Soldiers Who Gave Their Today For Our Tomorrow

A Tribute To Kargil Martyr Capt. Vijyant Thapar

As we move close to our 59th Independence Day, let us pause for a moment to look back at history so that we can really feel the word independence in its true sense and not just mistake it for just another holiday in the calendar. Sometimes we just take our independence for granted but if we look back we will find enormous cases of selfless sacrifice from brave Indian nationals. In this new series of articles let us look back at some of those brave sons of mother India who gave their today's for our tomorrow.

Gallant Kargil martyr Capt. Vijyant Thapar (Robin) was one such hero who was only 22 when he fell after taking the 4,700 Peak in the Drass sector. Just moments before he led the last assault that night, Vijyant has written a letter to his family which speaks volumes of the man's character in the most difficult circumstances. He knew deep inside that he was not coming back but he just kept on doing what he did best.

For his birthday gift on December 26, 1999, Captain Thapar got a Vir Chakra that he earned at the cost of his young life. As we wrote to his parents in his last letter, "By the time you receive this letter, I shall be watching you from the sky enjoying the company of Apsaras"  

Young Vijyant of 2 Rajputana Rifles had passed out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) and after two months in counter insurgency operations in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir was drafted for the recovery of crucial peaks in the Drass sector occupied by the Pakistani army.

It was Captain Vijyant's last wish that his father and other countrymen should come n visit the heights where the army jawans sacrificed their lives. for the dignity of their motherland. " If you can, please come and see where the Indian Army fought for your tomorrow," the letter read. Needless to say Vijyant's 58- year-old father Colonel Vijendra Thapar fulfilled that wish. It was a climb to the peak at an altitude of 16,000 feet in the chilly winds.

Captain Thapar achieved immortal honour during the Kargil war.According to his father Col. V.N. Thapar, in death he epitomized the spirit of national pride - an honour which makes every sacrifice worthwhile. His actions will forever inspire generations of Indians to come.

A Sad End To A Beautiful Love Story
(Extracted from Captain Thapar's official Website)

Ruksana lost her speech when her father was brutally murdered by militants in front of her eyes in her village in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir and it took all of Kargil martyr Captain Vijyant Thapar's love to get it back. The six year - old's world had come crashing down around her after her father Mohammad Akbar was gunned down by foreign mercenaries, but she was soon to discover her knight in shinning armour when a company of two Rajputana Rifles moved into her
school in Kandi village. The 22-year old officer met her through the principal of the school and started loving the child immensely. Capt. Thapar and his "sahayak" Sepoy Jagmal Singh Shekhawat, who also died next to his "saheb" in the battle to capture the "knoll" feature in Drass sub-sector, used to steal away from the unit and visit Ruksana each evening and take sweets and toffees for her, soldiers in the battalion say.

Their love developed into trust and Capt. Thapar's persistent efforts paid off when Ruksana started speaking again. He used to contribute a small amount of money each month to the girl's poor family towards her education. Minutes before going on his 'last' operation, the young officer, probably on a premonition, wrote to his family and asked them to take care of her. "Contribute some money to an orphanage and keep sending some money to Ruksana every month."he wrote minutes before he was going to lead his men into battle on that fateful night of June 28. He had told his mother about Ruksana on the phone and described his beautiful relationship. Now his parents have decided to send money to her regularly.

To read the complete extract of Captain Vijyant Thapar's last letter Click Here.  Credit for all photographs to Captain Vijyant Thapar's official website.

Today as we approach yet another independence day, we must ask ourselves do we really understand the value of our independence or are we taking it for granted? Are we as a society doing anything to give back something to the families of those brave soldiers who have died for our future? We can either blame the government or push them to a wall and force them to act so that the family members of all the brave martyr's feel safe and secure. That's the least we can do for them as a nation. After the war there are lot of promises and assurances but with time everything fades out. Have we just lost the zeal to feel united as a nation and isn't that one of the reasons why terror elements are now able to penetrate deep into our homes to strike. Its time we rise from
our sleep and come out of our comfort zones. If we keep waiting for things to happen or a miracle to take place, we will just be wasting our times. Lets us try n make an attempt to make things happen. For those martyrs, for our own selves and our future generations.

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