Kargil: On the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War, Brigadier Kushal Thakur (Retd), who led the 18 Grenadiers during the conflict, reflected on the sacrifices made by his unit. Thirty four jawans of his unit sacrificed their lives to recapture two crucial peaks of Tololing and Tiger Hill in the Drass sector but it feels good to see their families smiling again.

Brig Kushal Thakur (Retd) said, "As a commanding officer, I have a lot of bittersweet memories but it is important to sacrifice certain things for the country. 34 jawans sacrificed their lives. I still have the memories of those jawans and they will be with me till I die. Their families' also made a lot of sacrifices.

"Today when I see those families, they have suffered huge losses. Youths belonging to the age group 22 or 23 had lost their lives, and their children, who were a few months old, were not able to see even the faces of their fathers. After 25 years, they have been able to overcome that sadness, and it feels good to see them smiling again."

He further said that 25 jawans sacrificed their lives at Tololing while 9 jawans sacrificed their lives at Tiger Hill.

"Talking about the gallantries, 18 Grenadiers today have Theatre Honour Kargil, Battle Honour Tiger Hill, Battle Honour Tololing, and 52 bravery awards, which is a record in the Indian Army," he added.

CDS General Anil Chauhan graced the Shaurya Sandhya event, organised at Kargil War Memorial in Drass with 545 lamps - each symbolising a braveheart - lit here.

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Thagi Ram Gogoi, father of Kargil hero Capt Juntu Gogoi said, "We feel proud of him. We don't feel like 25 years have passed. These 25 years have passed without war. Those who lost their lives fighting for the country, they sacrificed their lives for our tomorrow. I come from Golaghat in Assam. I still feel proud of my son"

Dulu Gogoi, mother of Kargil hero Capt Juntu Gogoi said that she had only one son. "I lost him but I don't feel sad because he sacrificed his life for the country," she added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation and Army soldiers on a historic day at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass.Prime Minister Modi will address the nation, inaugurate several projects and pay tribute to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country during the Kargil War.

The solemn atmosphere is filled with a sense of pride and honour as the Prime Minister prepares to speak in front of the war memorial, a place that stands as a reminder of the courage and bravery of our armed forces.

The stage at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass becomes a symbol of remembrance and respect for the soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation. The stage is not just a physical structure but a platform for the Prime Minister to convey a message of gratitude, respect, and remembrance.

ANI