Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ KARGIL, July 26: The ‘Kargil Vijay Divas’ was celebrated across the State by various Army units and formations besides other organizations.
A grand function was organised at Drass (Kargil) today. The proceedings opened with solemn wreath laying ceremony at the `Drass War Memorial’ led by Lt Gen D S Hooda, Army Commander Northern Command of the Indian Army. Gallantry award winners of the Kargil conflict and next of kin of martyrs, `Veer Naris’ , senior Army officers and civil dignitaries also paid tributes to the martyrs. This was followed by a pledge taken by all present at the function to rededicate themselves to the cause of the Nation.
The sombre mood at the ceremony brought home memories of the losses borne so proudly by the martyrs’ families in the bloody summer of 1999. Many in the audience were moved to tears when the buglers played the poignant tune of “The Last Post” after the wreath laying. The event was celebrated with full military decorum and solemnity.
Lt Gen Hooda while talking informally to the media thanked them and the families of martyrs for their presence at Drass for the event.
Meanwhile, to honour and recall the sacrifices of the brave Indian soldiers, as also to reiterate the exemplary unity displayed by the entire Nation during the Kargil conflict, the 15th Anniversary of the Kargil Divas was celebrated at Udhampur. The day commenced with a solemn ceremony at the ‘Dhruva War Memorial’, where Lt Gen HJS Sachdeva, Chief of Staff, Northern Command paid homage by laying a wreath on behalf of all ranks as a mark of respect to the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives defending the Nation.
As a part of the celebrations the `Kargil War Memorial’ at the Shradhanjali Park was illuminated last evening. All ranks and their families of Udhampur Garrison paid their homage and expressed eternal gratitude towards the ‘Saviours of the Nation’, by lighting candles. The day is a special occasion for the Indian Army for being one of the rarest battles fought and won by a country in the most adverse and challenging conditions.
The White Knight Corps of the Army celebrated 15th anniversary of ‘Kargil Vijay Divas’ today by paying homage to those brave soldiers who has laid down their lives fighting in extreme cold and high altitude terrain of Kargil region. The troops displayed valour of the highest order in the face of extreme odds to reclaim land and honour. The sheer force of stories a blood and honour in Kargil War has made this war an epic in the anals of history of Indian Army.
To commemorate this historic victory, serving officers, JCOs and jawans of Nagrota Garrison gathered at White Knight Corps War Memorial ‘Ashwamedh Shaurya Sthal’ to pay their homage to the martyrs. The General Officer Commanding, (GOC) White Knight Corps, Lt Gen KH Singh and other officers laid a wreath at the memorial.
The GOC paid floral tributes to those gallant souls who sacrificed their lived for the cause of the nation. The General officer exhorted all ranks of the Corps to maintain the same invincible spirit, patriotism and perseverance in the line of duty.
Meanwhile, a memorial service was held at Tanda to pay tributes to Kargil martyrs, who fought bravely at Kargil in 1999. A two- minute silence was observed in the memory of those brave sons of the soil who laid down their young lives for India’s sovereignty over its territory. The meeting was organised by Tanda Tiger Force Memorial Committee. It was chaired by K P Singh, the chief organiser of the Force.
‘Shradhanjali Smaroh’ was jointly organized by the Akhil Bhartiya Purva Sainik Parishad (J&K) and Ex -Serviceman Kalyankari Sangathan, Udhampur at Shradhanjali Sathal, Udhampur to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Operation Vijay Divas of Kargil war. Col (Retd) Uma Kant Sharma, president Purav Sainik Parishad Udhampur district has expressed in his address that July 26 is the day that reminds us of our brave jawans who stood like a rock to face the enemy and fought with great determination. He disclosed that the Operation Vijay in Kargil lasted for 73 days and this was the only war fought in a limited and confined area. Country lost 527 men including 69 of J&K and 1367 wounded as the war was fought in most difficult and inhospitable terrain and the ever highest number of gallantry awards were also conferred upon – 4 Parm Veer Chakras, 8 Mahaveer Chakras and 51 Veer Chakras.
Paying homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives to retrieve the Indian territory in Kargil and inflicted a crusting defeat to the Pakistan forces, PCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma-MLC said that Kargil intrusion was a major intelligence and diplomatic failure of the BJP led NDA Government.
Mr Sharma said that the country had to pay heavy price for the victory and retrieving the territory occupied by the Pakistan forces, when BJP led NDA Government was engaged in the Lahore Bus yatra. He said that 527 Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives while 1363 of them were injured to achieve victory. While Bofors gun proved to be most effective and successful weapon, the ammunition used was more than any other war after World War-II, he added.
GS Accounts Institute, Moti Bazar, Parade, Jammu, paid tributes to Kargil martyrs who laid down their lives for the country. Proprietor- cum- faculty, Girish Sharma along with students celebrates the 15th anniversary of its triumph in Kargil War. This is also an occasion that invokes feelings of both pain and pride for the families of the brave jawans who laid down their lives protecting the territory of India from intruders.
Dogra Front, Shiv Sena and Bhartiya Lok Sangeet Kala Sansthan also celebrated Vijay Divas in different functions organised today.
A candle light march was organised from Jammu University to `Balidan Stumb’ to pay tributes to Kargil martyrs here today. A large number of people from the city including students participated in the candle march this evening.
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