Palampur (Himachal Pradesh): Exactly 21 years back on July 7, 1999, the biggest hero of the Kargil war Captain Vikram Batra made his supreme sacrifice. He was famously known as 'Sher Shah' by the Pakistanis while his parents used to call him Luv.
The entire world remembers him for his popular saying 'Yeh Dil Maange More - This Heart Wants More’ after eliminating his enemies.
Early life:
Vikram was born on 9 September 1974 in Ghuggar village of Palampur to G.L Batra and his wife Kamlakanta. After two daughters, the Batra couple wanted a son and the Almighty blessed them with twin sons whom they fondly named Lav-Kush. Vikram was the elder and Vishal was the younger one. Vikram received his higher education from DAV Chandigarh after completing schooling from DAV School in Palampur.
Even after getting selected in Merchant Navy at Hong Kong shipping company on a great salary he chose to be an Army officer and passed the Indian Military Academy exam in 1995.
Recalling the proud moments of his son, Vikram's father G.L Batra stated that participating in the Republic Day parade as an NCC cadet was Vikram's first step towards his passion for Army.
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The tragic Kargil War:
Vikram last visited his home just before the Kargil war. He met his friends at the Neugal Cafe where during a conversation he remarked that he will either return home by waving the tricolour or will return wrapped in the tricolour but he will return.
In the Kargil war, Lieutenant Vikram Batra's code name was Sher Shah. Batra was assigned the task to capture the peak of 5140 and he accomplished the task along with his comrades by defeating the Pakistani Army. After the victory, his famous saying 'Yeh Dil Maange More' filled every Indian with excitement and he was promoted to the post of Captain.
After winning the peak of 5140, Batra received a congratulatory call from the former Army Chief General V.P Malik.
Following this, the next mission was to hoist the tricolour on the peak of 4875 and during this time Batra was ill but still, he embarked on the mission.
Keeping his oath of serving the nation unconditionally till the last breath, Vikram faced the enemies with full valour and was killed while he was attending a fellow soldier who sustained bullet injuries. He received martyrdom during the mission and the nation lost its most loving son. Vikram was cremated in Palampur with full state honours. Thousands of people paid their tributes to the martyr.
His mother believes that God gave her twin sons so that she can give one to the motherland.
Paramveer Capt Vikram Batra:
Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously given the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest gallantry award. On 26 January 2000, his father G.L Batra received the honour from former President K.R Narayanan.
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Extending his condolences, the then Army Chief V.P Malik had said, "Vikram had the energy, passion and courage that made him the greatest hero of the nation. He was so talented that if he had not been a martyr, he would have sat on my chair one day and become the Army Chief."
The 'Sher Shah' of Kargil is still alive:
It has been 21 years since Captain Vikram Batra got martyred, but the stories of his bravery, courage and patriotism are still famous right from the streets of Palampur to the corridors of Indian Military Academy.
He is still alive as a sweet memory among his family members and his 'Yeh Dil Maange More' saying is yet effective to fill countrymen with pride.
The story of Captain Vikram Batra can be a source of inspiration for many as he sacrificed his life for the pride of his nation at a very young age of 24. Vikram became the face of the Kargil war as his supreme sacrifice has been written with golden letters in the history of the nation.
His father has appealed the government to involve the life history and biographies of prominent martyrs of the nation into the school syllabus so that children can get inspired through their stories and can contribute in building the nation.
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