00:00 Hello and welcome to this special show where we pay tribute to the heroes of the Kargil war.
00:05 A biffeting reply that was given to the Pakistani regulars and the terrorists.
00:09 The grit and determination and the valor of the Indian soldiers was simply exemplary.
00:16 In the summer of 1999, the pristine mountains of Kargil became an unsuspecting battleground.
00:24 In an act of deceit and aggression, Pakistani troops and mercenaries infiltrated across the
00:30 line of control and occupied strategic heights on the Indian side. Their sinister aim to sever
00:36 Kashmir's link with Ladakh and force India to concede on the Kashmir dispute.
00:41 Little did they know that this misadventure would spark an unwavering response from India's
00:48 valiant armed forces. The infiltration by Pakistani forces was a blatant violation
00:55 of the Shimla agreement and the recently signed Lahore declaration at that time that committed
01:01 both nations to resolving the Kashmir issue peacefully. The audacity of Islamabad's betrayal
01:07 left India stunned but resolute in defending its territorial integrity. As Indian forces mobilized
01:14 to evict the infiltrators, stories of extraordinary courage and sacrifice emerged from the front lines.
01:20 Leading the charge were the valiant heroes like Captain Vikram Batra,
01:25 whose indomitable spirit and leadership inspired his men to scale unimaginable heights of bravery.
01:32 On June 19, 1999, Captain Batra's Delta Company launched a daring assault to recapture the
01:42 strategic point 5140 from the heavily fortified Pakistani positions. Captain Batra, fondly called
01:50 'Shah' led the men through a barrage of enemy fire scaling near vertical rocky cliffs.
01:56 His courageous battle cry 'Yeh Dil Mange More' reverberated across the peaks as his company
02:02 inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, capturing vital bunkers and positions
02:08 despite facing overwhelming odds. My company's success was 'Yeh Dil Mange More'. The guys were
02:14 so highly charged up that they're wanting that some more bunkers should have been there and
02:18 we would have got the more chaps. But Captain Batra's heroic saga was tragically cut short
02:24 when he was struck by the enemy fire while rescuing an injured officer.
02:32 Captain Vikram Batra's supreme sacrifice inspired countless other acts of valor across the front
02:39 lines of Kargil. Soldiers like Rifleman Sanjay Kumar who sustained grievous injuries during the
02:45 Battle of Tortuk but refused to retreat. Even while bleeding profusely, he provided crucial
02:51 covering fire allowing his comrades to regroup and fight with renewed determination.
02:59 As the battle intensified, the Indian Air Force joined the fray, playing a pivotal role with its
03:04 precision strikes on enemy positions. The Air Force aptly called it 'Operation Sahid Sagar'.
03:11 Daring IAF pilots braved enemy fire and treacherous terrain to soften the infiltrators'
03:17 defenses, paving the way for the Army's advance. Perhaps the most symbolic victory came with the
03:22 recapture of the formidable Tiger Hill, a key position overlooking the vital Srinagar-Leh Highway.
03:29 On July 3rd, after days of fierce combat, the Indian Army launched its final assault
03:35 under a hailstorm of enemy fire. Each step upwards was like entering the jaws of death
03:41 as the enemy pounded them mercilessly. But the Charlie Company of the 8th Sikh Regiment kept
03:47 moving forward, driven by an unbreakable resolve to hoist the tricolour on Tiger Hill's peak.
03:53 Against all odds, they finally captured the summit on July 4th, 1999, an image that became
04:01 etched in the national consciousness as a symbol of India's unwavering spirit.
04:06 From the icy heights of Tololing and Batalik to the towering ridges around Dras,
04:16 Indian soldiers fought with astounding grit and courage. Over three arduous months,
04:21 they battled inhospitable terrain, hostile enemy fire, and threat of escalation between two nuclear
04:28 powers. But their determination never wavered. Finally, on July 26th, 1999, after a series of
04:35 decisive battles, the Indian Army had successfully evicted the last remnants of the Pakistani
04:41 infiltrators, bringing the Kargil conflict to an end. India's armed forces had achieved a resounding
04:48 victory against the treacherous aggression of its neighbour. The Kargil War highlighted India's
04:54 policy of upholding sanctity of the line of control while showcasing its military's capability to
05:02 defend every inch of its territory. The nation celebrated the resolution and spirit of its
05:08 soldiers, exemplified by the heroics of Captain Vikram Batra, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, and countless
05:14 other bravehearts. Twenty-five years later, as India commemorates its historic victory in Kargil,
05:21 the nation pays tribute to its brave sons who made the ultimate sacrifice and draws inspiration
05:27 from their extraordinary tales of courage against overwhelming odds. The Kargil conflict was not
05:34 just a military victory but a powerful affirmation of India's mettle and spirit in defending its
05:40 territorial integrity at any cost.
05:43 [Music]
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