In pictures: Kargil War Memorial in Ladakh commemorates 23 years of triumph
On the eve of the 23rd Kargil Vijay Diwas, My Kolkata brings a virtual tour of the memorial that pays tribute to our fallen war heroes
By
Karo Christine Kumar |
Published 25.07.22, 03:35 PM
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The Kargil War Memorial was built in November, 2004, in memory of brave Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Kargil War. The war was fought from May 8 to July 26 in 1999 against Pakistani intruders who transgressed the Line of Control (LOC)
Photos: Karo Christine Kumar
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The memorial is located along the Srinagar-Leh highway in the town of Drass, where some of the bloodiest battles were fought in sub-zero temperatures
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When ‘My Kolkata’ visited the memorial on July 20, the rehearsal for the 23rd Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations, observed every year on July 26, was being conducted
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A series of ceremonies is being planned from July 24-26, 2022, at the memorial, where serving and retired army personnel, Kargil war veterans, and Next of Kins (NoKs) of the fallen heroes are expected to attend
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The cenotaph, carved out of pink sandstone, is the central feature of the memorial. It houses the Amar Jawan Jyoti or the ‘eternal flame’ for soldiers, and carries an extract from the poem ‘Pushp ki Abhilasha’ by Makhanlal Chaturvedi
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Behind the cenotaph is the ‘Wall of Fame’ engraved with the names of 559 bravehearts who laid down their lives in #OpVijay
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Lieutenant Kanad Bhattacharya was 24 when he lost his life fighting Pakistani troops near Tiger Hill during the Kargil War. His body was discovered buried in snow, two months after his martyrdom. Bhattacharya was from Baranagar in West Bengal
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War hero Capt. Vikram Batra (centre) who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra. Did you know that both Sidharth Malhotra and Abhishek Bachchan have played the captain’s role in separate films in Bollywood?
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To the west of the memorial is Veer Bhoomi, where rows of epitaphs stand out against the barren Ladakh mountains. It is dedicated to Indian soldiers who went beyond the call of duty since 1947, in operations other than Vijay
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The Hut of Remembrance was added in 2009. It houses photos from the battle zone, and models of four pivotal battles at Tololing peak, Tiger Hill, Point 4875 and Khalubar Ridge. The hut also displays a captured Pakistani flag, weapons and documents
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This lifesize model of a Bofors gun depicts the contribution of artillery to the Kargil War
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A selfie spot to mark one’s visit
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Words to remember as one leaves the Kargil War Memorial
