Remember Remember …………..Remember the Kargil War

26 July, is not an anniversary. I don’t know how we came to the conclusion that it ended on this very day. The war of Kargil was not a single day's victory. It was not only a small war, as it is technically represented. In fact it was the rejoining of pride, dignity, and hearts throughout the country. I will not talk about how did our army conquered the high peaks, or whose fault it was back then. Today there neither will be a talk of how our government treats our martyrs. But today, I will just remember my feelings. How I spent my time during the war period. How everybody spent their time.

I first entered when I heard from my mother that they are showing a news on T.V about an IAF plane which has crashed into the Pakistani territory. I enquired about it. I glued to the T.V. Thanks to our new age media, we Indians saw our first televised war. Being 12 then, made me to take some time to understand some complex things. But nevertheless I went on. I got out as much information as I could. Suddenly I had found my NEW HEROES. I still remember every instant of how the war went. The campaign for TIGER HILL was more in the minds of the ordinary citizens. I everyday watched the television for the news of Tiger Hill. Every Morning a Sikh army officer & an Officer from the IAF with white hair briefed the media (I am sorry; I do not remember their names). I still remember their faces. One morning he said that Pakistani soldiers attacked our post in Siachen. Only 4 of our soldiers were posted there. They killed 15 of the enemy. Every night the news channels told the no. of the dead. Everyday the enemy was the major loser. I remember that one night I heard that we lost 21& they lost 12. I groaned. Squadron leader Nachiketa became a household celebrity. He had his birthday, when he was still in captivity. So his family sent a cake across the border.

One of the happiest moments was I think was on July 3 or 4. It was afternoon & suddenly news started poring in that Tiger Hill was captured. My whole family was jubilant. I clapped, I was happy, my favourite hill was captured. The enemy was made to run away from that point. I still remember my notebooks that time. Those days whenever the lecture was cold, my whole notebook was filled with drawings of soldiers, Bofors, Hills. My Drawing book was filled with my imagination. I used to name Tiger hill, Drass, Tololing, & many more. There always used to Bofors destroying the enemy. I still remember that when anybody got a reply from a soldier, he/she was called in the assembly to read it loud. Imagine a simple soldier becoming a huge celebrity.

I still remember the valiant Atal Bihari Vajpayee. From that time he became my favourite politician. His courage gave me courage. I still remember the magnificent STAR NEWS reporter Barkha Dutt. How she one night braved the bombardment by the enemy.

I had found my heroes. A.B. Vajpayee, Barkha Dutt, The Indian Army, The Indian IAF & many more. The war had one peculiar thing. It united the whole nation. It united North to South & East to West. One of my friends later said, that his teacher told that after 1947, there was no other incident which united this country but this one. Yeah, for the first time, after a long time there was no Hindu, no Muslim, No Sikh & no Christian. We were united. Yes we were.