Retired Brigadier Kushal Thakur Remembers Kargil War Heroes on 25th Anniversary
As the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War approaches, Retired Brigadier Kushal Thakur, who was the commanding officer of the 18 Grenadiers, reflects on the sacrifices made by his unit. He recalls that 34 jawans gave their lives to recapture the crucial peaks of Tololing and Tiger Hill in the Drass sector.
Brigadier Thakur said, “As a commanding officer, I have a lot of bittersweet memories but it is important to sacrifice certain things for the country. 34 jawans sacrificed their lives. I still have the memories of those jawans and they will be with me till I die. Their families also made a lot of sacrifices. Today when I see those families they have suffered huge losses. Youths belonging to the age group 22 or 23 lost their lives and their children who were a few months old could not see the faces of their fathers. After 25 years they could overcome that sadness and it feels good to see them smiling again.”
He further mentioned that 25 jawans sacrificed their lives at Tololing while 9 jawans sacrificed their lives at Tiger Hill. The 18 Grenadiers have been honored with Theatre Honour Kargil, Battle Honour Tiger Hill, Battle Honour Tololing, and 52 bravery awards, a record in the Indian Army.
The Shaurya Sandhya event at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass was graced by CDS General Anil Chauhan, where 545 lamps were lit, each symbolizing a braveheart.
Thagi Ram Gogoi, father of Kargil hero Capt Juntu Gogoi, expressed pride in his son’s sacrifice, saying, “We feel proud of him. We don’t feel like 25 years have passed. These 25 years have passed without war. Those who lost their lives fighting for the country, they sacrificed their lives for our tomorrow. I have come from Golaghat in Assam. I still feel proud of my son.”
Dulu Gogoi, mother of Capt Juntu Gogoi, added, “I lost him but I don’t feel sad because he sacrificed his life for the country.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation and Army soldiers at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass. He will inaugurate several projects and pay tribute to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Kargil War. The stage at the memorial stands as a symbol of remembrance and respect for the soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation.
Doubts Revealed
Brigadier -: A Brigadier is a high-ranking officer in the Indian Army. They are responsible for leading and managing large groups of soldiers.
Kargil War -: The Kargil War was a conflict between India and Pakistan in 1999. It took place in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir.
18 Grenadiers -: The 18 Grenadiers is a regiment in the Indian Army. A regiment is a large group of soldiers who fight together.
Tololing and Tiger Hill -: Tololing and Tiger Hill are important mountain peaks in the Kargil region. They were key locations during the Kargil War.
Kargil War Memorial -: The Kargil War Memorial is a place in Drass, Jammu and Kashmir, built to honor the soldiers who fought in the Kargil War.
Shaurya Sandhya -: Shaurya Sandhya is an event held to remember and honor the bravery of soldiers. ‘Shaurya’ means bravery and ‘Sandhya’ means evening.
CDS General Anil Chauhan -: CDS stands for Chief of Defence Staff. General Anil Chauhan is the top military officer in India, overseeing all the armed forces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister of India. He is the head of the government and makes important decisions for the country.