Young Captain who gave India ‘Yeh dil maange more’
The war cry of a young Captain, ‘Yeh dil maange more’, echoed in the hills of Kargil but reverberated across the country, uniting and filling Indians with a unique ‘josh’ unseen in a long time. Born on September 9, 1974, at Palampur, Capt Vikram Batra’s name is etched in the country’s consciousness for exceptional valour during the Kargil War.
Hailing from ‘Veer Bhoomi’ Himachal Pradesh, he was born to parents GL Batra and Kamal Kanta Batra. Vikram studied at DAV College, Chandigarh, and while his twin brother Vishal chose a career in the banking sector, Vikram was destined to serve the nation, and how.
He enrolled for postgraduation at Panjab University, only to leave it midway to don the olive green and was commissioned into 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on December 6, 1997.
During his posting in Sopore, Baramulla, Second Lieutenant Batra had several encounters with militants, but a soldier is not one until he faces the enemy in the battlefield. His chance came soon enough amid the rumblings of the Kargil conflict.
Having completed counterinsurgency operations, 13 JAK Rifles was to proceed to Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, but was deployed at the Drass sector after the war broke out.
The enemy held a fortified position, heavily reinforced with automatic weapons, and treacherous approaches dominating the Srinagar-Leh road — the lifeline for supplies. On June 20, 1999, Batra, Commander of Delta Company, was tasked to attack Point 5140 during Operation Vijay. Leading his men in a dare-devil assault, they attacked the enemy, killing four intruders in a hand-to-hand combat. This act of bravery earned him a promotion to Captain.
On July 7, 1999, in yet another daunting operation in the area of Point 4875, his company was asked to clear a narrow feature with sharp edges on either side and fortified enemy defences. In a bid to speed up the operation, Captain Batra decided to attack the enemy positions along a narrow ridge. Leading the assault, the ferocious ‘Shershaah’ engaged the enemy in a hand-to-hand combat, killing five enemy soldiers and hurling grenades to clear the position.
Another victory — Point 4875 had been captured. But it came with a terrible price. Captain Batra laid down his life for his country on July 7, 1999.
Within a short span of two years into the service, the young officer had become a household name. His martyrdom stunned the nation. Every eye shed a silent tear in memory of this braveheart.
Early this year, 25 years after his brother’s martyrdom, Vishal visited Point 5140. ‘Yeh dil maange more’ — the young Captain’s cry of jubilation after capturing the Tiger Hill — resounded once more.
GL Batra fondly remembers his son. ‘Vikram pursued every passion, be it table tennis, karate or NCC, with a lot of zeal. It was after taking part in the Republic Day parade in Delhi as an NCC cadet that he was drawn to the Army. He had leadership qualities from school days. His friends would follow his directions.’
Captain Batra was posthumously honoured with the highest bravery award there is — the Param Vir Chakra, for displaying the most conspicuous personal bravery and junior leadership of the highest order in the face of the enemy and making the supreme sacrifice in the highest tradition of the Army.
The citation reads: “Leading from the front, he rallied his men and pressed on the attack and achieved a near impossible military task in the face of heavy enemy fire with utter disregard to personal safety. The officer however succumbed to his injuries.” Inspired by this display of extraordinary junior leadership, the troops fell upon the enemy with a vengeance, capturing Point 4875.
The film ‘Shershaah’ was based on his heroic life.
It has been 25 years. This bravest of brave son of India remains an inspiration for every youth wanting to serve the country with the same ‘jasba’ as the young Captain.
