Thread by @sheshapatangi1

On this day Captain Vikram Batra and Anuj Nayyar attained Veera Marana while protecting their motherland.
Award - PARAM VIR CHAKRA (Posthomous)
Year of Award - 1999 (Independence Day)
Service No.IC-57556
Rank at time of Award - CAPT
Unit - 13 JAK RIF
Elder of the twins Vikram &

Vishal, his father was a Principal & mother, a school teacher.
Vikram was an all-rounder at school, adjudged the best NCC cadet of north, a green belt holder in karate and played TT at national level.
Deeply patriotic from a young age, Vikram was always keen on joining the Army.

In 1996, his dream was fulfilled when he cleared the CDS examination with flying colours and joined the Indian Military Academy where he was commissioned as a lieutenant. His first posting was in the Sapore, J&K.
When Kargil War broke out Vikram had just completed a Commando

Course at Belagavi and got leave to celebrate Holi with his family at his home Palampur. Like he always did when he returned home, he headed to Neugal Cafe (a local riverside eatery) for a cup of coffee with his friend.
“The war has begun who knows when you will be asked to go,

you better be careful.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll either come back after raising the Indian flag in victory or return wrapped in it, but I will come for sure”, was Vikram’s reply to his friend’s concerned words.
Vikram’s unit received orders to move to Kargil and he reported for duty

on June 1, 1999. Eighteen days later, on June 19, 1999, he was ordered to recapture Point 5140 in his first major battle in the war.
In spite of the enemy having the advantage of height, Vikram and his men led a brilliant tactical assault on the enemy. Pakistani camp was routed,

their soldiers killed and 13 J&K Rifles won a decisive victory that strengthened Bharat’s hold on the territory (and would later lead to the fall of Tiger Hill, and to eventual victory).
Elated that all his men had made it alive Vikram told his commander “Ye Dil Maange More"

to express his desire to do more. The photo of the young captain, laughing besides an anti-aircraft gun snatched from Pakistani soldiers, also went on to become the most enduring image of India’s first televised war.
On June 29, 1999, Vikram called from base camp before leaving

for another crucial operation. He told his worried parents, “Ek dum fit hoon, fikar mat karna ”. That was the last time he spoke to them.
Vikram’s twin, Vishal Batra, has treasured the letters Vikram wrote to him.
This one reads, “”Don’t mind my handwriting. I’m at a height of

17,200 feet. It’s very cold here”.
On the night of July 7, Vikram and his men began their tortuous climb to fortify the Indian force which was already fighting the invaders at 16,000 feet. The enemy got wind that the formidable Sher Shah (Vikram’s code name) had arrived and

intensified their attack, raining mortar and automatic fire from above. They knew who Sher Shah was — by then, the young captain’s military prowess had become the stuff of legend on both sides.
Vikram counter-attacked ferociously, supported ably by his friend and fellow officer

Anuj Nayyar, engaging in hand-to-hand combat, clearing enemy bunkers and egging their men forward, the two brave hearts forced the shocked enemy to retreat.
The mission was almost over when a junior officer injured his legs in an explosion. As Vikram rushed out of the bunker to

rescue him, his subedar begged him not to go and said he would go instead. But Vikram told him: “Tu baal-bacchedar hain, hat ja peeche.”
Under heavy fire he hurled grenades at the enemy’s machine gun post and killed five soldiers in close combat while moving towards the injured

lieutenant. He had just reached and was lunging to lift his mate when he was hit by a bullet in his chest.
Mortally wounded, Vikram passed way after completing the mission in a manner that etched his name him alongside some of India’s greatest military heroes. By morning, Bharat

had recaptured Peak 4875 (now called Vikram Batra Top) but lost two of her bravest sons.
At Vikram’s funeral, his mother said, “Maybe there was a reason why God gave me twins — one he had marked for the country and one for me.”
For his sustained display of the most conspicuous

personal bravery and leadership of the highest order in the face of the enemy, Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded Param Vir Chakra.
Captain Anuj Nayyar was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra — the nation’s second highest honour.

#JaiHind
#VandeMataram