We can’t go back in past to change what happened, but humanity at least teaches us not to forget our heroes who sacrificed their lives while we were resting in our homes doing our usual stuff. ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ is celebrated on every 26th July in India. The war was fought for more than 60 days. Altogether 527 soldiers were sacrificed in this battle. On this memorable day’s celebration; We can at least remember them and spend few minutes to read about them who made this day unforgettable and converted it in a Victory day- ‘Vijay Diwas . 

This story is one of the soldier’s of this battle ‘Mr. Sanjay Kumar’, who showed his amazing power and conspicuous courage in the battle of Kargil. For which, the President of India honoured him with ‘Paramveer Chakra’, the biggest award given on the performance of unparalleled bravery during war period.  

Sanjay Kumar was born on March 3, 1976 in a village of Bukan (Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh).  In 1998, Sanjay started his military life.  As he has grown, his parents made him engaged with a woman named Premila. Here Sanjay and Premila were enjoying their after marriage days and on the border of India, the rumble began. Pakistani Military then had attacked at the boarder of Kashmir to capture it. As the history beholds, the country is behind Kashmir since long and had already captured a part of it from the time of Prime Minister Nehru. The Pakistani military have made several such efforts for the same in the years 1965 and 1971 but our great warriors have always protected our borders. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated for one of such battles happened in the year 1999.

At an elevation of 5307 meters, the area known as ‘Tiger Hill’ is the dominant feature that stands north of the sleepy town of Dras, the soldiers of India and Pakistan would go back in the grief of winter. This practice was going on under an agreement years ago; but when the Indian soldiers reached there after the winter of 1999, they found that Pakistan military has bunkered in Indian Territory. Sanjay Kumar’s team was deployed on the most difficult front of the Mashkoh valley in the war. Within a year of his recruitment, he was very excited about getting the responsibility of doing something for the country. Pakistani soldiers were firing heavily there. The second front was not easy; But Sanjay Kumar also rushed a bullet from his rifle and sent all Pakistani soldiers to hell. When his colleagues hoisted the tricolor on that remote hill, Sanjay was happy; but due to excessive bleeding, his condition worsened. The colleagues hurriedly sent him to the base camp and then to the hospital, where he soon became healthier.Strategically, the Mashkoh Valley Front was extremely difficult and prominent. Seeing the special role of Sanjay Kumar in this victory, President Shri K.R.Narayan honored him with the ‘Paramveer Chakra’ on January 26, 2000 on the recommendation of the military officers. Sanjay Kumar is still stationed in the army. He wants his son to join the army and serve the country as  he did for his entire life.

Let us never forget and pay homage to each of our soldier who was, who is and who will be there to protect our country without any selflessness. It is their efforts that pays off and we are able to celebrate such days.

By
Dhruma Pinara 
Educationist