Valiant Captain who scaled death to hoist victory in Kargil
On September 9, 1974, in the serene valleys of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, a boy was born who would one day make the mountains themselves echo his name. Captain Vikram Batra lived a life that embodied duty, courage and sacrifice.
Vikram was the third child of Girdhari Lal Batra, a school principal, and Kamal Kanta Batra, a teacher. Fourteen minutes after him, his twin brother Vishal was born. Their mother, inspired by the epic of Lord Rama, named the twins “Luv” and “Kush”. From his early days at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Palampur, and later during his college years at DAV College, Chandigarh, Vikram displayed a spark that set him apart. A lover of sports like table tennis and karate, he was as passionate in play as he would later be in battle.
After graduation, Vikram chose a path fewer dare to walk. He joined the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and in December 1997, was commissioned into the 13th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, the 13 JAK Rifles. His destiny was now inseparably bound to the tricolour he so dearly loved.
That destiny revealed itself in 1999 during the Kargil War. The enemy had entrenched themselves in impossible mountain peaks and retaking them seemed nearly suicidal. But for Vikram, challenges were meant to be overcome. His first historic victory came on June 20, when he and his men captured Point 5140. So steep was the climb and so intense the enemy fire that success seemed unlikely. Yet Vikram’s voice thundered above the gunfire: “Yeh dil maange more!” — words that became a rallying cry for his men and later, the nation.
His father still remembers the crackling phone call on June 21, 1999. A worried parent heard only the word “captured” in a broken line, his heart sinking. Moments later, Vikram repeated slowly, “Papa, we have captured Point 5140”. Relief swept through the family, though destiny had harsher trials in store.
On July 7, 1999, Vikram was tasked with recapturing Point 4875, a peak that rained death with enemy fire. Bravery ran through his veins as naturally as breath. Leading from the front, he rescued a fellow officer but was hit by bullets in the process. In that selfless act, India lost a son, but gained a legend. Point 4875 was later renamed “Batra Top”, an eternal monument to his courage.
Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award, on August 15, 1999. His father received the medal from the President of India on January 26, 2000. His funeral in Palampur was attended by thousands, from dignitaries to common citizens, all united in grief and pride.
Tributes poured in, not just from India but abroad. The Guardian, a British daily, wrote movingly about him: “In the annals of Indian military history, certain names shine brightly. Among these luminaries stands Captain Vikram Batra, a valiant soldier whose courage, leadership and selflessness continue to inspire generations.”
His story has since entered classrooms, inspiring students to dream beyond themselves. It has reached millions through films, most memorably the Bollywood blockbuster ‘Shershaah’, where actor Sidharth Malhotra brought his bravery to life for a new generation.
But beyond medals, beyond movies, Vikram’s legacy lies in his undying spirit. In his father’s words: “Vikram had found his purpose in life, a righteous path leading him to the highest form of service.”
Today, every time the tricolour flutters high on mountain winds, it carries with it the roar of Sher Shah, the eternal guardian of India’s peaks. Captain Vikram Batra may have fallen on the battlefield, but his spirit marches on, immortal, invincible and forever inspiring.
Himachal Tribune