religious groups. It is a region that is separated by mountains. Kargil district is located from Srinagar, about 205 Km. There is a continental climate in the district. Summers are cool, and winters are long and chilly, with temperatures dropping to -48°C.

Kargil War Information

Kargil War History

The Kargil war refers to an armed conflict fought between India and Pakistan. It is fought on the land of Kargil, the district of Jammu and Kashmir, and on the line of control. It is an Indian Military Operation named 'Operation Vijay'. 

Reason

The main cause of the war was that Pakistani soldiers sneaked the LoC on the Indian side. In the two states of Kashmir, they serve as the de facto border between them. In starting, Pakistan did not accept this thing that they were the ones who did this injustice and blamed the Kashmiri people. Still, later the involvement of Pakistan forces will be cleared by the statements of Pakistan's Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff. Later the Indian Air Force helped the Indian Army, and they again captured the main positions of the LoC. Pakistani Forces stepped backwards after facing international opposition.

Result

The war ended with the victory of India, but both countries had to pay a high price for this. The total death toll in this war on the Indian side stood at 527, whereas, on the Pakistan side, it was said to be somewhere between 357 & 453. Both sides got experience fighting at hard altitudes. After this, Gallantry Awards were given to the great war heroes, and the country also increased its defence budget.

Kargil War Memorial

The Indian Army built 'The Kargil War Memorial' in Dras in Tololing Hill's foothills. About 5 km from the city centre across Tiger Hill, which commemorates the martyrs of the Kargil War. A poem named "Pushp ki Abhilasha", written by Makhanlal Chaturvedi, is engraved on the gateway of the memorial. It is a renowned neo-romantic Hindi poem of the 20th century. The names of those who lost their lives in the war are inscribed on the memorial walls, and visitors can read them. There is a museum located near the memorial. It was established to celebrate Operation Vijay. In the museum, pictures of Indian Soldiers, important documents regarding war, and recordings are kept. The equipment of Pakistani war gear and the official emblems of the army from the Kargil War. To celebrate India's victory in the war, the giant national flag was hoisted at the Kargil War Memorial on Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Kargil War Heroes

Many laid down their lives for their country in this war, including captain Vikram Batra, Captain Anuj Nayyar, and Grenadier Yogender Yadav. Many others also risked their lives and gave India a victory in the war. They are:

• Captain Amol Kalia had to capture point 5203. For this, they started their mission at night with their teammates and reached the mountain before daybreak. Enemies hit him, but still, he continued his task.

• Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse was awarded Mahavir Chakra for their bravery in the war. The words written on the medal are "He displayed conspicuous gallantry, indomitable resolve, grit, and determination beyond the call of duty and made the supreme sacrifice in the face of the enemy, in true traditions of the Indian Army."

• Lt Keishing Clifford Nongrum reached the vertical top cliff, and their task was to capture point 4812 in the Batalik Sector. The enemy was targeting them continuously with automatic fire. He did not even think about his own life and charged towards them through the fire zone.

• During Operation Vijay, Captain Jintu Gogoi was tasked to evade enemy soldiers in the Batalik sub-sector near LOC. Even with injuries, he showed great leadership and bravery and excellence.

• Naik Brij Mohan Singh, the 30-member team's Commander, was tasked to capture Sando Top. He not only killed the enemy's soldiers but also saved his team.

• Captain Jerry Prem Raj was tasked with launching an assault in the Drass Sector on Twin Bumps. He didn't even stop when he was fired on by the enemy and continued firing on the enemy. He was awarded the prestigious Vir Chakra.

• Captain Shashi Bhushan Ghidiyal showed the effective presence of his mind when the company commander got injured, and he took command & started directing the team to assault the company.

This list does not end here. There were some soldiers whose contribution to the country got saved in the Kargil War.

Conclusion 

To wrap up, Kargil War ended with a victory for India but at a huge price. It was said to be the fourth war between India and Pakistan. It was the last war that happened between India and any other country. We learned about the Kargil war date, war heroes, history, its reasons & results, etc. After this war, the Government of India formed the Kargil Review Committee on July 29, 1999, "to examine the sequence of events and make recommendations for the future", whose report was submitted on January 7, 2000, during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government. Time has passed, but the brave service of the Kargil Heroes can never be forgotten.