The 23rd anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas is marked on the 26th of July 2022, a day commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Kargil War. This article reveals key details and events of the Kargil War, Operation Vijay, and the significance of the National War Memorial.
The Kargil War: An Overview
Dating back to the Indo-Pak war of 1971, numerous military conflicts arose, leading to increased tensions between both countries when they conducted nuclear tests in 1998. The zenith of these conflicts was the Kargil War in 1999, also known as the Kargil conflict. The war took place between May and July 1999 in what is now the Kargil district of the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh, a part of Jammu and Kashmir, along the Line of Control (LoC). The war ended with a victory for India.
Operation Vijay: A Critical Turn
In 1999, India and Pakistan signed the Lahore Agreement, aiming for a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue. Despite this agreement, Pakistani troops launched Operation Badr, infiltrating towards the Indian side of the LoC to cut off the Indian troops in Siachen. In response to this infiltration, the Indian Army initiated Operation Vijay on the 3rd of May 1999. Around 5,000 Pakistani soldiers had taken control of the high altitudes in the rocky mountainous region of Kargil. Upon receiving this information, the Indian government implemented Operation Vijay to regain the territory that was treacherously occupied by intruders.
The National War Memorial: A Tribute to the Martyrs
Situated approximately 400 meters from India Gate, the National War Memorial, inaugurated in 2019, stands as a symbol of tribute to the fallen soldiers defending the nation. The structure comprises four concentric circles namely the “Amar Chakra” or Circle of Immortality, the “Veerta Chakra” or Circle of Bravery, the “Tyag Chakra” or Circle of Sacrifice, and the “Rakshak Chakra” or Circle of Protection.
The proposal to create this memorial was first made in the 1960s, and it is dedicated to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during various wars and peacekeeping missions. These include the Sino-Indian war in 1962, the Indo-Pak wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971, the Indian Peace Keeping Force Operations in Sri Lanka from 1987-90, the Kargil Conflict in 1999, United Nations peace-keeping missions, Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, counterinsurgency operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Operations (LICO).
UPSC Civil Services Examination Context
In relation to the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), questions relating to these events have previously appeared. An example question from 2013 asked candidates to analyze the circumstances leading to the Tashkent Agreement in 1966 and discuss the highlights of the Agreement. As such, understanding these historical military events is not only essential for commemorating our national history but also plays a significant role for aspirants of competitive examinations.
