Flashback to Kargil and stories of bravery, pride and pain galore, Jammu has a fair share of sacrifices made during the Kargil war 10 years ago.
Forty two year old Surinder Kour is eagerly waiting for the day when her two sons will follow the footsteps of her martyr husband Naik Subedar Ravail Singh of 8-Sikh and join the army to serve the motherland.
Kour lost her husband in the battle for Tiger hill in 1999 but that has not scared her. “My elder son is looking after the petrol pump and two sons studying in standard IX and XII are bracing to join the army. I will be proud if they make it because their father has given his life for the motherland”, said Kour.
Flashback to Kargil and stories of bravery, pride and pain galore, Jammu region of the state has a fair share of sacrifices made during the Kargil war 10 years ago. Families of martyrs today are proud of their sacrifices amid the bouts of pain and agony.
Sixty year old ex-serviceman Mohan Singh has taken an arduous journey from Jammu to Drass to have a glimpse of the place where his son Gurdeep Singh Soni of 8-Sikh laid down his life in 1999. Soni was the only son of Singh, who retired as havaldar from the army in 1983.
“I am a solider and want to go to that place where my son laid down his life. I have four kids including three daughters and Soni was my only son. He was martyred”, said Singh. Ten years on, Soni’s parents are proud that their son laid down his life for the motherland.
Nine martyrs of the 8-Sikh unit belonged to Jammu region of the state. There were several others from different units belonging to Jammu and Kashmir who laid down their lives during the Kargil war of 1999.
Kamla Devi is visiting Kargil for the first time to see where her husband Havaldar Madan Lal laid down his life. Madan Lal of 18 grenadiers was awarded Vir Chakra posthumously for gallantry during the war.
“I am praying to give me courage to see the place where my husband fought and died, “ said Devi.
There are heroes of Jammu who fought bravely at the Kargil heights and gave a befitting reply to the enemy. Retired honorary Captain Baljeet Singh remembers the day when he along with 52 men launched an offensive on the two posts along the Tiger hill to drive back the Pakistani army intruders.
“I am here after a long time but all the remembrances of the war are floating through my mind. It was a gallant fight by our brave men who hit the enemy at its core” said Singh who retired from army last year and has now joined the proud heroes club of Kargil.
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