‘Yeh Dil Maange More’ – lines
spoken by Captain Vikram Batra
These lines aren’t written by any advertising copywriter. These lines were coined by Major Vikram Batra which he used as a coded message after conquering every point from invaders. Captain Batra showed his dare devilry in Kargil War, facing the bullets and attaining martyrdom at age of 24. When civilians like me were pursuing degree to become a corporate slave, Captain Batra had already become a legend. Very few people are blessed to become war heroes and Vikram Batra was one of them. Batra’s code name was ‘Shershah.’ Military officers are given this code name to communicate with their senior authorities. Instead of opting for a luxurious government job, Vikram enrolled for army at Indian Military academy in Dehradun. His dare-devilry raised him to the position of Captain. In 1999, when Kargil was invaded by Pakistan, Captain Vikram Batra was assigned to recapture the peak 5140. Captain Batra with his team ‘Delta company’ ascended the highest peak 5140 confronting chilling cold, fatigue, exhaustion with only one goal in mind – free Kargil from the invaders. While climbing this peak, Batra and his team faced the bullets from the enemies. Despite all this, Captain Batra and his team reached the top and threw grenades. Captain Batra slayed three soldiers in deadly combat which left him seriously wounded. The mission of capturing point 5140 was successful. Along with his delta team, Batra went on to recapture several points – 5100, 4700 and 4875.
‘Every man dies, not everyone really lives’ – lines from movie Braveheart
Capturing Point 4875 and final martyrdom – This was one of the most challenging and toughest peaks to capture for Captain Batra and his team. Climbing a 16,000 feet high peak was highly impossible task for any ordinary person. Braving the obstacle of heavy fogs, Captain Batra and his team climbed the 16,000 feet high peak on 7th July 1999. The delta team attacked the enemies and took control of point 4875. The large heartedness of Captain Batra was witnessed by his team when he took bullets on himself while saving one of his members from delta team. During the attack, he pushed aside his Subedar friend and faced the enemies’ bullets because he cared for his friend who had wife and children. This brave tiger of Kargil breathed his last while capturing the point 4875. His uttered the last words ‘Jai Mata di’. Operation Vijay wouldn’t have been successful without the efforts of Captain Vikram Batra and his delta team.
These lines aren’t written by any advertising copywriter. These lines were coined by Major Vikram Batra which he used as a coded message after conquering every point from invaders. Captain Batra showed his dare devilry in Kargil War, facing the bullets and attaining martyrdom at age of 24. When civilians like me were pursuing degree to become a corporate slave, Captain Batra had already become a legend. Very few people are blessed to become war heroes and Vikram Batra was one of them. Batra’s code name was ‘Shershah.’ Military officers are given this code name to communicate with their senior authorities. Instead of opting for a luxurious government job, Vikram enrolled for army at Indian Military academy in Dehradun. His dare-devilry raised him to the position of Captain. In 1999, when Kargil was invaded by Pakistan, Captain Vikram Batra was assigned to recapture the peak 5140. Captain Batra with his team ‘Delta company’ ascended the highest peak 5140 confronting chilling cold, fatigue, exhaustion with only one goal in mind – free Kargil from the invaders. While climbing this peak, Batra and his team faced the bullets from the enemies. Despite all this, Captain Batra and his team reached the top and threw grenades. Captain Batra slayed three soldiers in deadly combat which left him seriously wounded. The mission of capturing point 5140 was successful. Along with his delta team, Batra went on to recapture several points – 5100, 4700 and 4875.
‘Every man dies, not everyone really lives’ – lines from movie Braveheart
Capturing Point 4875 and final martyrdom – This was one of the most challenging and toughest peaks to capture for Captain Batra and his team. Climbing a 16,000 feet high peak was highly impossible task for any ordinary person. Braving the obstacle of heavy fogs, Captain Batra and his team climbed the 16,000 feet high peak on 7th July 1999. The delta team attacked the enemies and took control of point 4875. The large heartedness of Captain Batra was witnessed by his team when he took bullets on himself while saving one of his members from delta team. During the attack, he pushed aside his Subedar friend and faced the enemies’ bullets because he cared for his friend who had wife and children. This brave tiger of Kargil breathed his last while capturing the point 4875. His uttered the last words ‘Jai Mata di’. Operation Vijay wouldn’t have been successful without the efforts of Captain Vikram Batra and his delta team.
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| The Amar Chitra Katha Book - Paramvir Chakra featured story of Vikram Batra during kargil war |
Captain Anuj Nayyar was one more brave heart
who laid his life in Kargil war along with Vikram Batra. Captain Anuj Nayyar was recently engaged.
During the war time, Anuj handed over his engagement ring to one of his friends
to keep it safe till he returns. He never wanted the ring to fall in hands of
enemies if he was killed. Sadly Anuj never returned back to get his engagement
ring. He was the only child of his parents. It was very traumatic experience
for his parents to bear the loss of their son. Unfortunately government never
pays heed to the family of the soldiers who laid their lives for country.
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| Photo of late Captain Anuj Nayyar |
Even Vikram Batra had plans to get married to his fiancée once he returned from
war. But good fortunes were not in side of Vikram. He returned wrapped in
Tri-color flag. Before going to war, he had promised his parents that he would
return either by hoisting the flag on Kargil or come wrapped in ‘Tiranga’. His
fiancée never got married. She devoted her life to teaching. Vikram’s gifts and
letters were prized possessions to her. Sadly,
no one bothers to know what happened to a soldier’s family after his death.
Batra’s parents were badly collapsed after hearing the news of his son’s death
in Kargil war. They had twin sons – Vikram and Vishal. Vikram’s parents
realized why God had given them twins. One would serve for country while other
would take care of them. Vikram Batra was awarded ‘Paramvir Chakra’ for his
sacrifice defending Kargil from invaders.
On the 10th death anniversary of Vikram, his twin brother Vishal Batra visited Leh Ladakh. He took a gaze at the high peaks of Kargil where Vikram Batra died fighting with the invaders. Vishal Batra in his interview with Barkha Dutt mentioned about the last letter of Vikram.
‘Life is at total risk.
Anything can happen here. Take care of yourself and Mom & Dad. My picture
has appeared in Times of India’. Keep a copy for me. I want to see it once I am
back.” – Excerpt from the letter of Captain Vikram Batra to his brother Vishal.
The photo of Captain Vikram
Batra featured on front page of Times of India on 2nd July 1999. He
was standing with an anti-aircraft gun and weapons in the photo.
A letter enclosed in an envelope is a precious gift for a soldier who reads this letter and even narrates the letters to his friends. He is far away from his family, friends but his heart is always close to them. Sadly, today’s youngsters won’t realize the value of letter because they are too busy messaging on Whatsapp. Only a soldier like Captain Vikram Batra can realize the emotions of words written in the letter.
The role of Captain Vikram Batra was played by actor Abhishek Bachchan in J.P.Dutta’s movie – LOC: Kargil which was based on Kargil war. Amar Chitra Katha released a comic book on Indian soldiers in which Captain Vikram Batra’s story was presented. Hope someday a full-fledged biopic is made on life of Captain Batra and his fellow soldiers – Anuj Nayyar, Manoj Kumar Pandey who died for nation’s pride.
This is a small effort on my side to remember Captain Batra and all other soldiers who freed Kargil from the invaders. Please do share this article with all your friends.
Jai Hind
Prashant Badiger
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