KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS
July 26 is observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas- named after Operation Vijay marking the Indian victory in the Kargil war back in 1999 with the loss of over 550 Indian soldiers. As Tuesday(26TH July,2011) marks the 12th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Dailybhaskar takes a glimpse at the life in Kargil, 12 years after India’s triumph over Pakistan. There was a time when every household in Kargil was encroached upon either by Kashmir militants or Pakistan army. It was then that the Kargil war took place between Pakistan Army and India. Twelve years down the line, the heroes are still defending the Valley from the aggression of the enemy.And the inhabitants of Kargil are grateful to these warriors for defending their homeland from the evil designs of the militants. Every two people of each family are in the defence service.
Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed throughout the country on July 26 to mark the Indian victory in the Kargil war, which was first waged by the Kashmiri militants soon joined by the Pakistan army. Indian army has to fight Pakistan army, Kashmir militants and even some foreign Jihadi agents to win the Kargil war. After 74 days of extreme bloodshed and losing over 543 soliders on extreme heights of Kashmir valley, Indian army finally got victory in clearing up the insurgents. On the occasion of the 12th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, War Memorial located in hills of Tololing will organise two day programme. During the event, the families of the Paramveer Chakra, Mahaveer Chakra and other bravery award recipients will participate to commemorate and pay their tribute to the martyrs of Kargil War.
The Kargil war heroes may not be with us, but their act of bravery are still intact with this senior officer of Defence Ministry, who has captured bit by bit action of the war in his camera. The pictures of the Indian soldiers furling the National Tricolour at the hills of Kargil captured by Major Deepak Das still narrate the winning moment of India. These images were taken when the temperature was minus 60 degrees Celsius. On July 07, 1999, Indian soldiers had braved the extreme cold weather at the height of 17,400 ft and had succeeded in clearing the Tiger Hill-highest hill point of Kargil from the clutches of the enemy.
Tiger Hills, Drass war memorial are high on plans every year for lakhs of tourists visiting Leh. Tololing hills are easily visible from the memorial. The excitement among the visitors to know about the brave tales of Kargil war soldiers makes them brave the chilly weather. The memorial witnesses the influx of ove 200 visitors daily. For Thapaliyals, listening to the tale of Operation Vijay at Drass was all in all a different experience. The memorial has a photo gallery that gives a chance to the visitors to relive every moment of action at the Kargil hills.
Kargil is a district of Ladakh,Kashmir Kargil lies near the Line of Control facing Pakistan administered Kashmir’s Baltistan to the west, and Kashmir valley to the south. Zankar is part of Kargil district along with Suru, Wakha and Dras valleys. Kargil was at the center of a conflict between India and Pakistan in 1999. Kargil district is nestled in the Himalayas, giving it a cool temperate, climate. Summers are warm with cool nights, while winters are long and cold with temperatures often dropping to −40 °C (−40 °F) with recorded temperatures of −60 °C (−76 °F) in the tiny town of Dras situated some 56 km (35 mi) from the Kargil town. The Zanskar plateau is even colder, making it thus a near-uninhabitable place for humans, except for the hardy Khampas The entire Kargil district is spread over 14,086 km2 (5,439 sq mi). The Suru River flows through the district. National Highway 1D, connecting Srinagar to Leh, cuts through Kargil. This highway is typically open for traffic only from June to mid-November due to heavy snowfall at the Zoji La but in recent years it has been opened before June. Kargil is located 204 km (127 mi) from the capital city of Srinagar. There is a partially paved road—the first 40 kilometres (25 mi) or so—leading from Kargil south to Zanskar. Total distance to Zanskar is nearly 220 km (140 mi), which is again open only from June to September. The region has recently been opening to tourists, with steps a travel hub by the Indian Government. Recently, both India and Pakistan have considered linking the Pakistan town of Skardu with Kargil via a bus route to facilitate free movement of Kashmiris in the area.
With a population of 119,307 Kargil(2001) is the only Muslim majority district in Ladakh. Of total population, 80% are Muslim 95,963, of which 73% follow Ismaili Shia Islam. Most of the district's Muslims are found in Kargil town,Drass, Wakha and the lower Suru valley. Of the remainder 15% are followers of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon mostly found in Zanskarwith small populations in the upper Suru valley (Rangdum) and around Shergol and Mulbekh. Another 4% of the population follow Hinduism and Sikhism Much of Kargil population is inhabited by the Burig and Balti people of origin (converting from Buddhism to Islam in the 16th Century) and have intermingled with the Dard Mon and other Aryan people. The mainly Muslim Dards inhabit the valley of Drass and speak Shina, a small number of Buddhist Dard, known as Brokpa, inhabit the Dha Hanu region near the Lamayuru monastery. Some Arghons and Shina are also settled in Kargil Town. The name Kargil is said to be derived from the words Khar and rKil. Khar means castleand rKil means center thus a place between castles as the place lay between many kingdoms The competing theory is that Kargil has been derived from the words "Gar" and "Khil". Gar in local language mean ‘Anywhere’ and Khil means a central place where people could stay.
DRASS: Army will celebrate the 12th anniversary of the 1999 Kargil war victory on Monday, 24th, July, 2011, with a host of events at the War Memorial in Drass sub-sector of Kargil division in Jammu and Kashmir.The two-day commemoration will include a wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial, sainik samelam (soldiers meet), memorial service, band display and 'Beating the Retreat'.Kargil War, which began in May 1999, lasted more than two months before Pakistan soldiers, a bulk of them drawn from its Northern Light Infantry, and irregulars withdrew from the mountain tops it had occupied overlooking the Srinagar-Leh highway.
In the battles, Indian Army lost 490 officers and soldiers, many of whom were posthumously honoured with gallantry awards. Drass War Memorial, which has been built in the foothills of the Tololing Hill, will host the ceremonies for two days. The Drass town, 150 kms from summer capital Srinagar, was a major battle zone in the summer of 1999 and rose to prominence in the aftermath of the war for being associated with the Tiger Hill and Tololing Hill, which also were the stages for many Bollywood films.The chief guest of the two day event will be General Officer Commanding of Army's Northern Command Lt Gen KT Parnaik. Widows and relatives of the soldiers who lost their lives in more than two months of intense battles in Kargil, Mushkok, Batalik, Drass will also be present on the memorial events to mark the anniversary.
Kargil district, is around 204 Kms. to the east of Srinagar and234Kms. to the west of Leh.It was a transit point of caravans on their way to and from China, Tibet, Yarken and Kashmir till 1949, but since 1974 with the influx of tourists the region has been replaced as centre for tourism related activities. Tourists traveling between Zangskar, Leh and Srinagar have to make a night halt here, before starting for the second day of their journey. Kargil is located on the bank of the Suru River which flows at around 10,000 ft. high. Here people were followers of Buddhist religion till the 14th century AD Suru valley has a beautiful landscape to view, especially when it gets dotted by flowers in the summer. The valley expands from Kargil town upto the Penzi La watershed, from where the Suru river rises. The valley constitutes a large population, mainly of Tibetan-Dard Muslims, who converted to Islam in the 15th century. The peaks of Nun (7,135m) and Kun (7,035m) Massif add to the beautification of this region. . Presently, Kargil is inhabited by Panikhar is the best station to undertake mountaineering expeditions to the various Peaks surrounding the valley. Tanyol, the approach base for climbing Mt. Nun, is just 6 Kms. further up the valley along the road. A short walk up the hill slopes from here takes one across the Sentik Ridge to the base camp on the rim of the ice plateau. Another very interesting hike is to the Nun- Kun view saddle (3810m) in the Parkachik ridge. This requires 3 hours of walking along verdant slopes overlooking the fertile valley below.
Muslims of Shia sect Drass is around 60 Kms. to the west of Kargil on the road to Srinagar. The place has beautiful pasture grounds and majestic mountain peaks surrounding it. Drass is the second coldest inhabited place in the world, where the temperature goes as low as – 50 degree.
The NCC Group Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday paid rich tribute to soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil operations to flush out enemy troops from Indian territory. The 2 Kerala Battalion NCC Thirumala organized a function at the Martyrs Column,Palayam,in connection with Kargil Vijay Diwas. Captain Jerry Premraj who was slain by enemy troops during the Kargil operation, was in the NCC during ,was in the NCC during his student days. The head of the Royal family of erstwhile Travancore Uthradam tirunal Marthanda Varfma, was the chief guest at the function. He laid a wreath at the Martyrs Column.
Prof. John Kurakar
No comments:
Post a Comment