Kargil Vijay Diwas: The story of a soldier who promised, but never came back

Nayak Jitendra Singh Chauhan had promised in a letter that he would come back home a month later. His mother and his pregnant wife kept waiting for days, but he did not return. The brave soldier from Agra returned wrapped up in the Tricolor, having sacrificed his life for his country.

Agra (UP): 'Kargil' is not merely the name of a district, but an emotion that reminds us of brave stories of the soldiers who were martyred in the war.

It was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir. The war killed 527 and wounded more than 1,363 soldiers.

Agra, the beautiful city famous for Taj Mahal, also witnessed moments of despair as well as pride when 7 martyred soldiers came back home, wrapped in the Tricolour. 25-year-old Nayak Jitendra Singh Chauhan, wrote a letter to his wife and his mother promising his next posting in the Kanpur Regiment in the coming month.

"I have talked to my seniors, they have assured me that I will be posted there," he had written. At the time, his wife was pregnant and likely to deliver the child within 2-3 days. But soon, the news of Nayak Chauhan losing his life in the war came.

He was not the only one who sacrificed his life for his motherland.

• Dharmaveer Singh of Malupur resident was recruited in 17 Jat Regiment. He informed his family members that next month he would come home but he went back. Unfortunately, he died on May 30, 1999 fighting against enemies in the Kargil war.
• Gahra resident Hasan Hammad was posted in Kashmir. Amar Jawan Hassan Mohammad fought bravely against the enemies and was martyred in Kargil on June 30, 1999.
• Amiruddin, a native of Mainpuri, was posted at the CKM HM Post of 22 Grenadiers. Amiruddin fought against the enemies and received martyrdom on July 3, 1999.
• Village Ukhrra resident Mohan Singh Rajput was posted as Constable in the 5th para regiment. Rajput was martyred on July 24, 1999.
• Shyamveer Singh, a resident of Okla, was posted as Nayak in the Jat regiment. He was martyred on July 9, 1999. ​​​​​​

Since then, July 26 is celebrated as the Kargil Vijay Diwas in India. The day celebrates the victory of Operation Vijay.

While the 60-day long war resulted in the loss of life on both the sides, India won the war by regaining control of all the previously held territories, re-establishing the status quo antebellum.