20 years on, kin of Kargil martyrs hold on to memories

Even though it has been 20 years since Indian troops recaptured several mountain tops in Kashmir from Pakistan, wounds are still fresh in the hearts of families who lost their brave sons in the Kargil war.

New Delhi: The day on which the nation commemorates its hard-earned victory in the Kargil War is also an occasion that invokes feelings of both pain and pride for the families of the brave jawans who laid down their lives protecting their motherland from intruders.

As the country celebrates the 20th anniversary of 'Operation Vijay', the families of those killed in the conflict have come a long way. They remember their loved ones with pride, but the feelings of sadness have not waned.

'Alive only because of the respect my son gets'

Recalling pain-filled memories of her only son, Kargil Martyr Vijay Bhandari's mother Ramchandri tears up, saying that the pain will never cease to exist. "I still think about my son, the pain will never be erased. Everyone has to die some day, but I feel very proud that my only son died for the country," she says.She goes on to say that the respect her son gets even 20 years after his death, is what keeps her aging body alive. "I am only alive because of the respect he gets. Everyone recognises me as Vijay Bhandari's mother. The only pain today is that he is not alive," she adds.

'Left after getting engaged, came back in a coffin'

Another moving story is that of Martyr Rajesh Gurung of the 2 Naga Regiment who wrote a heartfelt letter to his family before being killed in action during the Kargil war. Recalling her son's last letter, Basanti Devi says that she lost her 'clear-sighted' son to the war, who was 'full of promise'.

"He had sent a letter. 'I am going to war, I will not be able to speak with you. Whether I come back alive or not, get my two sisters married,' he wrote. He was full of promise and was clear sighted," she says.

Teary-eyed Basanti Devi then adds that though her son laid down his life for the nation, it would have been better if she could have seen him getting married. "He left after his engagement, but two months later, he came back in a coffin. He was so young," she says.

'He didn't want family to be worried'

Martyr Jaideep Singh Bhandari also has a similar story. Even while facing death, the brave soldier from the 17 Garhwal Rifles regiment did not want his family to be worried.

Recalling his final telephonic conversation with his brother, Jasveer Bhandari, a retired IAF officer himself, says, "My brother had called on the neighbour's telephone. He said he was going to the front line and asked me not to tell this to anyone at home. He said we would discuss the matter once he got home."

'I lost my sons, but will still send my grand-kids to the army'

Even though he dearly clutches on to the diary of his martyred son, Tikaram Thapa's father Parveen does not have any second thoughts when asked about the profession he would want his grandchildren to choose.

Tikaram Thapa, who lost both his sons to war, says, "I would like to encourage the youth to join the forces. I had already lost my elder son, but still sent my younger son Parveen to the army. I will not hesitate to even send my grandchildren to the army."

As families remember all their brave soldier sons who fought gallantly for the pride of the nation, India salutes the unprecedented courage of every martyr.

Read: Kargil Day: Father of Martyr Captain Saurabh Kalia still awaits justice for his son