Background

Rank: Captain
Regiment: 13th Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
Award: Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous)

Vikram Batra was born in Palampur in 1974. Vikram, who was born 14 minutes before his twin, Vishal, had always been a patriotic overachiever. So, it seemed only natural to his family when he decided to prepare for his Combined Defense Services (CDS) degree. He cleared it with flying colours, joined the Indian Military Academy and was commissioned as a lieutenant. His first posting was in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramullah district.

Right before the Kargil war broke out, Vikram was on leave to celebrate Holi with his family in Palampur. When a friend asked him to be careful now that the war had begun, Captain Batra said: “Don’t worry. I’ll either come back after raising the Indian flag in victory or return wrapped in it, but I will come for sure”.

He then reported for duty at Kargil on 1 June 1999. Eighteen days later, he was ordered to recapture Point 5140 in his first major battle. Vikram led his men to a tactical victory and strengthened India’s hold on the territory. After reaching the top of the steep cliff, Vikram famously told his commander at the base: “Ye Dil Maange More!”

His next major battle was to capture the 17,000 feet high Point 4875 – arguably one of the toughest mountain warfare campaigns during the Kargil war. The icy slopes were 80 degrees steep and covered in fog; Pakistan had positioned themselves at 16,000 feet.

On 7 July, Vikram and his men began their climb to fortify the territory. Pakistan got wind of the fact that Sher Shah (Vikram’s code name) was fast approaching and intensified their attack from above.

Vikram led the counter-attack and shocked the enemy into retreating, by engaging in fearless hand-to-hand combat and motivating his men to keep moving forward.

The mission was almost over when a junior officer was injured in an explosion. Vikram ran to rescue him amidst heavy fire. When his subedar said that he would go in his stead, Vikram said: “Tu baal-bacchedar hain, hat ja peeche.” (You have children, step aside)”.

He kept moving towards his injured lieutenant, killing five soldiers in close combat. He was just about to lift his mate when a bullet hit his chest,

killing him. By morning, India had successfully recaptured Peak 4875, now called Vikram Batra Top as homage to the soldier's invaluable contribution to India’s victory.

Interestingly, Captain Batra had been offered a very well-paying job in the merchant navy by a Hong Kong firm, but he turned it down, telling his mother: “Money is not everything in life; I have to do something bigger in life, something great, something extraordinary, for my country.

The heartbreaking love story of Vikram Batra

For India, Captain Vikram Batra had an unflinching love. But there’s another side to the braveheart, who sacrificed his life during the Kargil War to defend the nation and his fellow soldiers.

Meet his then girlfriend – Dimple Cheema.

Dimple spoke to The Quint about the first time she met Vikram. When they were introduced at Punjab University in 1995, little did Dimple know that it was just the beginning of a beautiful story that would stay with her forever.

Vikram Batra's Twin Tells Us the Tale of Luv & Kush

Vikram grew up in the small Army town of Palampur, with a twin brother – Vishal Batra – who is merely 15 minutes younger than him. The two who look identical were named as Luv and Kush by their parents.

Speaking to The Quint, Vishal narrates the story of their childhood, helping us understand what really goes into making a hero like the Sher Shah of Kargil.