When Valour Touched Peak: Kargil’s Eternal Tales

As the nation commemorates the silver jubilee of India’s victory in the 1999 Kargil War, in an interaction with families of heroes,Arvind Chauhan and Aditi Singh revisit inspiring stories of courage. Captain Pandey’s ambition was to win Param Vir Chakra‘Why do you aspire to join the army,’ inquired the officer during the interview. “I have arrived here with the ambition of earning the Param Vir Chakra (PVC),” responded the boy confidently. Taken aback by the self-assured reply, the officer posed another question: “Are you aware of the circumstances under which the PVC is bestowed?” The boy promptly replied, “It is awarded when one sacrifices one’s life while engaging in a combat for the nation.” A few years later, the boy’s words proved prophetic.While recounting this incident, Gopichand Pandey struggled to conceal the glimmer in his misty eyes. After all, he is the proud father of Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, who was posthumously honoured with the Param Vir Chakra, the nation’s highest gallantry award, for his extraordinary valour in the Kargil War of 1999. Pandey from 1/11 Gorkha Rifles was just 24 when he sacrificed his life for the motherland.Twenty-five years later, the entire nation continues to remember this son of the soil and pay homage to his valour. That he hailed from Lucknow is a source of immense pride for every resident. Captain Manoj Pandey, Captain Aditya Mishra, Major Ritesh Sharma, Rifleman Sunil Jung, and Lance Naik Kewal Nand Dwivedi of Lucknow fought valiantly for their country and made the ultimate sacrifice to uphold its honour.At an altitude of more than 16,000 feet, where even breathing is challenging, Indian soldiers crawled on the mountains, braved enemy fire, and made the supreme sacrifice, but not before repelling the enemy.True son of soil: Enduring legacy of a Kargil braveheartMajor Ritesh Sharma was just 21 when he enlisted in the Indian Army, defying his parents’ wishes. And he was only 25 when he made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation during the Kargil War of 1999. He valiantly led his company in the assault on Pimple 2, a pivotal mountain peak situated on the western side of Tiger Hill, which had been infiltrated by Pakistani forces.A true son of the soil, he had the foresight to inform his parents about the dire casualties he encountered during the war, including the loss of Captain Anuj Nayyar, his second-in-command, who was only 24 when he laid down his life serving the nation.Reflecting on the final conversation he had with his son, SP Sharma recollects, “In the days leading up to the war, Ritesh was on a two-week furlough, savouring precious moments with his beloved family at home. As reports of escalating tensions in Kargil began to surface, he was consumed by an unwavering sense of duty to return to his battalion. Despite our fervent entreaties for him to at least enjoy the remainder of his leave, he resolutely proclaimed it a unique opportunity, emphasizing that serving his motherland was his supreme obligation.”Sharma expresses profound disappointment that although a park in Sector 18, Indiranagar, and an intersection bear the name of Major Ritesh Sharma, their maintenance has been egregiously neglected. “The park serves as a mere fleeting homage to his memory. The benches and gate have fallen into a state of disrepair, a poignant reminder of the relentless march of time. It is imperative that the authorities undertake meticulous maintenance and preservation efforts, ensuring that Major Ritesh’s contributions are perpetually celebrated, and his legacy remains an enduring wellspring of inspiration for generations to come,” says Sharma.Want to visit mountains where my son took bullets for motherlandEmbracing his family’s legacy, Rifleman Sunil Jung Mahat embarked on his journey with the Indian Army when he was only an adolescent. Jung’s grandfather, Major Nakul Jung Mahat, had valiantly served in the 1962 Indo-China War, while his father, Subedar Nar Narayan Jung, had been a distinguished veteran of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. In 1995, the very year his father retired, Sunil enlisted in the army, joining the same regiment, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles.As the Kargil war loomed on the horizon, the Mahat family was on the cusp of relocating to their ancestral abode in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. However, on May 15, they received the devastating news that Sunil had fallen in the line of duty at Kukarthang, Kargil, at the tender age of 21.Just two months before this, his regiment had been deployed to Pune, rendering the Mahats’ stay in Lucknow no longer necessary.“Had this war not happened, we would have been in Dharamshala, solemnizing Sunil’s marriage. The young man always aspired to adorn the olive green and camouflage uniform. He sacrificed his life for the motherland. Our sole desire is to visit those mountains where he drew his last breath while battling alongside his comrades. I yearn to bring back the soil from those mountains, seeped in my son’s blood,” says Beena Mahat, Sunil’s mother.In the aftermath of Sunil’s supreme sacrifice, the Govt of India provided the Mahat family with a gas agency for their sustenance.Sunil was the eldest among three siblings — Shrijana and Sunita. Shrijana now tends to her bedridden father, Nar Narayan Jung, alongside her husband, Vinod Pradhan, while Sunita serves as a primary teacher in a private school and resides with Beena in Topkhana area. “Although the govt has extended support after my son’s demise, I would be immensely grateful if it could provide my youngest daughter, Sunita, with a job in govt primary school in Lucknow Cantonment,” adds Beena.