Meet forgotten Kargil hero Tashi Namgyal - the local shepherd who saw Pak getting ready

Twenty years ago, on May 2, 1999, Tashi Namgyal, a local shepherd from Gharkon near Kargil, while looking for his yak, spotted six men breaking stones and clearing the snow. This was unusual for Tashi, as he saw no footprints leading to the spot and the men were in Pathanis and army uniforms —a few of them had weapons too. That was the beginning of what we now know as the Kargil War, with Tashi the first to report the infiltration to the Army. On his information, a team was sent to scan the area and discovered that Pakistan was getting battle-ready. The Indian Army then moved quickly and minimised the damage. However, with successive governments failing to recognise his work, Tashi now an old man, lives lost in oblivion. Excerpts from an interview:

What did you see that day?

Hunting for my yak, I was scanning the area with my binoculars when I saw the six people. I rushed back to my village where Army men from Punjab Regiment were stationed and narrated the entire thing to a guard commander, who said that the Army patrol party had just come from there. However, I insisted they investigate again. Later, they sent 20 to 25 Army men with me and saw the scale of their infiltration. Barely eight days later, the war started.

What did you do after war erupted?

I took my kids towards the Khalsi village as artillery was being fired like rain here. For three months, local people helped the Army in bringing the weapons. Even we took the weapons to high mountains after shifting our families to safety.

How did you feel about providing intel that proved to be very important for the country?

I never got any civil award. My report was 100% accurate, but no one even inquires about me. I saved the entire Ladakh through my information to the Army. PM Modi is a good man, I hope he gives me my much-deserved recognition.

You are the hero of the Kargil War. Has your life changed?

A little, but I am illiterate and that’s why I couldn’t reach anywhere in life. India is my country and I will always stand for it. The Pakistanis came like rats and were defeated.

Zee Media Newsroom