5 Unsung Heroes From The Kargil War Leading Vastly Different Lives Today

Terrorism has been a recurrent and fatal flu to India. It comes, causes the massacre, we defeat it, and then it hits back again, leaving us with a lump in our throats and a sunken heart. The recent attack in Gurdaspur has got our hearts racing once again, for all the brave hearts who took the bullets to keep them from hitting us.

With this article, however, I don’t really mean to discuss an account of all the infamous terrorist attacks that continue to jolt us even today when we think about them, but, to bring to light some of the unsung heroes from the landmark Kargil War. India celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas on every 26th July, remembering the win that she gained after battling it out against the perpetrators from Pakistan, in the Kargil district of Kashmir. The day also gets us reminiscing of the many soldiers who dealt with the opposition first hand.

While some died fighting to save the motherland, some others survived to tell us the goosebumps-triggering stories of the frightening nights and days that they spent at the LOC. Some of these heroes who made the extraordinary contribution of their strength are leading very different lives today.

1. Capt Satender Sangwan– Lost his leg during the war. Later became a champion badminton player!

Regiment- 16 Grenadiers

Of his days on the battlefield, Capt. Sangwan says, “We spent over two months in Drass and Batalik sectors. On June 29, 1999, we demolished bunkers in the Black Rock area. While returning from a patrol operation, I stepped on a landmine and lost my right leg.”

Even after having to retire from the army on medical grounds, Sangwan’s journey of an undeterred soldier did not end. Instead, he continues to hit the bulls-eye in whatever he does, till date. After serving in the Indian army, he got the job of an HR Executive in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. And, apparently for the same, he received a national award in the year 2009 for being the best employee with a physical disability.

As for his achievements in the field of badminton, he has been crowned a champion for three years in a row at the Senior National Badminton Championship for the Physically Challenged. He has also represented India in the World Badminton Championship for the Physically Challenged.

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2. Roshan Lal Wazir- The daredevil, who fought until his body gave up completely.

Rank- Subedar

Just a minute after his lieutenant took a cigarette drag, the enemies opened fire, leaving Wazir with 80% disability, four of his colleagues dead, and several others severely injured. But such daring is the heart of a soldier, that despite all the outcry, his team continued to fight and recaptured the Point 4812. After having lived that fatal night like a total hero, Wazir spent 6 months in a hospital, fighting with complicated medical issues.

Today, he has a rod inserted in his left leg, and he can barely make the distance from his house to the neighbouring grocery shop. His family lives off Rs. 13,000 that he gets as pension, in Jammu. He was also expecting a gas agency from the government, but after learning that it is apparently only given to the families of the martyrs, his expectations died out.

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3. Dan Singh Mehta- Runs a cosmetic store and gives away Kargil Stories for free

Regiment- 12th Jat Regiment

On his birthday, July 25, 1999, Mehta and his team covered a mosque in Pyasi, after being informed of the attack of infiltrators on the site. The heavy intensity of firing from the enemy side left him and two other soldiers severely injured, and two dead. The fighting, however, continued for an hour afterwards. And by the end of it, amidst all the blood and sweat, Mehta and his team-mates managed to shoot down 3 infiltrators dead.

Following that incident, Mehta was left 70% handicapped, and so he had to retire in 2001 from the army on medical grounds.

Today, defying to live off solely on a soldier’s pension, Mehta runs his own business, called Mehta Sringar Centre (Mehta Cosmetic Centre). Here, he finds it hard to deal with female customers. But all fuss aside, he has introduced an interesting policy, which says, “Buy anything and hear stories about Kargil War for free!”

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4. Digendra Kumar- Indulged in a hand-to-hand fight with the enemy before finally being able to unfurl the Indian flag at the point of capture

Image sources: 1, 2

Regiment- 2 Rajputana Rifles 

Commando Digendra Kumar was in the team of Major Vivek Gupta, whose task required of him to recapture the Point 4590 on Tololing Hill in Dras. Kumar was commissioned to fire the first and the last of the 11 bunkers made by the Pakistani army on the hilltop. The other team members were required to fire the other 9 bunkers. However, while getting a go ahead with the mission, the firing from the opposite side killed most of Kumar’s colleagues, including Major Vivek Gupta.

Kumar, however, despite being shot several times, continued his fight. His firing aided the remaining members to get a head easily. At one time, though, all of his team members were shot dead. However before collapsing, they had given their weapons to Kumar. Kumar threw 18 grenades in all of the 11 bunkers. But then, out of nowhere Major Anwar Khan from the enemy side appeared before him. In the fight, Kumar lost his gun but the urge to finally win the Point 4590 compelled him to grab the enemy by his hair and behead him with a dagger. After this heroic hand-to-hand fight, Kumar recaptured the hill and unfurled the Indian flag.

Today, Kumar is supposedly the only soldier to have been awarded the Mahavir Chakra for his significantly powerful contributions in the war, while alive.

But is an award enough to get the brave commando’s life post-war back on track? As of 2009, Kumar lives off on a 2,400 pension, a land that he inherited from his father and has been expecting the 50 bighas of non-irrigated land that the government had promised him.

In the Bollywood movie, LOC, actor Avtar Gill enacted the role of Digendra Kumar.

Fact Sources: 1, 2

 

5. Bahadur Singh – Lost vision in one eye, as of 2009, he does not even have a home or a job.

Regiment- 19 Grenadiers

On May 24, 1999, at around 10:30 am, enemies opened fire at Bahadur Singh and his team. Amidst the fatal exchange of flying bullets, a splinter hit Bhadur’s legs and an eye, taking away his vision. But, it was what happened after the morning of May 24 1999, that left him gloomy and helpless. Singh, with his wife, lived in a relatives’ house. And they were allowed one room and just a small portion of the kitchen. (As per the records of 2009)

Referring to the public/government support, Bahadur Singh was quoted as saying, “No one bothers rehabilitating us once we are rendered useless for the Army.”

Fact Source 

These, are just a few of many who let us sleep blissfully in the nights of one of the most troubled times in the history of India.

Cover Image Sources: 1, 2