Lest We Forget

The most relevant email I received today informed me about the importance of the date 26th July in every Indians life.

Its the Anniversary of the Kargil War.

And like me, many of us fellow Indians would have forgotten this day amid the daily routine of our lives, those Flashing Breaking News being telecast on all the News channels and our dose of "reality" shows. Yes this is a Truth but another truth was what happened 9 years back when many of our fellow brethren fought ferociously to drive away the intruders who came and sat on our Mountains and thought that they could just stay there..

Ya.. this is the day to remember the real Heroes of our Nation.

A Tribute

"THEY GAVE THEIR TODAY FOR OUR TOMORROW"

Over a 400 of them at last count. Median age 19 to 35. The grim-faced army officers receiving the coffins, draped in the tricolour, the carriage to the army parade ground, the set-jawed shok shastra farewell salute by steely soldiers. The silent sorrow of upraised guns, slowly brought, barrel downward, to the ground, left arm tautly extended to the right before retracking, the holding of palm to chest, the sudden dropping of head, the 30-second hushed silence, then the regulation rajnigandha and marigold wreaths from the army and air chiefs, the general officer commanding, fellow officers, the battalion, before the body escorted by a comrade begins its last journey home. Wreathed in white, the colour of the pure; kesariya, the colour and insignia of the brave. Now across mountains, now across rivers, plains.

Some lines from the Brave:

"Maa, Tum Dekhna Ek Din Aisa Kaam Kar Jaunga Ki Saari Dunia Mein Mera Naam Hoga" -- mother, you will see one day I will do such a deed that the whole world will acknowledge that.
Saurabh Kalia to his mother
"I am proud that I have joined 4 JAT and one day 4 JAT would be proud that Saurabh Kalia joined this regiment."
Lt. Saurabh Kalia, At Bareilly (JAT Regiment Centre)

"Didi, it was meant for me and I lost my man"
Captain Vikram Batra, to his elder sister over the phone when terrorist's bullet meant for him had struck his man behind him during his first posting in the terrorist-prone region of Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Yeh Dil Maangey More"
Vikram Batra to his commander at base camp after winning back Peak 5140, the highest point on the Tololing Ridge




<-- Sometime before the final assault Capt. Vijyant Thapar (Robin) left this letter at the from the attack area, to be handed over to his family in case he failed to return. His father's reply sums all our feelings as well " Son, The brave way you left this world, at the age of 22 is a measure of how you lived your short life and what you valued. In meeting the stark challenges of capturing Knoll against all odds, during the battle of Three Pimples with heroic coolness and single minded devotion to duty, you have achieved immortal honour. In death you have epitomised the spirit of national pride - an honour which makes every sacrifice worthwhile. Your actions will forever inspire generations of Indians to come. You have left us with pride for being the parents of a worthy son and a lifetime of pain for having lost a child we loved. -- Col. V.N. Thapar "







A Heartrending farewell --



Captain (Dr.) Rajshree Gupta, Army Medical Corps (AMC), salutes the tricolour-draped coffin of her husband, Major Vivek Gupta of the 2nd Rajputana Rifles, who died fighting the enemies.




Yes they have gone but they have left behind the memoirs which will continue to motivate us and the generations to come. The only thing is that we don't let the legacy die. So come on show to the world that we can be the Best Friends while there are our Jawans to show that we are the Bravest enemies


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