Vikal Sharma
Palampur— On the 26th anniversary of his martyrdom, India pays solemn tribute to Captain Vikram Batra, the indomitable hero of the 1999 Kargil War whose courage and sacrifice continue to inspire generations. Born on September 9, 1974, in Palampur, Batra’s journey from a spirited NCC cadet to a decorated officer of the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles is etched in the annals of military valor.
Rejecting a lucrative Merchant Navy offer, Batra joined the Indian Military Academy in 1996 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1997. His battlefield brilliance came to the fore during Operation Vijay, where he led the daring assault on Point 5140, famously declaring victory with the now-iconic phrase, “Yeh Dil Maange More.”
Just weeks later, on July 7, 1999, Captain Batra led his men in a fierce battle to reclaim Point 4875, now renamed Batra Top in his honor. Despite being grievously wounded, he exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue a fellow soldier, ultimately laying down his life with the words “Jai Mata Di.”
For his extraordinary gallantry, Captain Batra was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honor. His story was immortalized in the 2021 biopic Shershaah, starring Sidharth Malhotra, bringing his legacy to a new generation.
Vikal Sharma
