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Every time I visit Drass and gaze at the towering heights of Tiger Hill, it feels as if time has stood still, frozen at the very moment when our soldiers laid down their lives to defend the motherland on those unforgiving cliffs. I’ve been there on multiple occasions, and each time I step onto that soil, a wave of emotion hits me, raw, unshakable, and beyond what words can capture.
The names etched on the Kargil War Memorial aren’t just a list of martyrs, they are immortal stories of courage and sacrifice. Looking up at Tiger Hill, one begins to grasp the unimaginable odds our soldiers faced, the sheer determination with which they climbed, fought, and reclaimed it. There’s a gravity in that air—silent but powerful—that reminds every Indian that protecting the nation doesn’t end in speeches; it demands sacrifice to the last breath.
On Kargil Vijay Diwas, India commemorates the triumph of our forces in the 1999 Kargil War – a day etched in national memory. Every year on 26th July, the Prime Minister leads the nation in paying homage to the martyrs of Kargil at memorials like Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi. This day, marking 26 years since the victory, is a poignant reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers and the unwavering unity and pride of all Indians.
The Kargil War was a saga of astonishing bravery. Facing covert incursions by Pakistani forces into Indian territory, the Indian Army launched Operation Vijay in May 1999 to evict the intruders from the icy heights of Kargil. For over two months, our soldiers fought ferocious battles at dizzying altitudes – 16,000–18,000 feet high, in freezing temperatures and against steep, rocky terrain. The Indian Air Force joined in with Operation Safed Sagar, pounding enemy positions on those snow-clad peaks. In these fierce clashes, 559 Indian soldiers and officers made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland. Thanks to their valor and determination, the Army recaptured strategic heights like Tololing and Tiger Hill from the enemy. Indeed, as we proudly recall, India lost some of its finest men but did not yield even an inch of its sacred land to the invader. The nation is forever indebted to these heroes, whose courage under impossible conditions safeguarded our sovereignty.
What makes this victory even more significant is the context of betrayal that preceded it. Just months before the conflict, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had traveled to Lahore, extending a sincere hand of friendship to Pakistan in the hope of lasting peace. However, Pakistan repaid this goodwill with perfidy – secretly sending its army to occupy the Kargil heights in a blatant violation of the Lahore Declaration.
On Kargil Vijay Diwas, India commemorates the triumph of our forces in the 1999 Kargil War – a day etched in national memory
As Vajpayee lamented, Pakistan had “betrayed India by making incursions in Kargil after signing the Lahore peace accord”. Yet India’s response to this treachery was swift and resolute. Vajpayee rose to the occasion, giving our armed forces full backing to hit back, while also mobilizing global diplomatic support for India’s stand. The world stood with India, and facing pressure from major powers, Pakistan was forced to withdraw its forces in disgrace. Vajpayee’s firm and principled leadership turned a treacherous attack into a resounding triumph.
This conflict also united India like never before. As our jawans fought bravely in the mountains, people across the country came together to support them. There was an outpouring of patriotism – citizens held prayer meetings, school children wrote letters to soldiers at the front, and thousands volunteered to donate blood for the injured. The names of Kargil’s martyrs were on everyone’s lips; communities honored fallen heroes by naming roads, scholarships and sports tournaments after them. This collective resolve on the home front matched the courage on the battlefield. It sent a message that all of India stood firmly with its armed forces.
Politically too, the Kargil victory underscored the importance of strong and decisive leadership. Bharatiya Janata Party has always stood for an uncompromising defense of India’s national interest – a stance vindicated by the Kargil war. Unlike those who at times advocated a softer approach or were willing to compromise for temporary peace, the NDA government under Vajpayee demonstrated that firm resolve is the only answer to aggression. This clarity of purpose and nationalist resolve, a core ideological commitment of the BJP, was instrumental in converting Pakistan’s betrayal into India’s victory.
The victory in Kargil came at a high cost, but it also produced immortal legends of heroism. Take the example of Captain Vikram Batra, whose bravery during the war became iconic. Capt. Batra led from the front in recapturing the treacherous Point 5140 and later Point 4875 in the Drass sector, famously radioing “Yeh Dil Maange
The legacy of Kargil is not just one of remembrance, but also of renewed resolve – a resolve to build a stronger, more secure India
More!” as a signal of victory. He eventually laid down his life in the fierce fight for Point 4875, but not before securing that peak – for which he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award. Fittingly, Point 4875 is today named “Batra Top” in his memory. Along with Capt. Batra, hundreds of other heroes – from Lt. Manoj Pandey (another Param Vir Chakra awardee, whose valor is commemorated in a gallery at the Drass War Memorial) to countless unsung jawans – displayed unparalleled courage and devotion. Their sacrifices and feats of valor will inspire generations to come, instilling in us a deep sense of national pride and duty.
The Kargil War Memorial in Drass, Ladakh stands as a proud tribute to India’s fallen heroes. Its central feature is a pink sandstone wall engraved with the names of all the soldiers who died during Operation Vijay. From this memorial one can see Tololing, Tiger Hill and “Batra Top” – the very mountains where our jawans fought and won against all odds. This hallowed ground, where the tricolor flies high, keeps the memory of their sacrifice alive and reminds every visitor of the valor that defended our nation.
The legacy of Kargil is not just one of remembrance, but also of renewed resolve – a resolve to build a stronger, more secure India. The BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, since 2014, made it its mission to bolster the nation’s defenses and honor our armed forces. Long-pending issues like One Rank, One Pension for veterans were finally resolved after decades, and historical military reforms – such as the creation of a Chief of Defense Staff – have been implemented to streamline and strengthen our security structure. Our forces are being equipped with modern weapons and technology, and border infrastructure has been upgraded so that the Army can take on any threat head-on. Equally important, a culture of utmost respect for soldiers has been institutionalized. The Prime Minister now spends each Diwali with troops at forward posts (in 2022 he celebrated with jawans in Kargil), underlining that the nation stands firmly with its sentinels. In a historic gesture, 21 islands of the Andaman & Nicobar archipelago have been renamed after Param Vir Chakra awardees – including heroes of Kargil – to eternally honor their valor. Across the nation, Vijay Diwas is now observed with great pride – from solemn ceremonies at the Drass memorial to youth-led initiatives, to pay tribute and to warn Pakistan against any mischief. From the 2016 surgical strikes in PoK to the Operation Sindoor of 2019, the Modi government has shown that India will respond decisively to every act of terrorism and aggression. Whether through new memorials, welfare initiatives, or decisive operations against threats, the spirit of Kargil continues to guide India’s leadership in strengthening the country’s security.
Kargil Vijay Diwas is a day to reaffirm our unity and sense of purpose as a nation. It reminds us that India’s sovereignty and dignity are non-negotiable, and that we must always be prepared to defend them. As we salute the heroes of Kargil, let us pledge to carry forward their legacy by being vigilant and patriotic citizens, and by supporting those who guard our nation. We must strengthen the hands of those who protect Bharat – be it our brave soldiers or a leadership that prioritizes national security and honor. We can never afford to become complacent or return to an era of weak responses; the sacrifice of our martyrs demands that we remain strong and steadfast. The triumph of Kargil was not just a military victory, but a victory of the indomitable Indian spirit. Today, that spirit burns bright as ever. Let us harness it to build an India that is strong, united and truly invincible.
Jai Hind!
Vande Mataram!
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
(The writer is National General
Secretary of the BJP)