Captain Vikram Batra

 

Captain Vikram Batra, often known as "luv," was born in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, on September 9, 1974. On July 7, during the three-month conflict, Batra was killed in action by Pakistani soldiers in Area Ledge, point 4875 in Kargil, the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir. For his services during the 1999 Kargil War, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the highest military medal of the Republic of India. Batra was an avid sportsman who competed in the Delhi Youth Parliamentary contests on behalf of his school at the national level. He and his twin brother competed for their school in table tennis at the All India KVS Nationals in 1990. Batra joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun in June 1996 in the Manekshaw Battalion. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 13th battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (13 JAK Rif). He was sent to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, for regimental training after being commissioned. His first posting was at Sopore in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. When the Kargil War broke out on June 19, 1999, he was ordered to recapture Point 5140 in his first major battle of the war. During "Operation Vijay", on June 20, 1999, Captain Vikram Batra, Commander of Delta Company, was tasked with attacking Point 5140. Batra and five of his men climbed nevertheless, and when they reached the top, they detonated two grenades at the machine gun post. He was seriously injured in the process but insisted on regrouping. He continued to lead his troops and then charged at the next enemy position, capturing Point 5140. Delighted that all of his guys had survived, Vikram famously told his commander at the base, "Ye Dil Maange More"—using the popular slogan of Pepsi’s ad campaign to express his desire to do more. During the Kargil War, Vikram’s next operation was to capture the 17000 feet high Point 4875. On the evening of July 7, Vikram launched a fierce counterattack with the help of his comrade and fellow officer, Captain Anuj Nayyar. The two valiant warriors forced the stunned enemy to flee by engaging in hand-to-hand battle, destroying enemy bunkers, and encouraging their soldiers to advance. Fatally injured, Vikram passed away as a hero going home on the 7th of July 1999. Peak 4875 is known as Vikram Batra Top now.

 

 

Vikram Batra Quotes:

Either I will come back after hoisting the Tricolor, or I will come back wrapped in it, but I will be back for sure.

Yeh Dil Maange More!