A Retired War Veteran Talks About The First Independence Day In Kargil After The 1999 War

Ever thought how the first Independence Day was celebrated in Kargil after Indian Army fought a two-month long gripping war with Pakistan in 1999?

What was going on in the hearts of the soldiers who had shed their blood to reconquer the heights while mourning the deaths of their fellow soldiers who were martyred on the line of duty?

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The war had just finished and there was neither the museum hailing the sacrifices of the soldiers nor the massive tricolour unfurling at the base of Kargil heights back then.

How did the soldiers stationed there celebrate the first Independence Day post the war with Pakistan?

Col RB Singh

Col (retd) RB Singh, a Kargil war veteran who commanded the supply of logistics including ammunition to the troops, recalls how he and his fellow soldiers celebrated the first Independence Day post the Kargil war.

AFP

¡°We were cautious and alert that Pakistanis might come back and attack. Of course, the joy of victory added to the celebrations of Independence Day, but past experience of wars against Pakistan made us stay agile and alert,¡± recalls Col Singh who now resides in Noida post retirement.

Col Singh recalls the hardships, the soldiers had taken to win the Kargil heights seized by the Pakistan army regular garbed as fidayeens.

¡°It all started in 3 May 1999 when India launched offensive to reclaim the lost Kargil heights. Battles for Tololing and Tiger Hill are in the folklores of Indian Army¡¯s history now and we all know about the hardships and sacrifices Indian soldiers made to reclaim those heights. First Independence Day at Kargil made us realise the magnitude of sacrifices the soldiers, both who were alive as well as those 539 soldiers who were martyred, made for the country,¡± said an emotional Col Singh.

AFP

Col Singh also shared photographs of his service in Kargil war. Whether it¡¯s the seizure of weapons from the Pakistanis or any other photographs, every picture is a story in itself.

Col Singh also talked about the people in general who stood by and encouraged the Indian Army during and after the war.

Col RB Singh

¡°Since we were ensuring that Jawans don¡¯t run out of ammunition and other logistics while battling the terrorists, we had to move from one sector to other. And local people, both during the war and after it got over, would great us with waving hands which encouraged us to fight more ferociously because it¡¯s them and this country we were fighting for. I must say people played a great role in India winning the Kargil war,¡± recalls Col Singh.

Col RB Singh

Today¡¯s Kargil is different from what it was then. Today it has turned into an abode that hails soldiers and their sacrifices and on every 15th day of August, hundreds of Indians visit this hallowed ground to pay their respects.

But the Independence Day of 1999 was indeed a special one because it was only witnessed by the likes of Col Singh who served their country in those bloody months of war.

Jai Hind.