CAPTAIN VIKRAM BATRA


INTRODUCTION

 Captain Vikram Batra is remembered as a brave and inspiring soldier who made great sacrifices during the Kargil War. While helping his wounded soldiers in Kargil, he was shot and martyred. In 1999, when Pakistan had fraudulently captured several peaks of Kargil, the Indian Army launched Operation Vijay to liberate those peaks, Captain Vikram Batra played the most important role in this war. For his bravery, the Government of India posthumously awarded Captain Vikram Batra the highest and most prestigious award, the Param Vir Chakra.



BIRTH AND PERSONAL LIFE 

Palampur resident teachers GL Batra and Kamalkant Batra gave birth to twin boys on 9 September 1974 after two daughters. Mata Kamalkant had deep faith in Shri Ramcharitmanas, so she named them both Luv and Kush. Lava means Vikram and Kush means huge. First he got admission in DAV School, then Kendriya Vidyalaya Palampur. As the school was located in the army cantonment, Vikram used to keep a close watch on the army personnel every day. At the same time, Vikram was very fond of military valor stories, serials and films, due to which Vikram had a sense of patriotism from the time of school. In school, Vikram was not only a topper in the field of education, but was also a topper in table tennis. Apart from being a class player, he also had the spirit to actively participate in cultural events. After 12th Vikram moved to Chandigarh and started his graduation in science at DAV College, Chandigarh. During his college days, Captain Vikram Batra joined the NCCA Air Wing. Here Captain Vikram Batra qualified C Certificate and was given the rank of Captain Vikram Batra in NCC. In 1994, he participated in the Republic Day parade as an NCC cadet. During his college in 1995, he was selected for merchant navy with a shipping company but changed his mind. After completing his graduation in 1995, he joined Panjab University, Chandigarh to pursue MA in English.



MILITARY CAREER

In 1996, he took the CDS exam to join the army and was selected by the Services Selection Board at Allahabad. He was one of the top 35 candidates to get selected in this exam, he left his college to join the Indian Military Academy. On completing his training in December 1997, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army's 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on 6 December 1997 at Sopore, Jammu. In March 1998, he was sent to the Infantry School in Madhya Pradesh for five months to complete the Young Officers' Course.


On completion of the course, he was awarded alpha grading and rejoined his battalion in Jammu and Kashmir. He also did a lot of training in 1999 with commando training. Before his martyrdom in the Kargil war, he came home on leave from the army on the festival of Holi, met his best friend and fiancee Dimple Cheema, during which the war was also discussed, on which the captain said that I or So I will come unfurling the tricolor or wrap myself in the tricolor, but I will definitely come.




KARGIL WAR , VICTORY OF PEAK 5140 

On 1 June 1999, his unit was sent to the Kargil war. Vikram was made the captain by winning the hump and raki nab position. After this Captain Batra's contingent got the responsibility of liberating the most important 5140 peak just above the Srinagar-Leh road from the Pak Army. Capt Batra along with his company advanced towards this area from the east and reached close without being detected by the enemy. Captain Batra along with his men launched a direct assault on the enemy positions. Leading the squad, he fearlessly attacked the enemy and killed four in a hand-to-hand fight.

Despite being a very remote area, Vikram Batra along with his companions captured this peak at 3:30 am on 20 June 1999. When Captain Vikram Batra announced his victory through the radio from this peak, Yeh Dil Maange Mor Ki, his name was known not only in the army but in the whole of India. During this, along with Vikram's codename Sher Shah, he was also given the title of Lion of Kargil. The next day the picture of Vikram Batra and his team with the Indian flag at Shikhar 5140 appeared in the media.




VICTORY AND MARTYRDOM AT POINT 4875 PEAK

After this, on 7 July 1999, the Indian Army started the operation to capture the Point 4875 peak. For this also the responsibility was entrusted to Captain Vikram and his troop. It was such a difficult place that there were steep slopes on both sides and the only way was blocked by the enemies. To accomplish this mission, Captain Vikram Batra decided to attack the enemy positions from a narrow plateau.


In a fierce hand-to-hand fight during the war, Captain Vikram Batra killed five enemy soldiers at point black range. During this he came under the target of enemy sniper and was seriously injured. Even after this, while crawling, he hurled grenades at the enemies and killed them. In this war, he accomplished an almost impossible task by being at the forefront.


Captain Vikram Batra's brave fight in the Kargil War stands as an example of the heroism and sacrifice of India's armed forces. His determination, courage in the face of challenges, and ultimate sacrifice have made him a hero in the hearts of the nation. Captain Batra's legacy will continue to inspire future generations to serve their country with devotion. He will always be remembered as a true hero and a symbol of bravery in Indian military history.

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