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He
was too Occupied to be tired, too busy to be afraid
-
Major Sandeep Bajaj 2IC 2nd Raj. Rif.
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On
warring action(Capture of tololing)
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At 4 a.m., with 20 degrees Celsius on June 12 and 13, Tololing
was captured. It was a turning point in the Kargil conflict.
In Tololing capture operation, determined to go to the forefront,
Lt. Vijyant finally captured Bar Bagh bunker, which proved
to be crucial. Leading his man of Raj Rifles in an audacious
attack against heavily forfeited Tololing Hill, He hoisted
the Indian Tricolor there, smiling and sitting on top of the
hill with dead pak soldier lying around.
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Attack
on Knoll (Vijyants sacrifice)
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It was 8 p.m. on June 28. Major Acharya, Lt. Thapar and myself
were together for the last time. Just 600 meters short of enemy,
we attacked Knoll and lost Major Acharya and Lt. Saif Vijyant,
taking the command of Alpha Company, re-attacked the Bunker. After
successfully assaulting some of them, Lt. Vijyant Thapar got
a direct shot through left eye. It Was only after a moment I realised
that India had lost another Gallant son. So I then took over the
command and captured the featured. Attack on Knoll in the drass
sector, next to tololing in 3 pimples operation, was India's first
major win.
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Association
with Lt. Vijyant Thapar
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He was a selfless hero, extremely gallant and adventurous.
Although the pre-warring moments were tense, Lt. Vijyant
had a relaxed and composed mind. His letter to his mother
before he left for Knoll attack speaks volumes about his  heroism
and his will to serve the nation, I consider it my privilege
to have had a soldier like Vijyant in my column. This young
man who joined the unit in December 1998 performed his duties
with total commitment during his four months of posting in
Kupwara.I sensed some worry for him because of his extreme
fearless attitude. Totally committed to uniform, he stands
out as an example for all of us.
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Last
few minutes before the warring action
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Vijyant's mind was too occupied to be tired and to busy to be
afraid. we were mentally prepared for any eventuality before leaving
for the front. We took a look at the photographs and letters of
our beloved ones. When duty calls, no soldier thinks of anything
else except his country. I still remember the last meal I shared
with Lt. Thapar and the chocolates he offered to us.
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Reel war glamourises,
glorifies and even romantisizes battlefield. However. Real war is a ghastly, gruesome and ugly business. It leaves death, devastation, destruction and pain to the families whose wounds can never heal.That unfortunatly is the price we have to pay for our nation's honour and integrity. And those who pay this price in the country's war are the real heroes whom generation of Indians will rever, remember and look forward to for inspiration.
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One such hero was captain Vijyant Thapar an ordinary, simple happy go lucky boy but a man of character who did what his country, his army, his paltan and above all his family expected of him- "His Duty" even on to death.
A
letter written by Capt. Vijyant Thapar after the battle
of Tololing summing up his entire feelings at that
time. |
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